Page 40 of Easton’s Claim

Before she could talk herself out of it, she opened the door and stepped out into the hallway. Blood roared in her ears as a wave of cool air washed over her skin, hardening her nipples even more. A soft glow lit the darkness, coming from the living room. She followed it, her heart pounding.

When she reached the entryway to the living room, she stopped. Easton had lit a candle in the lantern on the center of the coffee table, giving the room a warm, romantic feel. A tremulous smile curved her lips as she watched him blow out the match he held.

He caught sight of her and turned, his eyes widening as he took in the pretty slip she wore. “Whoa,” he breathed, his eyes never leaving her. Heat licked over her skin as he raked his gaze down the length of her body from head to toe and back.

She fought the urge to wrap her arms around herself, tried to disregard the terrible vulnerability of standing there before him like this, bare toes curling against the floorboards.

Then he advanced a step toward her, still staring at her with that hot, sexual gaze, and she began to fidget with the hem of the slip. His expression softened as he came to her. She swallowed, forced herself to move forward instead of backing away.

Erasing the remaining distance between them with a few strides, he stopped before her to curve his hands around her upper arms. “You’re so gorgeous.”

She could barely breathe and her heart was pounding so hard she was sure he must be able to hear it. “Thanks,” she whispered.

He tilted his head, a disarming grin curving his lips. “Hey. You’re not nervous, are you?”

A wheezy laugh escaped her. “I’msonervous.”

His warm brown eyes searched hers, a caress that resonated deep inside her. “With me?”

“Especially with you.” No one had ever mattered to her the way he did. Not even Greg, and the admission made her wince inside. “I haven’t done this in a long time, and I’ve wanted you for months now—”

“Wait,” he said, clearly shocked. “Months?”

She nodded. “Since the last day I saw you. Maybe a little before, I don’t know exactly when I started to see you differently.”

Tenderness filled his gaze and he groaned softly. “I’m so damn glad you did,” he said, then kissed her.

Need and desire sizzled through her veins. His hands came up to frame her face as he deepened the kiss, and the stroke of his tongue against hers set something free inside her. More. She needed more.

She slid her fingers into his hair and pressed against the lean, hard length of him, igniting a throb between her thighs. She reveled in the taste of him, his strength as he wrapped his arms around her back and pulled her close.

A shudder wracked her and her skin felt too tight, over sensitized. This man had turned her entire universe on its head, and being off-balance had never felt so good.

Craving the feel of his bare skin, she skimmed her hands down to slide them under the hem of his shirt. He released her long enough to reach back and grab a fistful of his shirt, then dragged it over his head and dropped it.

Piper stared, her mouth going dry as her heart thudded in her ears. The candlelight gilded every plane and hollow of his torso, highlighting the swells of the defined muscles of his chest, arms and stomach. So strong, but he always used that strength to protect and defend, had always been there for her. How had she not seen that before?

She flattened her hands on his pectorals, traced the powerful curves with her palms, need stirring low in her gut at his indrawn breath and the way his nipples tightened beneath her touch. She stroked and petted, memorizing the feel of him as she let her lips follow in the wake of her hands, her tongue flicking out to taste his hot skin.

“Bedroom,” he rasped out, keeping a firm hold on her as he walked her backward a few steps, then grabbed her bottom and hauled her into the air. She squeaked and wrapped her legs around him, bringing her mound against the hard length of his erection.

“You smell so damn good,” he growled, nipping at her lower lip as he carried her through the darkened kitchen and down the hall to the bedroom. Soft moonlight shone through the window beside the king-size bed, allowing her to see the hunger on his face.

He leaned over the bed and lowered her onto the covers but she refused to let him go, pulling him down on top of her. A plaintive moan slipped free at the feel of his hard weight pressing her down into the mattress, the thin chemise riding up to her hips. His body was the only thing anchoring her while the rest of the world spun and her heart pounded.

“I’ve thought about this so many times,” she whispered.

“Mmm, me too.” Easton kissed her jaw and laved his tongue against the side of her throat, his beard prickling gently as his hands cupped her breasts through the satin. She arched and released his head to tug the straps down over her shoulders, impatient for him to ease the ache in her breasts and between her legs.

A low groan eased from his chest as her breasts were revealed, her nipples tightening under the heat in his gaze. His big hands cupped them, his thumbs brushing over the centers, making her squirm and grab the back of his neck to drag him closer. He obliged, balancing his weight on one arm to lean down and take one into his mouth.

Heat flooded her. She gasped and pushed against his mouth, couldn’t hold back a soft cry as he sucked and swirled his tongue over the sensitive points. The muscles in her belly began to quiver, her brain struggling to process that this was Easton holding her. Easton pinning her to the bed and setting her body on fire.

Shifting restlessly beneath him, she closed her eyes and let the sensation build as he switched to the other breast and slid the chemise over her hips and down her legs until she was completely naked. She lay there before him, breathing fast, her entire body alive and desperate to find out what he’d do next.

“God, you’re beautiful,” he whispered, cupping the side of her face as his mouth slanted across hers in a hot, intense kiss.

She wasn’t beautiful but she didn’t argue because she couldn’t speak. The hunger had her now. A burning ache in her core that demanded satisfaction. It had been well over a year since she’d felt a man’s hands on her body. Longer than that since she’d actually enjoyed sex. With Easton, she knew it would be hot and explosive. It terrified and exhilarated her all at once.

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