Page 65 of The Two Last Moments

That last shred of resistance inside me vanishes. It’sgone. And so am I.

Our mouths crash together.

She moans and grabs my hair, her other hand clutching at my shoulder. My lips part over hers, swallowing her breathless whimpers.

Her bed is behind me, so I walk us backward until I can sit against it, and Lark goes down with me. I roll us so that I’m on top of her, my mouth not breaking from hers. I suck at her lower lip until she opens up for me. My tongue sweeps inside while my hands seek out the hills and valleys of her curves. When I picked her up after she was hit by that car a month ago, she seemed to weigh nothing. Since then, she’s filled out, and trust me—I’ve noticed. My dick hasdefinitelynoticed. She’s got curves that I want to kiss and explore. To get down on my knees andworship.

It’s been weeks since I last had the chance to taste this girl, and that was only for a few minutes. I want to imprint every aspect of her, the minty taste of her toothpaste and her fresh, floral smell, the silky touch of her hair. This beautiful, strong, vulnerable woman. Who refuses to be a victim, who tries so damn hard to be kind to my grandmother, to my friends, tome, even though I doubt many people have ever shown her the kindness that she needs.

She was even kind to Cam at the café this afternoon, even though he was far more concerned about his own feelings than her well-being. The kid claimed to love her, but how did he show it? He did too little, too late. He didn’t step up when she needed him. That’s what Lark needs. A man who will put her first above everything else. Especially himself.

My cock is thick between us, pushing insistently against her through our layers of clothes. I want nothing more than to strip her down and show her exactly how much I’ve been craving her. But I don’t know what she’s ready for. I doubt she’s a virgin, but this might be the first sexual experience that she remembers.

Reluctantly, I drag my mouth away from hers, separating our bodies by an inch. “This okay?”

“I’m good. I would tell you if I wasn’t.” She runs a trembling hand over my cheek, and I kiss her palm.

“We don’t have to do anything more than what we’re doing now.”

“Oh, I disagree. I’ve been wanting to get naked with you for a while. I want to touch you. Taste you.” She kisses my neck just above the collar of my tee. “Feel you.” Lark reaches down to give the bulge in my jeans a little squeeze. “Allthe things.”

Mmmm. I give her another slow, sensual kiss. The tip of my nose rubs against hers. “I didn’t shave. I’m not scratching you?”

“I like it. I like everything about you.” Tentatively, she rolls her hips against me, rocking her core over my swelling erection, and I grunt. Lark raises up to run her nose along my neck.

I take her hand in mine and press tender kisses to her knuckles. My body lowers to one side of her and I prop myself on my elbow. My other hand wanders over her, barely dipping beneath the edges of her clothes. Testing. “I thought I couldn’t look out for you and have you too, but that’s just not fucking working. We can figure this out. If you’re willing to try with me. If you trust me, if youwant me, then let me take care of you. Will you?”

“Yes,” she whispers. “Will you make me feel good?”

“I will, baby. So good.” Something she would never, ever want to forget. My dick is leaking as I think about how I’m going to spoil her. How I’ll kiss and touch every part of her. Use my body to care for hers.

I’m still lying on my side. I cross my leg over her, pinning her thighs, and with my arm I gather her against me. Lark’s arms fold between our chests. I’m sheltering her. A bulwark between her and the rest of the world.

“Are you nervous?”

“A little.” She huffs a laugh. “What if I don’t remember how to do this? What if I’m terrible at it?”

“We’ll go nice and slow. I’ve got you.”And I’m not letting you go.

24

Nice and slow. That’s what Danny said.

I already want to speed up.

The way he’s kissing and touching me, his weight pressing me into the mattress, the hard ridge of his cock against my hip… I’ve never felt more vivid, morereal, than I do in this moment. I want all of Danny and more.

I’m trying to believe that everything he said is true. I was ready to think the worst about myself, ready to escape these debilitating doubts about who I am and what I’ve done. But if I trust Danny, then shouldn’t I believe what he sees in me? Shouldn’t I give myself a chance to have this? Feel good for once with a man who’s been there for me since the moment we met?

Even when he frustrates me, I can’t imagine a better, more honorable man than him. Always looking out for me. Listening to me. Staying with me whenever I’ve asked him, and backing off when I’ve asked for that too.

Maybe I’m just not strong enough to choose the right thing when Danny’s here, arms around me, telling me he wants me as much as I want him.

And Idowant him.

Desire rushes through my body like a drug. I’m delirious with it. I can’t stop kissing him. Tugging him closer. Enjoying the gentle burn of his stubble as his mouth nibbles down along my jaw and my neck.

I need to feel him. See him moaning and writhing with pleasure and know that I gave that to him. But this isn’t me trying to repay what he’s done for me. Hell, no. I’m greedy for him. I’m eager to finally touch him,knowhim, the way I’ve wanted for weeks now. His tattoos and his muscles and golden skin. The wicked side of him I only get a glimpse of when he flirts.

---