Page 44 of Love and Other Trials
All the other words she’d been called rose up in her mind, ones that were anything but beautiful. She hated that, and she lowered her head, trying to force them back. He only tipped her chin up and kissed her slowly.
“Don’t listen to that chatter in your head. Listen to me. I know what I’m talking about. You. Are. Beautiful. I don’t think you know how much.”
She ducked her head, kissing his chest, trying to take his words into her, because they were precious, and now they were hers.
“Look at me now.”
She looked up and found his warm gaze resting on her. When he touched her cheek, she could almost hear him saying the words to her.You’re beautiful.When he touched her neck, the words were there too.You’re beautiful.
But it was when he tucked her short hair behind her ears and gave her a heart-melting smile that she finally believed it. A profound calm filled her, running through her already heated blood. She wasn’t feeling any urgency now. There was desire, yes, but also peace she’d never known with anyone else.
When his hand explored her more deeply, she arched into him, closing her eyes, giving herself up to the moment. When he finally laid her down on the bed and helped her off with her shirt and the rest of her bra, she was ready for the skin-to-skin embrace. The heat of it had them both groaning as they pressed together. He dipped his head to press soft kisses to her neck and shoulder while she gripped the hard muscles of his back.
His hands slid under her skirt, palming her butt. She tilted her hips toward him, loving the feel of his strong, warm hand. She was unable to smother the gut-wrenching groan that fell from her lips. He teased the edges of her panties, making her open wider for him. Running his fingers along her core, he gave her an open-mouthed kiss that left her shaking.
Needing more, she popped the button to her jean skirt and pushed it down with help from him. It dropped onto the floor, and he rose to strip off his shorts before pulling out his wallet and drawing out a condom.
She smiled like a woman who knew she was about to be well satisfied. “Good idea. I was getting there.”
He threw it on the bed and pulled her onto his lap, his arousal making her body clench with need. “Baby, we’re already there.”
The husky way he said that had her grabbing his nape and pulling him down for another kiss. They rubbed. They took. They gave. They whispered incoherent things to each other she wasn’t sure either of them could make out but they still somehow both understood.
His skin was so hot, but she only wanted more, and when he finally slid his fingers toward her core under her panties, she gave a loud cry and opened to him. His first touch held a certainty, a knowing, and she pressed into it, wanting more. He took her there easily the first time, and she was panting when she finally opened her eyes.
He was leaning over her on his elbow, his green eyes smoldering. “Okay?”
“Better than okay.” Her voice was hushed and low, and she smiled at the realization that she sounded rather sexy. “Pretty perfect actually, Stephan.”
He leaned down and kissed her slowly, his tongue dancing lightly before he leaned back. “Oh, Elizabeth. We’ve barely started. Let me show you.”
Pushing her onto her back, he slid her panties down her legs, tossing those aside too. She had no vulnerability now as he studied her, widening her so he could give her a deeper caress. One finger. Two. Soon she was lost in a sea of sensation. Her eyes closed again, only to open wide when she felt the first press of his hot, wet mouth on her core.
“Oh, God!”
“That’s right. Come for me, baby.”
She did. And then she did again when he slid his tongue deeper inside her. Making her keen and press up into his hot, clever mouth.
“Dax!”
“Right here.”
She reached out blindly and found a shoulder. “Condom. Now.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he drawled roughly.
Wanting to touch him, she rose onto her elbow and gave him a feather-like caress. He was beautiful and he was hot and hard and silky to the touch. He covered her hand with his own and then drew it away so he could fit the condom on.
“Have mercy, honey. I’ve been like this most of the day. All I’ve wanted is you. Let’stryand take it slow the first time.”
That had her snorting out a laugh. “Okay. We can try, but I can’t make any promises.”
He covered her and pressed into her with the same careful, methodical deliberation she expected made him a great pilot. When he was seated to the hilt, they were both breathing hard. Their eyes met. Their hands reached for each other at the same time, their fingers curling around each other.
“Ariel.”
She knew it was a benediction, and it made her heart pulse with feeling. Yes, this man. Right now.“Dax.”
