Page 13 of Christmas With the Navy SEAL Mountain Man
My hands slide beneath her sweater, finding warmskin.She shivers at the touch,pressingcloser.When my fingers trace the curve of her spine, she makes a small sound in the back of her throat that sends heat straight to mygroin.
"Bedroom?" I ask, giving her a final chance to changehermind.
In answer, she takes my hand and leads me down a shorthallway.Her bedroom is bathed in the soft glow of Christmas lights strung around thewindow,illuminatinga space that's purely Leah—books on the nightstand, colorful quilts on the bed, a framed photograph of mountain sunrise that I recognize as the view from myproperty.
She notices my gaze lingering on thephoto."I took that the morning after the Winter Wonderland setup. The sunrise was too beautiful not tocapture."
"You've been watching my mountain," I say, a smile tugging at mylips.
"Just like you've been watching me." She steps closer, fingers working at the buttons of my flannelshirt."Don't think I haven'tnoticed."
I capture her hands, bringing them to mylips."You're hard not towatch."
Color blooms in her cheeks at thecompliment.I release her hands to cup her face, thumbs stroking her flushed skin as I lower my mouth to hersagain.This kiss is slower, deeper, a thorough exploration rather than a desperatecrash.
Her fingers resume their work on my buttons, pushing my shirt from my shoulders once the last one isfree.I tense involuntarily as cool air hits my scarredskin.No one has seen my body since Afghanistan, the roadmap of violence written across my chest andback.
Leah senses my hesitation. Her hands still, eyes findingmine."We can stop if youwant."
"No," I say, voice rough. "I want this. I want you. It's just been... a longtime."
Understanding softens herfeatures.She presses a gentle kiss to my collarbone, then to a shrapnel scar near myshoulder."You're beautiful,Aaron."
The word should sound ridiculous applied to a battle-scarred body like mine, but the sincerity in her voice silences anyprotest.Her hands explore my chest with reverent touches, tracing each scar, each tattoo, learning me bytouch.
I reach for the hem of her sweater, seeking permission with myeyes.At her nod, I pull it over her head, revealing a simple black bra against creamyskin.My breath catches at the sight of her, soft curves a stark contrast to my hardangles.
"Beautiful," I murmur, echoing her earliercompliment.
Her smile turns shy, hands rising to cover herselfinstinctively.
"Don't," I say, gently catching herwrists."Let me see you. All ofyou."
I lower her hands, then reach behind her to unclasp herbra.It falls away, revealing perfect breasts tipped with rosy peaks that tighten under mygaze.Unable to resist, I bend to take one nipple into my mouth, drawing a gasp from herlips.Her fingers tangle in my hair, holding me to her as I lavish attention on first one breast, then theother.
"Aaron," she breathes, the sound of my name on her lips sending heat coursing throughme.
We tumble onto the bed in a tangle of limbs and half-removedclothing.I help her out of her jeans, then shed my own, until we're both down to ourunderwear.The Christmas lights cast golden patterns across her skin as I hover above her, taking in the sight of her spread beneathme.
"You're overdressed," she says with a smile, hooking her fingers in the waistband of myboxers.
I let her push them down my hips, kicking them offcompletely.Her eyes widen slightly as she takes in the sight of me, fully aroused and aching forher.Before I can feel self-conscious, she slides her own underwear down her legs, leaving her gloriouslynaked.
"Come here," she whispers, arms opening tome.
I settle between her thighs, careful to brace my weight on myforearms.The first touch of skin against skin draws groansfrom usboth.I capture her mouth again, losing myself in the taste of her as our bodies presstogether.
Her hands explore my back, tracing muscles and scars with equalappreciation.When her fingers drift lower to squeeze my ass, I growl against her mouth, grinding againsther.The heat and wetness at her center nearly undoesme.
"I need to taste you," I murmur against her throat, already movinglower.
She watches with hooded eyes as I trail kisses down her body, lingering at her breasts before continuing my journey across the soft plane of herstomach.When I settle between her thighs, she props herself up on her elbows to watch, lips parted inanticipation.
"Is this okay?" I ask, pressing a kiss to her innerthigh.
"God, yes," she breathes, letting her head fall back as I place another kiss closer to hercenter.
At the first touch of my tongue against her, she gasps, hips liftinginvoluntarily.I hold her steady with one arm across her abdomen, using my free hand to open her further to myexploration.She tastes sweet and musky, addictive in a way I hadn'tanticipated.
