Page 171 of Steamy Ever After

“Are you fishing for compliments?”

She smirked. “Yes.”

He chuckled. “You’re fierce. You don’t back down from a challenge. You’re not easily intimidated. And, you say what’s on your mind.”

“So, I’m a bitch?”

“That’s not what I said.”

“You’ve said it before.”

If she wasn’t lying so docilely in his lap, he’d think she was picking a fight. “Well, what the hell did I know? I’m just getting to know the real you.”

She sighed as if the thought worried her. “Careful, it’s frightening in my head at times.”

“I don’t scare easily. Besides, I like figuring you out.” The pad of his thumb traced the bow of her lips. “I know you’re tough, but you can be so incredibly soft. Your softness is a secret. I like that no one suspects it’s there. I want you all to myself.”

Her lashes lifted and she looked up at him. “You can’t say something like that?—”

“Sure I can. It’s true.”

“You didn’t let me finish.” She paused and he waved a hand for her to go on. “You can’t say something like that and not kiss me.”

She was too damn tempting to resist. He toppled her to the floor, rolling his body on top of hers as he took her mouth in a demanding kiss. She met his passion with her own, so he moved fast, not giving her time to think or get lost in her insecurities.

“Tell me you want me, again,” she whispered, pulling at his hair and biting hungrily at his lips.

He groaned. “I want you. I want your soft lips and your sweet body. I want your mind and your secrets. I want your kisses and your moans.” He dragged his tongue up her throat to her ear and whispered, “But most of all, I want your trust, because I know it’s not something you easily give.”

Her breath hitched as he caught her earlobe between his teeth and pulled.

“Will you trust me, Erin?”

A soft moan met his ears as her nails clawed down his back. He didn’t expect her to answer, because Erin only said what she meant and didn’t waste words to make other people comfortable. But she also didn’t say trust was impossible, and that gave him hope.

Her knees hugged his hips as his erection pressed impatiently against her. Shoving her sweater up, he captured a nipple in his mouth. “I want you, Erin. Right now.”

She pushed down his pants, her tongue darting into his mouth as she gripped and stroked him. Peeling her leggings away was an act of elastic determination. The damn things kept rolling back up and she laughed at his obvious frustration.

When he finally got her naked from the waist down, he lined his body up with hers and slid into her with one sure stroke. She arched beneath him, her fingers bunching in his clothes as he drove into heaven.

Her hands forked through his hair, sending shivers down his spine as her nails scraped his shoulders. He pushed his body hard against hers. Her heels dug into his ass, shoving his pants lower as she pulled him closer.

He tore off his shirt then reached for hers, but she caught his hand. They stilled and he stared at her.

“Look at me, Erin. I see you, whether you’re clothed or not. Let me feel your body against mine. Please.”

Her grip slowly loosened and he stripped her sweater away. Anchoring his forearms into the carpet, he covered her like a blanket, skin to skin, pelvis to pelvis, lips to mouth. She shivered, and he wasn’t sure if it was a chill of fear or desire.

Tracing his lips along her jaw, he gave her a moment to adjust. “I’m not going anywhere,” he whispered, staring into her eyes.

Her chin softly trembled, and he kissed her temple.

He dragged his mouth to her ear. “I like being with you. I’m not going to run away when you have a bad day or get emotional. I can handle it.”

He brushed his nose alongside hers and felt the cool trace of a tear. “Please, don’t cry, baby.”

“Don’t,” she choked.

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