Page 48 of Christmas at Hart's Ridge

He lowered his head, one hand at his forehead, blocking his expression. His shoulders shook and I had the feeling he was laughing at me. The asshole.

When he looked up, he was grinning. Confirming my suspicions that he had, indeed, been laughing at me.

“You’re doing wonderful things for my ego, baby, but I promise you, your body was made for this. We’ll fit together. Trust me.”

I sighed. “This is definitely going to hurt.” It wasn’t a question. I was resigned. Because I wanted this, wantedhim, more than I had ever wanted anything and anyway, I wasn’t scared of a little pain.

“Bethany. Look at me, sweetheart.”

“Iamlooking at you. I can’tnotlook at you.” Because, seriously. I couldn’t tear my gaze away.

He laughed. “My eyes, Red. Look at my eyes.”

I tore my gaze from his dick and focused on his face. He came closer. Leaned in until his eyes were all I could see.

“I don’t want to hurt you, Bethany. And I’m going to do my damnedest to keep that from happening.”

“How?” I asked. Not because I didn’t trust him, but because I was curious.

He grinned. “To start with, I’m going to make you very, very wet,” he said.

And dropped to his knees and proceeded to drive me out of my goddamned mind.

He kissed me there like he kissed my mouth, leaving no fold untasted. He licked and sucked, nibbled and swirled. And, good god, the manteased, giving pleasure and retreating, pleasure and retreating, until I was nearly sobbing with need.

“You have the sweetest, prettiest pussy,” he murmured against my thigh.

That had to be a lie. I came from a world where the beauty of the human form waseverything. I knew what beauty was, and this wasn’t it. I wasn’t in an elegant position. I was a panting, writhing mess, my legs spread inelegantly wide—

A stinging slap against my clit brought me back with a gasp. I blinked down at Luke, momentarily confused.

“I don’t know where you just went, Red, but you’re not staying there.”Slap. “Tonight this ismypussy. The only thing you feel is perfect, do you understand me?” His third slap sent my hips bucking, my back arching.

“Yes,” I gasped.

He studied me. “You like a little pain with your pleasure, is that it? Tonight’s going to be so good for you.”

Then he lowered his head and sucked my clit until I screamed his name.

I watched through half-shut eyes as he rolled a condom over his length, taking note of the particulars. Next time, I wanted to do it.

He stretched out on top of me, and I felt that torpedo between his legs notch against me. I placed my hands on his shoulders, looking up at him.

“Fuck me, Luke,” I said.

His gaze locked on mine. He thrust forward then, and I couldn’t help it, I cried out a little at the shock. He hesitated only a moment before pushing farther in and then—shit—even farther.

“Breathe, baby,” he whispered.

It took me a moment to realize he had said that because Iwasn’tand another moment after that to actually do something about it. And with that breath came awareness that my entire body had seized and tensed. My back was arched, my fingernails digging hard enough into his arms that I would probably see marks there tomorrow. Even my toes were pointed.

It was a good pain.

I took another breath and the sting eased, leaving behind only that nearly unbearable fullness. I blinked and his face came into focus. He was holding himself very still, keeping most of his weight on his arms.

“You okay?” he asked, his voice husky and rough, like it cost something to hold himself still like that.

Okay? I was overwhelmed. No one had warned me about this part. The part where someone isactually inside you. That the feeling of someone inside you is so physically intimate that it borders on too much. That for me, maybe it would have been too much, if it had been someone else.

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