Page 49 of Hero Unbound

“I think it was something about slow and gentle,” he continued. “And maybe being on top?”

Her breath caught. Yes, she wanted that.Allof that. But she also wanted this to be good for Theo too.

Slow and gentle was boring for men. But she could give him what he liked, and maybe the rest would be enough that she would enjoy herself rather than be relieved when it was over.

“I like it rough.” She forced the words out fast and didn’t look at him when she said it. Could feel nausea churning in her stomach.

You like it rough. Don’t you, baby?

She could hear Gareth’s voice in her mind. Feel him drive into her from behind the way he always did, forcing her to bury her face in the bed, pulling her hair, or sometimes reaching around her body to pinch her nipples until she cried out in pain.

Say it. You like it rough, don’t you?

“I like it rough.” She said it again, caught between the past and present.

She felt a hand trail down her cheek until a finger under her chin lifted her face so she was staring into Theo’s brown eyes. His smile was gone, and he was studying her with his head tilted to the side.

Great, she’d completely ruined the mood. This was why she wasn’t supposed to talk during sex.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered.

“No need to be sorry. I was just thinking maybe both of us have had enoughroughtoday with the storm beating us half to death. How about if we try the other for tonight.”

“The other?”

“The slow and gentle you mentioned when we walked home. I’d like that very much. Or, it’s also perfectly fine to do nothing. Or spend the next few hours just kissing.”

“Really?”

He smiled softly. “If that’s what you want, there’s nothing that would make me happier. That mouth of yours is very, very kissable.”

As if to prove it, he brushed his lips over hers once. Then again.

Eva’s eyes fluttered closed. She felt more passion just in a brief kiss from Theo than she had from doing anything else in years.

She wanted more. She opened her eyes and stepped back from him.

His smile didn’t falter even the slightest bit. “Do we need to shut things down for tonight and maybe try again another time? Nothing wrong with that.”

“No.” She shook her head then reached for the knot at the top of her towel, loosening it and allowing the fabric to fall away, leaving her naked in front of him. “I want you.”

16

Eva loved the way Theo’s breath hitched and he stared at her like he couldn’t be forced to look away even if the building was on fire.

“God, Eva, you’re fucking gorgeous.” Almost as if he couldn’t help himself, he wrapped his hand around her waist. “So soft.” He trailed his fingers along her skin. “So touchable.”

“I want you,” she said again. She wasn’t sure what else to say. She didn’t want to take any chances on spoiling the moment with the wrong words.

“Believe me, I want you too.”

He reached behind his neck and pulled off his shirt, tossing it to the floor on top of her towel. Then he bent his knees and wrapped both arms around her hips, lifting her until her breasts were pressed to his naked chest and they were face-to-face. “I want you more than I think I want my next breath.”

His lips claimed hers again, still gentle, but much deeper this time. Their tongues tangled, and she wrapped her arms around his neck, keeping him close.

He spun and placed her on the counter, pulling her to the very edge so their bodies were still fully pressed up against each other.

Goose bumps tickled her skin as he trailed his lips from her mouth down her jaw over to her neck. She hooked her legs around his waist to keep him pinned against her.

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