Page 71 of Evening Shadows

Her words were tentative. Regardless, knowing she thought of him, his cock tented the blanket and she’d yet to touch him. In fact, she seemed to be working hard on not doing so. What a contradiction she was. “So that means yes?”

Her laughter, low and melodious, reached him, down to his soul, and he knew she’d flipped all the way to their enjoying this short time together, protected by their brethren. He wanted to hear that happiness every day of his life.

“I’m worried about you.” The touch of concern and desperation blended in her voice.

“Don’t. Now, first thing’s first, you need to dispense with that bra and panties.”

She opened her mouth—surely to argue.

Before she could respond, he said, “They’re wet, and we don’t need a wet blanket or for you to catch a chill.” He hoped she didn’t think about their hair being damp, or his justification flew out the window.

After a moment where she appeared to be mulling over all the world’s problems, she stood and went through a hilarious dance of removing them.

His breath quickened, watching her struggle with her black sports bra as she pulled it over her ample breasts. At one point, her arms appeared stuck and based on her body tensing, she’d heard him laughing. Saying something probably blasphemous at him, she tugged and grunted until she removed it. Her narrowed glare at him had been just as comical.

Her sexy black underwear shorts slid off easier. With deep regret, he hated he hadn’t been the one to remove them.

Once finished, she shivered, and he tossed back the blanket again. “Come on.”

With no hesitation this time, she slid under the covers and turned close to him. As she slid to his side and snuggled in for warmth, he put his arm around her and pulled her close, urging her to rest her head on his shoulder.

“I don’t want to hurt you,” she whispered.

There’d be no way around that, but it wouldn’t stop him. “I told you I’ll be fine. Just watch the ribs and leg.”

“Won’t… if I’m astride, won’t moving your hips hurt your leg?”

Like hell. But right now, the thing that hurt stood like a flagpole in front of them. “That’s why I won’t be moving my hips.”

She chewed on her lower lip and his wood turned to granite.

They shouldn’t even attempt to make love with his current condition and killers on their trail, but he wouldn’t lose out on having her naked beside him. “How about we just play around a little? Like teenagers in the back seat of a car. You know, that kissing and touching thing.” A chuckle escaped before he could stop it.

She laughed again. “It was more like pickups in the woods.”

“You southern girls always have to be different.”

Lifting herself, propped on her arm, she softly touched his face, the whispering of an affection he didn’t know existed. “I’m so sorry about your face. Well… everything.”

“Shh, it’s okay, honey. You didn’t do this and it’ll all heal. Can you look at me like this and know this is the man you’ll spend the rest of your life with?” It hadn’t been the right time to say that, but he had.

“I—”

Since he couldn’t take back the words, he took her next words from her. With a hand on her face, he directed, “Kiss me.”

Even realizing he didn’t ask, he didn’t stop. His lips glided over hers in a featherlight kiss until hers moved in a loving connection that even before they opened their mouths and their tongues explored, fireworks had shot through his body.

Her taste… her soft lips… her tongue… her boldness all drove his body to crave more of her. “God, I want you,” he breathed against her lips as a tremor slid through his body.

“No.”

Every muscle stiffened. Had he heard her correctly? He leaned back and looked at her. “No?” Christ, he hoped she hadn’t changed her mind about them.

Lifting herself on her arm in a sideways sitting position twisted toward him, she pushed her damp hair over her shoulder and exposed what he hoped would be his playground.

Gliding her fingers around his chest, avoiding the injured areas, she sighed. “I thought I’d stop it before you did, or before you got too far to keep your right mind.”

“Stop?” He gulped at the idea. Would he have? Truthfully, he’d set his mind to sex without thought or concern about anything else.

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