Page 20 of Echoes in the Night

Slowly my senses return and my eyes focus. He has one forearm over my waist, his eyes look up at me from where his head is still between my legs. A last lap of his tongue sends a shiver through me, and he sits back on his calves.

“You are the most beautiful, expressive woman I’ve ever met. I’m going to eat you every day for the rest of my life.”

I smile. “Come here big guy. I need to hold you.”

Shifting me so my head is on the pillow, he settles behind me on the bed, wraps an arm around me and covers us both. “Sleep.”

And I do.

When I wake,I’ve rolled onto my back. He’s propped up on his elbow lying next to me, watching me sleep.

His eyes look less shadowed and there’s a smile on his lips. I hope I’ve had something to do with the ease I sense in him. “Hey, handsome.”

“I’m not, you know. There are scars all over my body. Not to mention the ones on my soul.”

“Your heart is pure and clear. And I think your body is damn fine.” I give his shoulder a shove. “Lay back. My turn to double check.”

Even though he only gives me a smirk, I take that as a win. Someday I’ll get a real smile and a real laugh. I’m counting on a lifetime to work on it.

Rolling to his back he folds his hands under his head. I slide the covers down and see he’s still got sweatpants on. Shoving the blankets to the end of the bed, I straddle his legs to pull off the rest of his clothes.

Realizing I’m completely naked with every dip and hollow showing, my hand trembles.

“Maura.” He waits until I look up. “You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. Lush and ripe in all the right places. You are perfect.”

All my life, I’ve stood up for myself. But there was always a tinge of doubt. Just like that, it’s gone. The look he’s giving me. The lust in his gaze. His words give me the reassurance and confidence I’ve always wanted one other person to give me.

Removing the rest of his clothes I stare in wonder at what is before me. Just like his chest and arms, his massive thighs and calves are shredded with muscles. He has that perfect Adonis Belt. I swallow. I’m not sure what I expected his cock to look like, but I don’t think that as long and hard as a log was in my mind.

Hands locked behind his head, he’s studying me. “What did you expect, babe? One of those little Vienna sausages?”

I glance up. He’s grinning.

“Show off.”

“Babe, for the record. No one has ever made me as hard as you. We’ll go slow and easy. You’re in control, take as much or as little as you want. It will fit when you’re ready for it.”

Crawling up his torso, I let my breasts skim his chest as I make my way to his perfect lips. Sliding my fingers over his short cut hair, I kiss him, licking and teasing his lips before battling his tongue. He keeps his hands tucked away but I feel the muscles in his arms and chest flex. He’s holding back. Clamping down on his reactions.

“Jax? Is everything alright?”

“Babe, I want you so bad. I don’t want to lose control, scare you. I can be…intense. I want our first time to be all about you taking what you want and need.”

“Oh Jax, I want you. Need you. Trust you. You’ll never hurt me. You’ll keep me safe from everything. Even you.”

Chapter Thirteen

Jax

Damn, I hope I can live up to her faith. I wasn’t kidding. I have neverwanteda woman like I want her. I’ve had my share of women and sex. But now I realize it was only the natural need for release, not any real engagement.

This is so much different. I want to see the light in her eyes when she’s excited, the joy in her voice when she accomplishes something. The pride when she shares her beautiful sketches. Her pleasure in the carved animals.

I want her love. Her heart. I want everything.

I lived and would have died for my position in the Rangers. My teammates. Same for Grams and Gramps. Before I left the last time, Gramps told me I had to accept that I was enough just the way I was. To open my heart and trust and I’d find the life I was meant to have.

I thought the Rangers were my whole life. Now I want more.

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