Page 52 of Landon

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Landon had never intended for him and Noel to end up where they were, but to say he was thrilled would be the understatement of the century.

He had watched her jump into the assignment and go above and beyond to care for, counsel, and hell… even shoot a man for them. He knew she thought she had only shot toward the man without hitting him, but Landon was willing for her to keep that assumption. The last thing he wanted was for her to feel guilt about a man who would have killed all of them with no compunction.

She'd offered a shoulder for the kids to cry on, a listening ear, and a heart with the capacity to carry other people's burdens. She was also not a pushover. She was an enigma that had surprised him, and he wanted to know more.

While she'd been upstairs helping the children to pack when their own mother had taken to a bed with a bottle of vodka, he'd talked to the other Keepers before they headed to the garage condo, then made sure the two guest rooms downstairs were ready for him and Noel.

He'd waited at the bottom of the stairs, and when she came down, he could see the dark shadows underneath her eyes, thebits of mud that still clung to the bottom of her pants, and the slump of her shoulders that told him she was exhausted. And all he wanted to do was hold her, give her someone to lean on, and take care of her.

The kiss yesterday had been an impulse he rarely gave in to, catching him by surprise. Her kissing him this evening had been just as much of a surprise but not unwanted.

The feel of her body pressed against him, the trust she offered him, and the taste of her lips combined to make him know he wanted more. But he would've never pushed.

But the kiss seemed to have sparked something ready and willing inside her.

It had been a while since he'd experienced a blow job, but watching her drop to her knees in the shower was unexpected. As soon as her lips wrapped around his cock, all thoughts of going slow flew out of his head. He had the presence of mind to warn her that he was about to come, but she didn’t stop, and watching that gorgeous woman as she sucked him off nearly took him to his knees.

Now, he wanted to return the favor. First, he was determined to care for her how he'd intended when he met her at the bottom of the stairs. He reached around behind her and grabbed the shampoo. “Turn around.”

She acquiesced, and he lathered her hair, massaging her scalp and running his fingers through the tresses. She dropped her head back and moaned, the sound shooting straight through him.

Turning so that the water would rinse her hair, he grabbed the bottle of conditioner. Following the same motions, he was soon finished with her hair. He grabbed the shampoo again and quickly did his own, giving a shake to send the water droplets flying.

She surprised him when she snagged the body wash first, but he held his hands out and she squirted a generous amount in his palm. Their hands slid over each other's bodies, cleansing and stimulating all at the same time.

As his hands moved over her breasts, she sucked in a quick breath and dropped her head back. Her hands hesitated for a second, but then she quickly continued to smooth them over his body.

He explored every inch of her luscious curves, and he gave her full access to do the same. He was glad for the continuously heated water as they completely forgot their conservation ideals.

He thought of lifting and taking her in the shower but wanted their first time to be in a bed. She deserved a soft mattress instead of hard tiles cradling her back. Flipping off the water, he led her out of the shower and dried every inch, starting with her head. He quickly toweled off as she ran a comb through her hair. She squirted lotion onto her hands and lightly moisturized her face and body.

He’d never considered something as mundane as a shower or watching a woman get ready for bed as sexy. But with Noel, every movement she made called to his instincts to take her, care for her, and be part of her world.

She turned to him and smiled. “You've been watching me rather closely.”

“I find you fascinating,” he said, not bothering with a flippant answer but giving her the truth. “Fascinating, and someone I want to know better.”

She stepped forward and placed her palms on his chest, peering up at him. Both naked, he felt her nipples against his skin as his erection nudged against her soft belly. “How much better do you want to know me?” she asked, her lips curving upward.

“I want to know everything. But only taking whatever you want to give me willingly.”

She dragged her fingers down over his abs, and just when he thought they would wrap around his cock, she diverted to the side and linked fingers with him. She turned and walked out of the bathroom, and he willingly followed.

She flipped off the light, leaving the small lamp next to the bed on. Grabbing the covers, she pulled them down, then turned, sat on the edge of the bed, and scooted back. “I want you to know me better, too.”

He stood for a moment and stared at this beautiful naked woman offering herself to him and realized what a gift he'd been given. He crawled forward until his shoulders nudged her legs open. He could smell the soft scent of the body wash, but it was her arousal that held him captive. Bending, he sniffed at the trim curls at the apex of her thighs. With her legs splayed open, he dove in and feasted on her folds.

He licked and tongued, tasting and memorizing. He inserted a finger in her channel as his tongue circled the bundle of nerves before sucking. Her body bowed off the bed.

She writhed underneath him, her fingers clutching the sheets. He looked up, finding her eyes on him, and just like when she'd stared at him in the shower, he was captured by the intensity of her gaze. His free hand roamed upward over her belly to her breasts. He massaged both, tugging lightly on her nipples.

They moved in tandem, and he felt her tense just before she cried out his name. As her orgasm rocked her, he licked her essence. Then slowly, he crawled up her body, kissing the soft skin along the way. His mouth moved between her breasts, teasing and tormenting each distended nipple. Holding his weight off her with his forearms, he suddenly realized he wasbare. Kissing her deeply, he thrust his tongue inside her mouth so she could taste the combination of them together.

Murmuring, “I'll be right back,” he hastened to the side and slid off the bed, feeling like an untried teenager who couldn’t get his shit together.

Grabbing his pants from the floor of the bathroom, he snagged his wallet and opened it, finding the two condoms he always kept forjust in case. He was careful to keep new ones, never wanting them to expire, especially since hisjust in casesweren’t frequent.

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