Page 21 of Barry

“Not your fault.” He dropped for a kiss. “Who owns these?”

She looked down and laughed. Alex’s jeans were way too big in the waist for him. His belt cinched them against his waist in puckers. “Alex Thompson. I’m washing your jeans a second time.”

“Well, thank you for that.”

“I’m sorry you got skunked, you had to wash the dogs, and dinner was ruined.” She wrapped her arms around his waist.

He shook his head. “Stop apologizing. The dogs were being dogs, and dinner wasn’t ruined. We can reheat it.” He dropped for a kiss, and as his tongue searched for hers, she dissolved into the yearning that wrapped itself around her, her arms reaching around his neck.

Barry slowed the kiss and separated his lips from hers. “I want to make love to you.”

Air left her lungs in a rush, and that wonderful tingling sensation traveled through her body. Breathlessly, she whispered, “Yes. Please.”

He lifted her off the floor and carried her into the house. Kathy sighed and leaned into his chest.Yes. Please.

CHAPTER 9

Barry kicked the kitchen door closed and carried Kathy to her bedroom. Mitzi and Honey were on his heels. “Stay,” Barry said as he approached the door. The little paw sounds stopped as he closed the door. He didn’t need an audience. It had been forever since he’d made love to a woman. He was half afraid to make love to Kathy. He wasn’t that experienced, but damn it, he’d give her his best effort.

After laying her on the bed, he stared at her, unsure of where to begin. She reached up for him, and he kneed onto the bed, lying over the top of her. His lips dropped to hers, but he wanted to taste more of her. He slid his lips across her jaw to her ear. She squirmed and shivered under him.Yeah, she liked that. Take note. He nipped down the column of her neck, licking after the small bites to cool the heat.Kathy arched under him, and the sexiest sound came from those lips. Fuck, an erotic shot of lust rocketed through him.

He dared to lift her t-shirt a bit and moved down to her soft, flat belly. His tongue danced across her skin. Her fingers threaded through his hair, and she guided him higher. Pushing up the soft cotton, he tickled her ribs with almost-there kisses and gentle sweeps of his tongue. The sensations flooding his body were staggering and electric. He pushed that material farther, then stopped to look down at her. White lace cupped her breasts. Her chest heaved under him. Her brown eyes were dark and half-open, and he could see the heat of her desire. The longing was the same as if he were looking into a mirror. He dropped for a kiss. Her tongue danced with his, and somehow, they managed to get rid of the t-shirt, his shirt, and that brilliant white piece of lace.

He skimmed her flesh with his fingertips and lips. His tongue flirted with her hard nipples as he feasted on her breast—first one and then the other. The sensual and carnal sounds she made were provocative and tantalizing, sending squall lines of a monstrous storm of lust through him.

He unfastened her jeans and slid his hand between the denim and lace, finding her core hot and so fucking wet. “Jesus, baby.” He was off the bed in the next instant. He grabbed the bottom of her jeans and tugged them off. Then she thumbed the elastic of her panties and pushed themdown. He was there to help get rid of the material. Once she was undressed, he stared at her. Beautiful. She lifted onto her elbows. “Your turn.”

He blinked and studied her as he unfastened his belt and let the jeans he was wearing commando drop to the floor. He grabbed the base of his cock and stroked his shaft slowly. Her eyes followed his hand. Her tongue traced her lips as she watched. Damn, that was one of the sexiest things he’d ever experienced.

He crawled up the bed, stopping at her knees. He sketched her legs in his mind as he kissed and felt his way up her thighs to that beautiful vee of her legs. Kathy’s legs opened, and he took the invitation. He growled at the first taste of her. His throat vibrated on its own accord. Staking his claim on the woman was too long in coming. Her hips lifted, and he dropped an arm over them, belting her to the bed as he doubled his efforts. Lost in his own need, he felt her tighten, and then he devoured the taste of her desire. She grabbed at his hair, and she lifted him from his feast.

The sight of her, rose-colored from the flush of her orgasm, was raw and too tempting to resist. He kissed her stomach and traced a trail up past her ribs, lingering at her breasts before teasing her neck with small bites. He whispered in her ear, “Do I need to get a condom out of my wallet?”

She framed his face with her hands. “No, I’m on the pill. I want you in me.”

The words released any hold he had on his need. Hefound her core, the soft warmth of her rippled across his cock, and he damn near lost it on the first thrust. He stopped, holding still and praying he could stop the lightning bolts igniting the molten fire he’d banked for far too long.

He dropped his head to her shoulder. “God, babe, I’m not going to last. You feel too good.”

She held him tighter and whispered, “Don’t you know how good you feel inside me? I’m close, too.”

Lifting at those words, he looked down at her. She was the most perfect gift the universe could have ever given him. He dropped for a kiss and pulled back, making sure his body covered every inch of hers as he moved his hips. If he could lose himself inside her, he’d die happy. His need drove his pace. Kathy broke the kiss, her body tightened like a bow, and then the rippling sensation around his cock sparked the flame that ignited the explosion. He slammed his eyes shut. Brilliant white detonated behind his lids as his body shattered. Holy fuck. He dropped on top of her, trying desperately to hold up his weight on his elbows. Only he had no idea if he’d succeeded.Fuck. He gulped air.

Her hand stroking his wet hair was the first sensation that broke through the orgasmic high he’d been floating on. He managed to find the muscles to move to his side, making sure he wrapped his arms around her as he moved. She sighed and snuggled closer to his chest. He held her close. “God, babe. Why did I wait so damn long?” He chuckled at his own question.

She tipped her head back. “Because you needed time. We needed time. What’s between us is better because we had that.” She lifted a finger and traced his lips. “I would have waited for you forever.”

He stared down at her. “You know I’m falling in love with you, right?” The words came out without any hesitation. He’d been in love with her since that bitter cold winter night when she’d fallen into his arms, and the feeling had grown into something he couldn’t deny.

She smiled at him. “I do. You know I’m falling with you, right?”

He dropped a kiss on her lips. “I do.” And he did. Their love had developed slowly because the sexual aspect had been held at bay. They’d gotten to know each other. He could recite her favorite color, song, food, what she liked, and what she loved. And what she loved was him. He prayed he could live up to that honor. God knew he’d do his best.

CHAPTER 10

Kathy laughed as they walked into the diner for breakfast. Last night had been everything she’d hoped it would be … Well, after the skunk incident. Barry had told her he loved her. She was proof a person could float while her feet were still on the ground.

Corrie smiled at them when they walked in the door. Barry’s mom and Ciera took turns working Saturday morning. Kathy walked over to her and hugged her. “Thank you for dinner last night. It was amazing. Will you teach me how to make that sauce?”

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