Page 177 of Unexpected Hero

Narrowing his eyes, he shakes his head as he pulls away. Slowly.

Like a herd of turtles stuck in traffic behind a mess of slugs. In fact, he might not be moving at all.

Fucker.

I groan and stifle a grin. “Okay. Fine. You made your point. I’m not the one in charge. By all means, take your sweet ass time. I’ll just be here waiting impatiently to be filled by your cock.”

His brows draw in tight, and he cups my jaw, puckering my lips. “Fucking hell, baby. Where did this dirty mouth come from in one fucking night?”

“Didn’t you want me to be less polite?” I force out, despite the hold he has on my jaw.

“I haven’t had the pleasure of fucking the manners out of you yet.”

“Maybe your tongue did it for you,” I quip.

I think the orgasms have removed all traces of my customary shyness. Here I am, naked as the day I was born. The light creeps in through the curtains, leaving nothing to hide me from him. And I don’t feel the slightest bit shy.

Not a bit.

He’s a miracle worker, wiping away years of religious trauma in one orgasm-soaked night.

Then again, I know the shame is still there. It’s below the surface, but I’m too wrapped up in him to care. That’s a problem for me to worry about tomorrow.

He doesn’t offer the condom to me this time. Instead, he slips it on with expert precision and impressive speed.

Me thinks he’s eager to get inside me.

After reaching over my head to grab one of the extra pillows, he tucks it under my hips. “This should help some.”

Aww, that’s sweet. My heart tinglesalmost as much as my clit did when I was riding his face.

When he settles back between my thighs, no nerves pepper my thoughts like before. I’m so fucking relaxed. I’m more chill than the time I ate half a pan of brownies that Joanne Cote Felaccio baked for Stella.I had just gotten my period, so the chocolate craving was raging. Turns out, they weremagic brownies with an extra ingredient — one that was Stella’s first act of rebellion.

I loved everyone that night. And I had the best conversation with my TV remote.

James stops my errant thoughts in their tracks when he cups my breasts, flicks my nipples, and aligns our bodies like earlier.

My breath stutters as electricity floods my insides. But it’s not the anxious type. It’s more like lightning bugs at sunset, flickering in and out, reminding you that the day has come to an end. A night of possibilities awaits you.

My hands trail along his strong back and settle over his shoulders. He studies my face like he’s cramming for a test, and I’m the crib sheet. A sassy comment about the intensity of his gaze tickles my tongue, but he kisses me before I get it out.

Soft and tender at first, the kiss deepens quickly, making my core throb with need. I’m two seconds from begging him to get inside me when I feel the head of his cock pressing through my slit and nudging into my body.

“You ready for me?”

“Yes. I’m so ready,” I answer, my voice needy and breathy.

“I’ll go slow, sugar bear. You tell me if it hurts.”

Instead of acknowledging him with words, I skim my palm along his back to his ass. With a handful of his firm tush, I bring his lower body closer to mine, silently urging him to fill me. The tip of his cock begins slipping in. There’s no pain so far.

He keeps his mouth just out of reach as he works himself farther, advancing at a maddeningly slow pace. I want to kiss him, but he’s determined to watch my face the whole time, and I know it’s because he’ll stop if he sees me wince. Given how I reacted before, I shouldn’t be surprised at how careful he’s being with me.

But I’m needy as hell.So I tip my hips up, assuming the angle might help.

It does. Score one for physics.

As he sinks in more, a quiet whimper falls from my lips. My breathing ratchets up.

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