Page 24 of Choosing Happily Ever After

Somehow she managed to keep her feelings in check long enough to get the key in the lock. But the moment the door was open, he had swooped her up and inside, and he was once again kissing her up against the wall.

Her knees really didn’t stand a chance against the intensity of his desire for her, and she was perfectly okay with that.

His hands were all over her and his mouth was everywhere his hands weren’t. He explored every part of her over her clothes; that was a problem, because she needed his touch on her skin.

Hope wiggled back from his kiss long enough to breathe the words, “Too. Many. Clothes.”

“I couldn’t agree more.”

Oh thank God.

But instead of stripping her clothes off, Levi scooped her up, threw her over his shoulder as if she didn’t weigh anything, and charged up the stairs.

He turned to the right toward the master bedroom. For a moment, she wondered how he knew where her room was now, but then she remembered.

Levi deposited her on the bed, where she landed with a soft grunt. She rolled over and looked up at him looking down at her.

“Now, that’s a sight I could never get tired of.” He licked his lips and stalked toward her like a cat after his prey.

As a reflex, Hope scooted backward on the bed, her hands slipping on the comforter beneath her.

“Don’t tell me you’re trying to get away from me.” He groaned. “I don’t know if I could stand it, Hope. Honestly.”

She shook her head. “Not at all.”

“Good.” Levi grabbed her legs and pulled her back down on the bed and then he was on top of her, straddling her with his thick, muscular thighs. “You are absolutely gorgeous.” He bent to kiss her, but Hope rolled to the side and sat up.

“Remember what I said about clothes?” she asked when he looked at her in question. “Too many.”

He grinned and immediately reached down to the hem of his T-shirt. A moment later, he was bare chested, and Hope had once again lost all ability to speak.

Damn! When had he gotten so damn ripped?

She didn’t bother answering that, not even to herself. The last time they’d been together, they’d been barely more than kids. The man before her now was just that—a man.

A lot of man.

But he wasn’t done. And there was a whole lot more man left.

Hope didn’t even bother hiding her appreciation as his fingers worked at the buckle holding up his jeans and slipped those down around his ankles, where he kicked them off as well, leaving him standing completely naked in front of her.

Any chance that she might have had at formulating words vanished as she took in every hard, perfect inch of his body. Years of hard physical labor had shaped his body in all the right ways.

She couldn’t help it; Hope licked her lips.

Levi groaned. “Your turn.” But he shook his head, changing his mind before she could respond. “No,” he said. “I want to do it.”

He took a step toward her and reached for the buttons of her blouse. Her body trembled under his touch. Levi took his time, slowly pushing each button through its hole in turn. Only once they were all unfastened did he slip his bare hands onto her shoulders and slide the fabric down, exposing her to him.

He looked her up and down appreciatively and shook his head slightly. “Hope…” He shook his head again. “No. There are no words.” He bent and kissed the swell of each breast.

She tilted her head back and moaned as he slowly worked his lips over first her right breast and then her left. Slowly. Methodically.

“You’re torturing me.”

“That’s the idea.”

“Oh, no. That is most definitelynotthe idea.” She grinned and put her palms on his chest. “Because I am just not that patient today.” Before he could respond, she pushed gently until he fell back on the bed. Levi laughed and leaned back on his elbows with a very satisfied smile.

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