Page 94 of Delicate Escape

“Shepard.” My name was a plea.

I pulled out, my tongue trailing up as my fingers slid in. Twoslipped in and out, twisting and curling. The movements followed no pattern so Thea would never know what was coming next, so her body couldn’t prepare or brace.

The tip of my tongue flicked that tiny bundle of nerves, and Thea cried out, her muscles beginning to tremble.

I added a third finger, curling them in a beckoning motion that had her inner walls shaking, too.

“Oh, God. I—Shep?—”

“Shepard,” I growled against her clit. “When we’re in this bed, you call me Shepard.”

Thea’s breath hitched. “Shepard.”

Something about that had me nearly snapping. My fingers thrust in deeper, picking up speed. My tongue circled that bundle of nerves, exposing the most sensitive part of her. The part I knew would make her shatter.

As my hand sped up, I sucked her clit deep. Thea clamped down on my fingers. Wave after wave convulsed through her, wringing the life out of me and nearly making me come in my sweats like a damn teenager.

The sounds Thea made were better than any symphony. Real and authentic andher. Moans and soft cries as her body twisted, seeking more.

And then, finally, the movements slowed, and the sounds softened until Thea went completely slack against the mattress. I slid my fingers from her body and licked them clean. Her head popped up at the feel and sound, and she shook her head, amusement lining her face.

I grinned at her. “Your taste is like a drug. Gonna take all I can get.”

Thea’s chest rose and fell, still trying to catch her breath. “That was—I never—it’s never been like that for me. Ever.”

My eyes flared. “It should always be like that. Listening to your body is a goddamn gift.”

She moved then, reaching for the blanket as if to cover herself.

“Don’t,” I whispered. Thea’s gaze cut to me. “Don’t steal thisbeauty from me. Don’t be embarrassed about what we just shared. Because it was everything.”

She stared at me for a long moment. “Okay.” Then her gaze dropped lower. “What, um, what about you?”

I grinned up at her. “It wouldn’t be a proper apology if it was tit for tat.”

A laugh bubbled out of Thea. “I could get used to that kind of apology.”

I chuckled, pushing to my feet and pulling back the covers. I slid in behind Thea, pulling her against me, my dick pressing against her perfect ass. “I’ll be sure to piss you off on the regular, then.”

36

THEA

The early morningsun shone down on Shep and me as we strode toward The Mix Up, Shep’s fingers laced through mine as if we’d made this walk every day for the past decade. It felt that comfortable. Something had shifted last night.

Shep was no longer holding himself back from me. And while I wasn’t sure he’d evernottreat me as something delicate, I could see now that it was because I was precious to him and not because he didn’t believe in my strength.

We slowed as we approached the door to the bakery, and I turned to face Shep. “You know you didn’t have to drive me.”

He brushed the hair out of my face with one hand, keeping hold of my fingers with the other. “I wanted to. I’ll take whatever time I can get with you. I’m selfish that way.”

I grinned up at him, knowing the smile ate up my face but not caring in the slightest. “I like you selfish.”

Shep’s voice pitched low. “Just like I like you greedy.”

My body heated, memories of last nightflooding my mind.

“That blush. Killing me, Thorn. I want to trace it with my tongue.” He lowered his head, taking my mouth in a long, slow kiss. As if he had all the time in the world.

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