Page 70 of Mr. Scandalous

“You’re beautiful, Eden Montgomery, inside and out and no scar is going to obscure that fact.” He went down on his knees, kneeling before her and gently pressed his lips to her scars to prove his point.

The tears that had blocked her throat flooded into her eyes. Fat crocodile drops rolled down her cheeks and plopped onto the top of his head. She felt relieved and brave and free.

She’d dared, at long last, to reveal herself to him and Alec hadn’t disappointed her. She’d faced her fears, and he’d rewarded her with deeper sexual intimacy than anything she’d ever experienced. Simply put, she felt like the queen of the world.

No matter what happened from this moment on, she would cherish the precious gift he’d just given her.

It was enough.

Alec clasped her tightly around the waist, pulled her pelvis flush against his face. The scratch of his beard stubble against the tender flesh of her wound was at once erotic and unfamiliar.

He ran his tongue along the edges of the scar, branding her with his tongue. He kissed her naked muff once, twice, three times and then without another word, got to his feet, lifted her into his arms and carried her like a princess on her wedding night into his bed.

ChapterSeventeen

Her body wasa wonderland.

Lush, ripe, rounded. A playground of endless delights.

After stripping off his clothes and rolling on a condom, reverentially, Alec climbed into bed beside Eden. He buried his face in her hair, inhaled deeply and sank into pure bliss.

For the longest time, he simply explored.

He could not get enough of looking at her or tasting her or skimming his hands over her curves. The raw pink edges of her scars stirred tenderness deep inside him.

His chest ached with the thought of all she’d suffered. It literally hurt him to imagine what she’d been through. More than anything he wanted to be the one to whisk away her pain and transport her to a place of pure, unadulterated pleasure.

Over the course of the past month, she’d given him so much delight; it was his turn to repay the favor. He knew to be gentle with her. When he trailed kisses down her torso to tickle her warm, soft belly, he lingered a moment giving her time to adjust, before moving downward into tender territory.

Eden tensed.

“It’s okay, sweetheart,” he crooned, and rested his cheek against her pelvis.

He stroked her until she relaxed. Everything melted away. His universe narrowed to this one spectacular moment, this one spectacular woman, this wondrous world all safe and clean and female.

She curled her fingers into his hair and cooed softly whenever he did something that pleased her. He caressed her with his tongue, slowly and thoroughly heating her damaged skin. She raised her hips off the bed and a soft whimpering noise escaped her lips.

He lifted his head to look at her.

“More…” She parted her legs. “Please, more.”

Sweet heaven, she was ready.

He shifted around, positioning himself between those lovely thighs. He gazed in wonder at the full view of her—so smooth and round and pink and bare.

Cautiously, so as not to hurt her, Alec dipped his head to part her swollen cleft and languidly swept his tongue across her most private spot.

Her taste was incredible. Sweet and yet slightly salty. Earthy and womanly and robust.

“Oh Alec, yes,” she hissed through clenched teeth. “Yes.”

“Tell me more,” he said. “Tell me exactly how you like it.”

“Firmer, faster.”

He complied, excited that she’d overcome her earlier hesitation and let herself go. Soon she was describing every detail, telling him precisely what felt good and what did not. Pride expanded his chest. He felt damned privileged he was with her and awestruck she’d allowed him in on her very personal secret.

Then Eden was beyond speech and Alec found himself working only with silent commands. A writhe, a sharp intake of breath, fingernails biting into his shoulder.

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