Page 69 of The Bodyguard

Angela’s eyes slipped shut. Shivers cascaded down her arms. “That feels so good.”

Sawyer massaged the base of her neck, slowly moving until his fingertips brushed the back of her hair pulled into a ponytail. He tugged the band out and threaded his hands into her loose hair. Tension dissolved from her body.

“That’s heavenly,” she said.

She turned around in his arms. His hands slid down and fell away.

Was he going to kiss her again? Was she ready for them to cross the line beyond all talk? Angela’s breath shook. She didn’t care if he saw her chest rise and fall like she’d never been touched by a man before. She hadn’t been. Not really. Nothing in her past rose to the level of this powerful man simply standing close. This was what desire felt like. She’d lived too long and not known.

Sawyer positioned his hand on her hip and secured her in place. “You are beautiful.”

The gravelly deepness of his voice rumbled through her nerves. Shivers cascaded from her chest to her toes.

His hand skimmed to the small of her back and pulled her close. The bulge of his arousal was a shock. She hadn’t touched him. She hadn’t tried to act sexy. Angela turned him on by merely existing.

“I like your hair like that.” He grinned. “Loose and a little crazy.”

“Well, I’m feeling a little crazy,” she admitted.

His free hand ran up her spine and into her hair, which he gave a tousle. “That makes two of us. I’m feeling a little crazy for you.”

She wrapped her hands behind his neck, and he brushed her hair off of hers. He nuzzled against her. Warm breath tickled under her ear. The stubble on his cheek scratched gently under the curtain of her hair. Angela prayed for his lips to touch her skin. She tilted her head. He bent closer, breathing her in.

Sawyer was awakening parts of her body that she didn’t know existed. A deep arousal swirled through her. “I didn’t know I could feel this alive.”

“Me either,” he whispered, lips barely touching her cheek.

A quiet moan escaped from her. Maybe she should’ve been embarrassed, but the same hungry groan sounded from him. It was more than she could stand.

The soft touch of his lips brushed over hers. The gentleness was almost too much to take from this muscled, massive man. His patience nearly made her cry—and then everything changed. Softness became starvation. Her hands knotted in his shirt, his in her hair.

His sweet mouth opened to hers and devoured. Their tongues teased and danced until need purred in her throat. Her body hummed. Angela needed this man so much she hurt.

And then he slowed again. He gave her gentle, careful attention, and it was just as good. Angela opened her eyes. Sawyer was staring down.

He stroked her cheek. “Are you okay?”

“I don’t know how I’m still standing.”

His chest jerked with silent laughter. “Come out on the deck with me.”

A protest formed on her lips. But the sexy way his smile curved stole her dissent away. He led her out the sliding glass door to an oversized lounge chaise that faced the ocean. A flower-covered lattice blocked them from the neighbors’ sight. The view overlooked the rise of grass-covered dunes and the ocean. As long as they weren’t standing next to the deck rail, no one could see them. They were in an oceanside oasis.

The setting red-orange sun sank on the opposite side of their house. Pinks and grays reflected in the puffy white clouds over the ocean, and the waves crashed rhythmically. Sawyer sank onto the lounger and pulled her alongside him.

This was why couples honeymooned at the beach. She’d never thought about it before and would’ve guessed the allure was more like bathing suits and drinks. But she would’ve been wrong. Profound awe welled deep in her chest. They were just tiny specks in the great cosmos. Yet they had feelings as powerful as nature—and that was just how she felt before he kissed her.

The wind blew warm and salty. A sly grin hung on his chiseled face. Maybe he noticed that she’d been floating.

Angela could feel her own silly look curving on her kiss-swollen lips. “Why’d you drag me out here?”

Amusement danced in his eyes. “Because I needed fresh air.”

“I don’t know. I forgot to breathe and was still standing,” she teased. “Barely.”

“I was holding you up.”

“Okay, probably.”

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