Page 3 of Ravaged Hearts

“That’s weird, because we’ve been doing a lot of that since you tackled me to the sand and practically slammed your lips against mine.”

“Yeah. And now I want to kiss you all the goddamn time. I can’t look at your mouth without thinking about it. But before today? No.” He shifted a lock of hair behind my shoulder, letting his fingers graze across my collarbone. “The idea of it always felt too intimate. Too…close. At least since I got my scars.”

Something warm bloomed inside my chest. Sure, I couldn’t put my hands on Vaughn whenever I pleased, but I sensed he wanted us to work toward that. Which meant he had let me in.This impenetrable fortress of a man was lowering his walls just for me.

It felt good. It feltreallygood.

“I like kissing you, too,” I said.

“You want to know what else I like?” Vaughn asked, and I nodded. He reached for where I massaged the base of his scalp and closed his eyes briefly as though relishing the feeling. “I like your hands on me, and I want to combine the two without worrying about how I might react if you touch my scars.” Then he stood, towering over me, his dark gaze serious but determined. “Will you help me try something?”

“Of course.”

“Kiss me again.”

With a small smile, I rose on tiptoes and pulled his face toward mine.

Right before our lips met, he shook his head. “Not like that.” He unclasped my fingers from his neck and brought my hands between us. Shoulders rigid, he carefully splayed my palms over his firm pecs. Even through his black button-down, those raised scars were a tangible reminder of the horror he’d endured, and that made a heavy ache take root in my sternum.

My eyes volleyed between Vaughn’s and his chest as I waited for him to end what must surely be difficult for him. But he didn’t. He took one slow breath, then another, and when the bunched muscles beneath my palms relaxed, he said, “I want you to kiss me like this.”

“Okay,” I answered quietly, not giving away how significant this moment was.

No matter the outcome, I was so damn proud of him.

“I won’t hurt you,” he said, although it sounded like he was trying to convince himself more than me.

“I know.”

“If it’s too much, I’ll back away.”

“We’ll go as slowly as you need.”

He worried his bottom lip with his teeth before nodding once. Then in a move that was both dominant and achingly tender, he took my face in his hands and pressed his lips to mine.

A soft moan escaped my throat. I was new to kissing, but something told me it wouldn’t be this good with just anyone. When Vaughn’s hot tongue swept the seam of my mouth, I opened for him willingly, certain I could kiss this man all day and never get tired of it. He took my breath away.

“Fuck, you taste good.” Vaughn’s raspy words echoed my own thoughts about him.

With one hand at my waist, he pulled me against his hard body, deepening the kiss until my legs turned to jelly and my head swam.

Since we were testing the waters with my hands being free, I’d expected this to be a chaste kiss. A cautious step that might one day lead to further experimentation. There was nothing meek about the way Vaughn’s mouth plundered mine. Everything about him made my body catch fire and my belly clench.

“More,” I demanded.

Vaughn let loose a feral growl. “Fucking love it when you get greedy.”

A second later, he dipped low, scooped beneath my thighs, and lifted me with ease. My dress rode up when I wrapped my legs around his lean waist. And then my back was against the wall, pinned there by Vaughn’s powerful body as he ravaged my mouth.

He was everywhere and all-consuming. His tongue entwined with mine, his large hands squeezed my ass, and his hard length pulsed against my soaked panties.

Vaughn had said he wanted my touch, so I let my hands explore every ridge and groove of his broad chest. If he minded, he didn’t say so. Nothing in his body language indicated hewanted me to stop or even slow down, and I intended to take full advantage of this newfound freedom.

“Is this okay?” I asked as my palms roamed the deliciously hard crests of his upper abdominals.

“Yes,” he panted against my lips. “Fuck, yes.”

Not taking his mouth from mine, Vaughn carried me to the bed and lowered me onto the duvet. It was strange having him above me without my wrists pinned, yet it felt so darn right.

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