Page 86 of Elusive Promise

"Damn," he murmured, gazing down at her. "You're something else, Parisa."

"We're something else. This—us—it feels different."

"I know. I want to go fast and slow—at the same time."

She felt much the same, but right now need was driving her actions. "Take off your jacket and your shirt."

"I see we're heading for fast," he teased. He took off his black leather jacket and pulled his shirt up over his head and tossed it on the table.

She swallowed hard at the stunningly broad, flat, muscled chest in front of her, with just a smattering of dark hair. He was tan, too, as if he'd spent quite a bit of time without a shirt on. What a gorgeous man he was, but the long scar running under his right rib cage and another across his shoulder reminded her that he was also a man of many layers.

She ran her fingers along the rib cage scar. "How did you get this?"

He shrugged, as she met his gaze. "Does it matter?"

"It looks like it was serious."

"I survived."

"It doesn't look as old as the one on your shoulder."

"It was last year. I'm hoping the scars make me sexier."

"I'm not sure you could get any sexier," she said with a laugh, loving how easy it was to be with him, how real and honest it felt.

"Your turn, Parisa. I'd like to see some of the curves you're hiding under that sweater."

She licked her lips, then took off her sweater, shaking out her hair as she did so. She threw it on top of Jared's shirt, watching his gaze narrow on her breasts, as she played with the front clasp of her lacy, cream-colored bra.

"You're killing me," he said, a somewhat tortured note in his voice.

"Oh, I don't think so. We're nowhere near that."

He put his hands on her bare waist, and the heat sent another thrill of desire through her. She flicked open the clasp on her bra and then pulled it off, tossing it on the growing pile of clothes.

Jared's gaze on her breasts was filled with pure male pleasure, and whatever shyness she might have had evaporated under his hot, needy look. She took his hands and lifted them to her breasts.

Jared didn't have to be told twice what she wanted him to do, his fingers spreading across her skin, his thumbs teasing her nipples as another surge of heat swept over her. And then he kissed her again, and she felt like her insides were melting away.

"Let's go upstairs," he murmured.

"Too far away," she returned, pressing him back against the counter. "I like it here." She looked into his eyes. "In the light. I want to see you, Jared. No shadows for us tonight. You and me, out in the open, who we really are, scars and all."

His gaze darkened. "I haven't been who I really am in a long time."

"I haven't, either. But I want to be tonight. I feel like I can be myself with you. No judgment."

"No judgment," he echoed. He followed his words with a kiss, and then his lips slid down the side of her neck.

She sighed with pleasure, wanting his mouth, his hands on every part of her body.

As they kicked off their clothes, she realized the rest of Jared's body was also magnificent. He was honed, fit, powerful and very, very male.

She caught her breath as his gaze made the same appreciative trip down her body.

"Lucky me," he muttered.

"Lucky me," she said.

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