Page 23 of Vaughn

"Only when my parents would tell me they loved me, then explain how disappointed they were because I'd questionedreligion. Love didn't seem real, but I've watched Boone, Alexis, Daisy, Jasper, Abel, Kara, Barrett, and Gabby; they obviously love each other. The feelings are there, and they're real. It must be a possible emotion, I'm just not sure how to feel it." She pulls her lip in between her teeth. "If it's what you're expecting, I may not be able to give it to you."

"I'm not expecting anything, Val. I'm the product of divorced parents, remember? I love them, but I have zero example of what it means to have a healthy emotional relationship with someone. I'm not going to pressure you in any way. Whatever happens with us, happens. I don't want you to think I have expectations. I absolutely don't. You give me what you want and what you can. I'll do the same." I wrap my hand around the side of her neck. "Are we good?"

"Yeah." She smiles, although it's shaky. "We're good."

"Okay, are you ready for your first lesson?" My stomach tightens as I think about how sweet this is going to be. Her eyes wash over my face, and I see the slight fear, but I also see how brave she is. How much she wants this, and what she's willing to do in order to get it.

"Yeah." She swallows roughly. "I am."

"Okay, first thing we need to do is get out of this alley, babe. I don't want anyone to see us. Not when we don't yet if you're into voyeurism or not."

She looks around. "I forgot where we were, I'm glad you at least kept your head about you."

If she only knew, I'm ready to get her behind closed doors so that we can get to know one another in the carnal way I'd like. "I wouldn't say I kept my head about me, I'm just very motivated to get you alone, Val. Let's go."

Her lips part on a gasp when I reach down and put my hands at her hips, lifting her up and encouraging her to wrap her legs around my waist. My hands travel down to her ass, holding ontight as I walk us back to the stairs and then take them two at a time. Once we're back in the apartment, her gaze travels over to the stove.

"I was going to make us dinner..."

"Don't worry babe, I got everything I wanna eat right here."

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Val

I'm not sure what he meant by the sentence that passed through his lips, but I'm assuming it has something to do with his mouth being on me. At least that's what I've figured out with the romance novels I've been reading. I wish I had more real-world experience, but the fact of the matter is, I don't. However, I want it.

And I desperately want Vaughn to be the person to teach it to me.

"Tell me." I whisper. "Show me."

"What do you want to learn?" He questions, tilting his head back against the door, Adam's apple moving up and down as he wets the throat that sounds sandpaper rough.

I shake my head, inhaling deeply. "I don't know. If you were given every inch of my body as a gift, what would you want to do first?"

His eyebrows lift. "I'd not want to learn anything, I'd want to give you pleasure. Can I do that?"

"Please." The word is a beg.

My fingers grip at his shoulders as he heads toward the couch. He has a seat, much the same way he did the last time we were here, balancing me on his thighs. My heart pounds as myeyes roam over his face, attempting to read where his thoughts are, but Vaughn is good at hiding what he really feels. He doesn't trust me enough, not yet, although I trust him with everything.

"If I do anything you don't want me to, you tell me, and I'll stop. That's the promise I give you." He tells me again.

"I know." And I do. He's never given me a reason to not believe him.

My senses are attuned to everything. The drip of the faucet, the hum of the window air conditioning unit, the thumping of my heart against my chest. It's loud, thundering in my ears. He reaches up, tilting my chin down toward his lips. "Last chance, Val."

"Don't need it."

With those words, he pushes up, connecting our mouths together. This isn't the slow slide into sensuality that we had before. Not at all. This time, he takes what he wants, while at the same time, giving me a refresher on what I learned before. He coaxes my tongue with his, and then together we're caressing one another.

My fingers slip up his neck and then into his hair, holding him where he is. I turn my head to the side, taking control of the kiss. He groans in the back of his throat, those rough-work hands of his scratching against my tender flesh. The way they catch as he grabs at me causes my nipples to tighten where the material of my bra cups them.

I rotate my hips against him, seeking the relief I know he can give. Ripping our lips apart, he pushes my head back roughly, feasting on my neck as if it's his last meal. The way he nips with his teeth makes me shiver and shake as I come up on my knees. Opening my mouth, a noise I've never heard before escapes. It's part wounded animal, part begging for ecstasy that seems just out of my reach. I hook my arm around his neck and hold onwhen those hands go to the hem of my shirt and push it up and over my head, leaving me in nothing but my bra.

Our eyes meet. I'm panting, lips wet, thighs trembling, body on fire while he looks like he isn't even bothered. "Touch me." I beg, my bottom lip trembling.

"I wanna look at you, too." He says roughly, his eyes going to my chest, tongue coming out to moisten his lips. "Can I look?"

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