Page 21 of Burning for Him

“It’s okay,” he repeated. “Shh. I’m right here, honey. I’m right here.”

Her taut muscles began to relax as her brain finally registered that he was alive and talking to her. The last of her nightmare waned and disappeared as the room came into focus. She tried to catch her breath, but her mouth was bone dry and her throat was sore from screaming. “W-water. P-please.”

“Sure. Hang on.”

She instantly regretted the request because he released her and stood. He turned the knob on the lantern until it was bright enough to see better before hurrying out to the other room. Moments later, he returned with a water bottle, cracking open and removing the cap before handing it to her. “Here. Don’t gulp. Take sips first.”

Her stomach undulated, threatening to revolt if anything was put into it, so she did as he said, taking small sips until she was certain the water would stay down.

She was surprised when he sat beside her again, close enough for her to feel the heat radiating off his body. It was then she noticed he only wore his pants. His muscular torso was gloriously naked, and her fingers itched to touch him and find out if the brown hair on his chest was as soft as it looked. Over his right nipple was the puckered scar from where the bullethad pierced his body, nearly killing him. She stared at it for a moment, hating the memories it conjured up. On the opposite side of his chest, over his heart, was a Celtic cross tattoo—that was new. It’d been about six months since she last saw him shirtless in the gym at the Trident compound, and he didn’t have the inked image then.

“Wh—” She coughed and then cleared her throat, which still felt dry after her nightmare. “When did you get the tattoo?”

He glanced down at it. “About four months ago. My grandfather had a similar cross, and I wanted to get one in his memory.”

She knew his grandfather passed away last year, but he and his wife lived in Scotland, and the funeral was only a small family gathering at the elderly man’s request. Doug made the trip with his parents, his siblings, and their families. Instead of sending flowers, Ian and Devon arranged to pay for the family’s after-funeral repast at a Scottish pub. It was something Doug hadn’t expected, but Jenn knew he deeply appreciated the gesture.

Her gaze dropped from the tattoo to his ripped abdomen, where the hair got darker and narrower before disappearing under the waistband of his pants. She gulped the water that time, needing it to quench not only her thirst but her increasing desire.

His eyes narrowed, and he pointed at her upper arm. “Where did you get that from? The landslide?”

She glanced down at the large bruise that’d formed. It was an ugly black and blue, further along than the others she’d gotten on her legs and arms from being pelted by rocks and tripping. She had a few scraps and cuts, too, but nothing serious. “No. Tony and I were doing inventory in the clinic when the earthquake hit. I smashed my arm against the door jamb while we were trying to get outside.”

Gently brushing his fingertips around the edges of the discoloration, he inspected it in silence for almost a full minute, as if reassuring himself it wasn’t worse than it looked. His touch sent a shiver down her spine and sped up her heart rate. “Do you want to talk about it?”

Distracted by her body’s reaction to him, she wasn’t sure what he was referring to. “Hmm? The bruise?”

“No, the nightmare. What was it about?”

Another shiver coursed through her. That time, he must’ve noticed because he put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer. Unable to help herself, she sighed and cuddled against his chest, resting her head on his shoulder and placing a hand over his tattoo. Being with him like that was what she longed for every day, and she’d be crazy not to take advantage of the situation—at least until he pulled away again, which he undoubtedly would do as soon as reality hit him.

She couldn’t tell him about the horrible dream except for the very last part. Talking about their one shared kiss would be too awkward. “A...um...There was another mudslide, and you got swept away in it. I-I couldn’t do anything to save you.”

Surprisingly, he gently squeezed her, then kissed the top of her head. She rarely saw this tender side to him and reveled in it. Usually, he always seemed to want to get as far away from her as possible. “It was just a nightmare. I’m alive and kicking. Hopefully, we’ll get out of here tomorrow when the cavalry arrives. For now, we’re safe.”

Taking an uncalculated risk, Jenn let her fingers skate across the bare skin of his chest, and Doug froze. “Jenn...”

“Shh. Please,” she whispered before leaning down and brushing her lips against the bullet scar. Doug inhaled sharply but didn’t move or speak. She took that as a good sign and let her hand roam his upper torso while her tongue peeked out and licked his nipple.

“Fuck!” The curse came from his mouth as if a reverent prayer, and his hand on her upper arm tightened. A glance down told her his body reacted to her touch in a good way, if the growing erection in his pants was any indication.

Tilting her head back, she met his heavy-lidded gaze. “Kiss me, Doug. Please.”

“I—”

“Please,” she insisted as she sat up and straddled his hips. She crossed her arms, grabbed the bottom hem of her sports bra, and lifted it over her head, tossing it aside. Her nipples peaked in the cooler air.

Doug inhaled deeply and cursed again, his hands clutching her waist. She was unsure if it was to keep her there or to resist the urge to touch her anywhere else. Either way, she didn’t care as long as he wasn’t pushing her aside and running away. She leaned down, and her heavy breasts brushing against his muscular chest had them both moaning.

Her mouth hovered over his. “Don’t make me beg. Just kiss me.”

His gaze searched hers, and whatever he saw there had him cursing a third time before thrusting his hand into her hair and closing the distance between them. Their mouths met in a punishing yet passionate kiss that stole her breath. His other hand spread across her bare back and pulled her down until their bodies were flush together. Maddening need pooled in her core as she opened her lips and invited his tongue inside. He tightened the hold on her hair to the point of pain, but all that did was ramp up her desire. She writhed in his arms, loving the feel of his hard body against her softer one. At the apex of her legs, she felt his stiff length twitch against her throbbing clit.

Doug’s mouth left hers, licking and kissing along her jaw and down her neck. “Oh, God, Jenn. Fuck, you feel so good.”

He thrust his hips upward before tightening his hold on her and rolling them as one until he was on top. Lifting his head, he pushed up with his hands on either side of her ears and stared down at her. In his dark eyes, she saw the moment he considered pulling away, and she wrapped her arms around his neck, holding him there. “No. Don’t you dare, Doug. I’m an adult woman who knows who and what she wants, and that’s you. I’ve wanted you for a long time. This isn’t a schoolyard crush or a fucking hero-worship thing. This is me wanting an incredibly sexy man whom I can’t stop thinking about. Dreaming about. When you forget to scowl at me or avoid me, you make me laugh. You’re strong, intelligent, sweet, funny, and so much more, and everything I ever hoped to find in a man. My father and uncles set a high bar. Since I was old enough to have my first crush, I knew I’d never settle for anyone they would disapprove of. That meant no jackasses who treated girls and women like they were beneath them. I want someone who will respect me like my dad respected my mom, and how my uncles respect their spouses.

“You’ve been a jerk to me in the past, but I know it’s because you were fighting this attraction between us. You feel it—I know you do. You freaked out last year when I slipped and said I was in love with you. The only reason I regret that is because you weren’t ready to hear it. But I can’t deny my feelings for you. Not when they consume me. I’m not a teenager anymore and haven’t been for several years. Stop fighting this, Doug. Please. Let go of all the reasons you think being with me is a bad idea because it’s not.”

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