Page 59 of Fated Despite the Moon

"Wet." He tossed the towel to the ground and peeled off his shirt.

Her gaze moved over his glistening torso. She stepped in close and ran her fingers over the large tribal tattoo on his left arm.

"This is beautiful." She traced his toned bicep and then turned his arm over and inspected the intricate design as it wrapped around to the back.

"Thank you." His voice came out rough as sandpaper, the very sound making her body quiver.

Her eyes connected with his heated gaze. It'd been almost six months since she’d been with Derek, and before that one-night stand, she'd not been with anyone in a very long time. Her body responded to Caleb in a way she didn't know if she was prepared for. Yes, they'd slept in the same bed and shared a kiss or two, but that had been it. Easy, friendly. But nothing about the way he stared at her said he wanted to just be her friend. She sucked in a breath as his hand cupped her neck and the pad of his thumb ran over her cheekbone, sending sparks lighting over her skin like firecrackers.

He dropped his shirt and wrapped his arm around her waist. Their eyes never strayed from each other as she ran her hands over his shoulders and down his muscular chest to his waistband, where she hooked her thumbs through the loops of his jeans.

He drew her into him, and her belly smashed against his. Slowly, as if unsure, he lowered his face to hers. She breathed in the scent of his skin as his mouth lingered an inch from hers. He smelled like wet soil and wood.

Seconds drew out like an exquisite torture. Waiting, wanting, hoping, until finally his lips pressed to hers. Soft and light, the pressure almost infinitesimal. She leaned into him allowing him to lead. She wanted him, but she wasn't going to throw herself on him if he didn't want her like that.

His palms slid up her body and cupped her face as he pressed his mouth against hers harder. She parted her lips, and his tongue slid into her mouth. Her knees almost gave out at the feel. She teased his tongue with hers, wanting to draw him closer. Minutes passed as their kisses deepened. He ran his hands down her bare arms making her skin pebble. She kneaded her fingers into his broad back.

He broke away from her and trailed kisses down her neck. She shivered as he slid the strap of her cami off her shoulder and kissed the spot where it had been. His large hand cupped her breast through the thin fabric, making her nipples harden and a moan escape her. Her body flooded with heat. She wanted him. Right there, on the wood floor, on the couch, hell, on the counter. She didn't care. She just wanted to feel him.

She undid the buckle of his pants and pushed them down. He dropped her cami to her waist. Kneeling in front of her he licked his way from her collarbone to her breasts. She dug her fingers into his hair as he slid his tongue around each nipple making her thighs tingle.

"Caleb." She could barely manage to get his name out.

"Do you want me to stop?"

Her head whipped back and forth. "No."

He took off his boots and ran his hands up her thighs rubbing her through her thin pajama bottoms. She gripped his shoulders hard, digging in her nails and making him growl. He grabbed her waistband and pulled her pajamas and underwear off in one fluid movement. She stepped out of them, and then he pulled her cami down her body to the floor as well.

A skitter of nervousness trickled over her skin as she stood in front of him completely naked. She wrapped her arms around herself, but he took her hands and threaded her fingers with his as he uncovered her, not allowing her to hide. Still on his knees he planted light kisses across her swollen belly making her muscles quake.

He got to his feet, kissing her once more. He wrapped her in his arms and picked her up. He stepped out of his jeans and headed for his bedroom. His eyes never left hers as he opened the door and then stood her on her feet. He brushed the pillows from the bed and pulled back the covers before taking her in his arms again and kissing her. So gentle and tender. She'd never had a lover so attentive. She laid down on the bed, pulling him with her. She parted her legs, and he rested between them.

To her surprise her belly took up very little room between them, and even so, he didn't seem to mind. He leaned over her, kissing down the length of her body, swirling his tongue over every inch, every fold, every freckle until she thought she might burst if she didn't have him.

"Caleb." She pulled his mouth to hers.

He kissed her again, swirling his tongue against hers.

"Are you sure?"

Hells yes, she was sure!

"I don't want to force you."

She chuckled. "If you leave me this wound up much longer, I'll have to go troll main street to find someone else to ease this ache."

A rumble escaped his chest, and she bit his bottom lip.

"This is what I want," she replied. “You are who I want.”

Their eyes locked as he entered her. Her nails dug into his shoulders but their eyes never left each other as he pressed his hips into hers. Her body trembled at the sensation, and her hands moved to his firm buttocks as she gripped him tight.

He stayed put for a moment, and she thought maybe he'd changed his mind when he bent down and kissed her, withdrawing from her and then entering her again. Slowly, he circled his hips against hers as he built up a rhythm.

“Am I hurting you?” he asked.

She shook her head, unable to speak as every particle of her body hummed with energy and need.

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