Page 87 of Evening Shadows

“This.” With her hands over his, he lifted the ridiculously large T-shirt she wore.

“But—but, your leg.”

“Screw my leg. Now,” he said with a raspy voice, “get that damn contraption off.”

It took her a moment to understand he meant her sports bra. She’d hated wearing the dirty thing, but going braless to the hospital hadn’t been an option. Of course, seeing her struggle with it in the cave probably gave the impression it was impossibly difficult to remove. But it’d been wet then. It was thankfully super easy when dry.

With what she hoped turned out to be a saucy grin, she stripped the undergarment off and whirled it around her finger like a stripper, then slung it across the room.

His eyes darkened, desire resting within.

When he took a step back and surveyed her naked torso, self-consciousness burst forth and she almost covered herself. Almost. Having that first real night with someone you loved shouldn’t make one nervous, but there it was. She shoved that thought aside, opened herself to him and smiled.

She searched his eyes for any clue to his thoughts. Then she saw it; he devoured her with a hunger that looked near to bursting.

When his eyes left her breasts and returned to her face, he opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out. He tried again. “You’re perfection.”

“I’m not even fully undressed yet.”

Slowly a grin slipped across his face. One that turned her insides and had her craving his touch… his kisses… his loving. “We can correct that right now.”

Stepping toward her, their eyes remained locked in a smoldering embrace that could’ve set the room ablaze. He reached for the top of the jeans she’d borrowed. She didn’t protest as he unbuttoned, unzipped, then slid them down before she stepped out of them.

“Damn.” Licking his lips, he looked at her non-underwear state, then her. “If I’d known you’d been commando underneath, I’d have removed those pants long before now.”

Smiling, she reached for his shirt, but he stopped her.

“I’ll do it.”

Actually seeing the few spots on his chest where he’d been burned almost put a damper on things. Would every time she saw them remind her of how she’d almost allowed her ex-friend to talk her into killing the man she loved and her boss? She’d have to remember the positives—she and Ken came together, they had a major connection in the cave, the team came out to support them, and best of all, Cody was going to be safe with her.

He must’ve realized she began to cool because he tilted her chin up so she could look him in the eyes. “Don’t. They don’t hurt and we’re safe.” His lips gently touched hers, moving slowly over her mouth while a hand sneaked in and played with one of her breasts.

Bad times forgotten, she leaned into his touch with a moan of pleasure. Once she responded and everything flared up again for them, he shifted his kisses to her breasts, moving from one to the other leaving them heavy and eager for his lips and tongue. When his mouth grasped a nipple and sucked and tugged, she let out a strangled cry at the jolt that shot to her core.

Needing to touch him, but not wishing to break away from the pleasure, she reached toward him, rubbing his erection through the jeans. It wasn’t enough, so she reached for the button.

On a growl, he said, “Bed.”

She didn’t argue, but worried when she saw him unable to bend as he removed his jeans and underwear. He’d adjusted by pushing both down as far as he could while standing, then sat on the edge of the bed and pushed them down, toeing them off at the bottom.

His magnificent cock stood at attention, and she wanted it inside her more than she wanted her next breath. They belonged together, and they belonged in a loving embrace and act.

Her mind whirled at how difficult it’d been for him to remove his jeans. The doctor said he shouldn’t do this. Being selfish, she didn’t want to stop, but maybe she should. Well, she’d tried that already, and he’d argued. Hurting the man she loved didn’t sit well with her.

“Ken—”

“Quit, Sam. I’ll be fine as long as I’m not on top. The muscles in my leg aren’t ready for that. Lie here beside me and let’s do that—kissing and touching thing.” He settled himself on his good side and patted the space next to her. This looked awfully familiar.

Smiling, she crawled over beside him. Propped up on elbows, they faced each other with little space between them.

She tried to move closer, but he halted her. “I need space to touch you.”

Need radiated through her, pulsing at her core. She didn’t want to wait.

Each kiss reached deeper and deeper into her heart that he’d set free. Free from the hate… free from the darkness… free from her refusal to live life as she should… free to love again.

While his mouth slipped down her neck on a path to her breasts, her hand slid down his body past a well-defined chest and a taut stomach. He stiffened and a moan slipped from him when she gripped his cock. Although she’d already seen him and touched him, it felt new. A new step in their relationship.

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