Page 83 of Shielded Hearts

As soon as they reached the bedroom, he pulled her flush against him. Before she could tell him her reason for coming in here, he claimed her mouth for his own.

The seeking kiss morphed into a deep one throbbing with harnessed passion. He plundered her with passes of his tongue. She raked her fingers through his hair and rocked her body into his hardening cock.

All at once, she twisted away from the kiss and stepped back, panting. When she slipped her fingers through her curls to rearrange them, she actually did the opposite and mussed them further, giving her a thoroughly loved look.

He hooked an arm around her middle, dragging her back to him. “What did you want to come in here for if not for this?” He dipped his lips to her earlobe and delivered a flick of his tongue over the silky lobe.

She wiggled in his hold. “Not that. But”—she gasped, “it is nice!”

With a chuckle, he released her, waiting to hear what was on her mind. With Aspen, that could mean anything. Since the topic of discussion had been redecorating the room and making it their own when she chose to leave the gathering, he could only guess that was the reason.

He waved at the wall behind the bed. “You think we should paint?”

She shook her head. “You really want to talk about paint and colors?”

His eyes lidded. “You have something better in mind?”

She nibbled on her bottom lip. “I’d love to make this into a cozy space for us. A real retreat. That leads me to the thing I wanted to talk to you about.”

Searching her eyes, he couldn’t find any trace of worry in her direct gaze. Her green eyes were clear of fear or sadness that he’d seen too much of in them recently.

“I’m listening.”

“Um. I need just a minute. Okay?”

He laughed at her sudden flustered words. “Okay.”

“Don’t go anywhere.” She rushed into the bathroom and slammed the door.

He stood there staring at the door for a moment before drifting to the bed. He sank to the mattress and listened to the faint sounds coming from within.

When she whipped open the door, he stared at her in shock. He couldn’t believe his eyes.

Aspen wore a sexy red bikini. The tiny strings holding it up made his tongue loll out. And the miniature triangles covering her breasts had his cock growing even stiffer.

“Holy fuck. Princess, what’s going on?”

With a cute little push off the doorframe, she padded across the floor. Even her bare feet had him aching hard, and he’d never been turned on by that body part before.

In the crook of her arm, she cradled a leather portfolio.

“That looks familiar.” He nodded at the object. It was tied in a silk bow the same color as her bikini.

“Mm-hm.” She sauntered close enough for him to grab. But he was a good boy and held back.

“What’s this all about, princess?”

Tilting her face up to his, she smiled into his eyes. She presented the portfolio to him in the same way she’d handed off the honeymoon one at the wedding meant for Oaks and his bride.

He took it from her. Upon closer inspection, he realized the bow wasn’t a bow at all. His cock surged against the fly of his jeans. “A thong?”

“Untie it and look inside.”

“I’d like to do something else right now.”

She stomped her foot. “Colt! Play along please.”

He tugged at the knotted thong, and it sprang free. Dangling it on one finger, he held it up for closer inspection.

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