Page 63 of Risking it All

“I’ve never seen this movie before,” Relic said, and true to his word he was staring at me.

“It’s one of my favorites.”

“I have a feeling it’ll be one of mine, too.”

Happy, bashful, elated, I focused on the TV. As the movie played, Relic began this pleasant exploration of my body. His fingers left burning paths as he slowly caressed my hands, my arms, and even my exposed skin near my bellybutton as my tank had ridden up from my pajama bottoms. I trembled in pleasure and cuddled closer, yearning for more.

Little flames licked through my veins with his light caresses, and he stirred strong desire within me. I wanted him closer, needed him closer. Longed to feel his body pressed to mine. Why hadn’t he kissed me yet? The thought circled my brain, driving me to the brink, but then I realized he was waiting on me. The kissing would be my call.

Putting myself out there like that required courage and risk. Courage I possessed. As for risk, with Relic, he was worth risking it all. I glanced up at him, he met my eyes, and his gaze had thisshadowed look of lust. One heartbeat, another, and then I leaned up and kissed him.

Relic cupped my face, kissed me back, and my head settled back on the pillow as we became lit sparklers in the night sky. Our mouths moving together, tasting, teasing, and my hands began their own curious inspection of his body, roaming over his muscled back, his arms, and my fingers slid into his hair.

He groaned then, a sound like he enjoyed my caresses, and joy burst through me. As my hands continued to explore, I lifted his shirt, and my fingertips came in contact with the hot skin of his lower back. There was something intimate about touching his skin, something that excited my blood. Relic’s mouth left mine as he kissed along my neck and I whispered to him, “Will you take your shirt off?”

Relic rid himself of the fabric and my heart paused at the true beauty of his muscled chest and abdomen. “You really are beautiful.”

He gave a shake of his head. “That title belongs to you.”

I frowned, he noticed, and his finger rubbed near the corner of my mouth as if he could wipe away the sadness. “What’s wrong?” he asked.

“I was shot,” I said before I could overthink it. “And it left scars.”

His blue eyes swam with sympathy. “Scars don’t bother me.”

But they bothered me.

“Can I see?” he asked.

Unsure, terrified of his reaction, I bit my bottom lip. “What if you find me unattractive?”

“Absolutely impossible.”

Relic seemed so sure of himself all the time, so confident. What would it be like to be him for a fraction of a second? Funneling his courage, I took off my tank, exposing my cleavage,my bra, and my scars. I swallowed hard and no longer had the bravery to look him in the eyes.

There was a heavy, weighted pause as he took in the two circular wounds as well as the incision made to repair the damage during surgery. He swore softly as he lightly brushed his fingers over my skin, over the swell of my breasts along my scars. “So close to your heart.”

I still couldn’t meet his eyes. “The doctor said if the bullets had been a fraction of a centimeter over, I would have died instantly.”

Relic placed his fingers under my chin and forced me to meet his gaze. “You’re beautiful.”

I swallowed hard as I couldn’t find words to respond.

“You’re beautiful and I’m so damn glad you’re alive.” Relic caressed my cheek again, then leaned down and kissed my lips.

These kisses were different from any of the others we had shared before. These were soft, emotional—as if letting me know that he did care I was alive. Cared so much that the thought of me not here beside him caused him worry and pain. As I kissed him back, I no longer felt driven by this pulse in my body, but by a connection in my heart. It was as if we were opening up, sharing our souls with one another, and it felt as if we were creating a universe where only we belonged.

He settled the weight of his body over mine, and the sweet pressure was everything I had dreamed it would be and more. We kissed, we touched, and my legs tangled with his. As I became hazy with this growing need inside me, I shifted my hips, gasped at a new tingling sensation created, and Relic tightened his hold on me. He moved his hips along mine, the sensation heightened; I gasped again, and he moaned as if he also enjoyed that sudden movement.

I wanted that to happen again and again and again, but I paused, so did Relic, and we both took in air as we tried to catchour breaths. Relic searched my face. “Are you ready to venture into those new areas? Don’t get me wrong, I’m very game, but I don’t want you riding a wave only to figure out later you wished you had taken it slower.”

I smiled because my immediate answer was yes, but then, after a second, I breathed out slowly and shook my head. “Soon, though.”

“I’m a patient man.” He kissed along my neck then nibbled on my ear. It tickled, I loved it, and I relaxed fully into him. “And I’m enjoying the ride.”

“What’s it like?” I asked, hoping he understood my meaning. “What happens next?”

Relic eased his body off mine and he cuddled me close as he returned to lying on his side. He kissed along the other side of my neck, up my jawline and then sweetly kissed my lips. “Going further?”

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