Page 37 of Strike Fast

Tess met him as he was straightening, sliding both hands into his hair as she leaned up to kiss him. Reid let out a low groan and wrapped both arms around her, one about her hips and the other around her shoulders, lifting her easily off the ground as he started walking her backward. She wound her legs around his waist and held on tight as he carried her to the queen-size bed and laid her down on her back.

Pulling the sheets down beneath her, she reached for the hem of his tactical shirt but he stopped her with a low negative sound and stretched out on top of her. A moan bubbled out of her at the feel of his hard, hot body pressing her into the bed. She slid her hands down to grab the bottom of his shirt, impatient to feel his bare skin.

“No.” Reid blocked her hand.

Confused, she stilled and stared up at him.

Gazing down at her, he came up on his forearms, one hand smoothing the hair back from her face. His eyes were so intense, simmering with something she couldn’t name. “I just need to…” He seemed to struggle for the words, then gave up and leaned down to cover her mouth with his.

She’d expected him to unleash all the pent-up hunger and sexual tension inside him. Instead his fingers bunched into her hair, holding her gently in place as he made love to her mouth. And that’s exactly what it was.

Unsure what to do other than follow his cues, Tess sighed and let herself get lost in the feel and taste of him, her entire body relaxing and heating as arousal flowed like sun-warmed honey through her veins. He sucked at her lower lip, then the upper before easing his tongue into her mouth and caressing hers in a languid, erotic dance.

God, he knew how to kiss. Time was elastic, stretching and extending until she was floating in a haze of arousal and need.

Tess squirmed beneath him, this slow, sensual exploration driving her crazy. She let go of his head and grabbed the hem of her shirt, pulling upward. This time he lifted up enough to help her, and the low growl that came out of him when he saw the cobalt blue pushup bra she wore made her tingle all over. He slipped one hand beneath her to deftly undo the hooks, and she pulled it off, his hot stare devouring the sight of her naked breasts.

She’d just dropped the bra over the side of the bed and was reaching for him when he cupped her left breast in his hand, squeezing gently. She sucked in a quick breath and bit her lower lip as her nipple tightened to the point of pain. Reid’s expression was one of total absorption as he stared down at the tender flesh he cradled, fingers caressing her skin before he brushed his thumb over the straining peak.

Tess made an unintelligible sound and grabbed the back of his neck, wanting his mouth there.

He lifted his deep blue gaze to hers, his thumb drawing lazy circles around the taut bud, sending streamers of pleasure across her nerve endings. “I need to touch you. Stroke you all over. And I want you to just lie back and enjoy.”

Through the haze of arousal, it hit her. What was driving him to make this all about her.

This was because of tonight, and what he’d seen. How helpless he’d felt when Victoria Gomez had stumbled across their path in the woods. He couldn’t erase that memory or wipe it clean, but he could replace it with this—a man giving a woman pleasure and lavishing her with tenderness.

He didn’t just want this. Heneededit.

Tess’s heart squeezed in understanding. She set a hand on the side of his face and held his gaze for a moment before nodding.

Reid closed his eyes and nipped gently at the heel of her hand before bending down to her breast. He rubbed his scruff against the tender skin, then flicked his tongue across her straining nipple.

Sparks of pleasure radiated outward, sizzling along her skin. She arched her back and closed her eyes, her heart thudding in her chest.

Those big, gorgeous hands began smoothing over her bare skin, starting with her neck and shoulders, pausing to tease her breasts before moving lower, tracing the shape of her ribcage and the indent of her waist, leaving trails of heat in their wake. She shivered and swallowed a moan when he undid the button at the top of her jeans and slid the zipper down, the slight metallic rasp sharp in the tension-laden quiet.

Lifting her hips, she allowed him to ease the denim over her hips and down her thighs, the anticipation building to a fever pitch. She was already wet and aching, more than ready for him.

Tossing her jeans aside, Reid rolled to his side, cupped one breast and leaned down to take the sensitive center between his lips.

“Ohh,” she moaned, lifting upward, her hand disappearing into his hair to hold him close. She shuddered as lightning raced through her body, each pull of his lips and stroke of his tongue intensifying the throb between her legs.

He kept tormenting her breasts, first one, then the other, his right hand gliding over her ribs and stomach to her upper thigh. Tess clenched her fingers in his hair and held her breath, dying for the moment when he finally made contact where she needed it the most.

Rather than giving it to her, he made her wait. He was totally focused, riveted as he mapped every one of her curves with his hands. A glide of his callused palm over the bare skin of her lower thighs made her shiver. The light graze of his fingertips over the sensitive skin of her inner thighs made her toes curl.

“Reid,” she finally whispered when she couldn’t stand the burn anymore.

He slid his left hand into her hair and covered her mouth with his, pushing his tongue between her lips just as his right hand slid between her legs to cup her slick center. Tess moaned and raised her hips, needing more pressure, more friction. His fingers glided over her folds, spreading the wetness upward until he swirled a fingertip over the top of her swollen clit.

Tess gasped and squirmed beneath him, trying to get closer. Reid made a soothing sound and sucked at her lower lip, then repeated the feather-light caress.

“Oh, God, I’m begging you—” Her words died in her throat as he increased the pressure for an instant, then slid his fingers down to push inside her. Something very close to a whimper escaped her lips. She dropped her head back onto the pillow and closed her eyes as sparks exploded inside her.

“You’re so soft and beautiful,” he whispered against her chin, his teeth nipping gently while his fingers rubbed at the swelling spot inside her.

All she could do was grip his head with both hands as he dipped back down to suck her nipple. His fingers worked her gently, patiently, sliding over that beautiful glow inside her, and then settling his thumb on her clit.

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