Page 173 of Risky Passion

My breath hitched as he brushed his fingers against my cheek, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. The way he looked at me, like I was his world, made my knees weak.

“Come on.” He reached for my hand, pulling me higher up the beach like he was on a mission. At a soft patch of sand, nestled in front of two palm trees, he laid out the picnic blanket.

We lay on the blanket, and Jaxson stretched out beside me, propped on one elbow, his face just inches from mine. The glow of the moon made his eyes even more intense, and the way he looked at me made my heart ache in the best way.

“Jaxson,” I whispered, my voice trembling slightly.

He leaned in, pressing his lips to mine in a soft kiss. Our lips barely touched, yet the sensation set me on fire. I kissed him back, letting everything I’d been holding inside for the past month come pouring out.

He groaned softly, his hand sliding into my hair as our kiss deepened.

“You’re so beautiful,” he murmured against my lips, his voice thick with emotion.

His words undid me. I’d never been with a man who made me feel like this. Like I was his everything.

I pulled him closer, my hands sliding up his chest, feeling the hard ridges of muscle beneath his shirt. He was solid, strong, and impossibly warm, and I wanted all of him.

As if he’d read my mind, he eased away to unbutton his shirt and peel it open revealing the body I’d been dying to see again. The moonlight highlighted every muscle, every line. My breath whispered off my lips.

Holy wow, he’s incredible.

He undid the belt that held my wraparound dress in position, and as he pulled the sides apart, revealing my lingerie beneath, his eyes trailed over me like he was memorizing every inch. I should have felt self-conscious, but with him, I didn’t. With him, I felt invincible. I tugged the dress off completely and tossedit aside.

“You’re perfect,” he said as his hands skimmed my waist, my hips, my thighs.

And then he kissed me again, hungry this time, like he couldn’t get enough. I moaned into his mouth, my body arching into his as the heat between us grew.

His hands were everywhere, exploring, teasing, until I was trembling beneath him. Every touch, every kiss, every whispered word made me feel more alive than I ever had before.

I tugged him closer, my fingers fumbling with the button of his suit pants. He chuckled, a deep, sexy sound that made my pulse race. “Eager?” he teased, his lips brushing my ear.

“Very.”

The moment his lips found mine again, the rest of the world disappeared. His kiss was filled with the kind of intensity that made my heart race. He cupped my face gently, his thumbs brushing against my cheekbones. I melted into him, my fingers threading through his hair, pulling him closer, desperate to feel him.

I’d waited so long for this. Too long. The weeks apart had been torture, and now, with him here, touching me, kissing me, I felt like I’d been starving for him. Every nerve in my body was alive, humming with anticipation.

Jaxson’s lips left mine, trailing down the curve of my jawline, then lower, grazing the sensitive skin of my neck. His warm breath sent shivers down my spine as his lips brushed over my collarbone, then back up to the hollow of my throat. His kisses were slow, purposeful, as though he wanted to memorize every inch of me.

“God, Tory,” he murmured against my skin, his voice rough and filled with need. “I missed you.”

He slid his hands down my sides, his touch both firm and gentle.

“I missed you, too.” My fingers swept over his chest before trailing lower, and as he watched me, his eyes dazzled in the moonlight as I took my time. My hands roamed over his toned stomach, the hard planes of muscle quivering under my touch. His breathing hitched when I traced the line of his abs down toward the waistband of his suit pants.

“Not fair,” I said, my voice barely a whisper, teasing him as I tugged at the button of his pants.

He chuckled, sending another wave of heat through me. “You first,” he said, his voice thick with desire.

With a small smile, I reached around to unclip my bra, letting it slide from my shoulders. The warm breeze kissed my bare skin, making me shiver. Jaxson’s gaze dropped to my chest, his hands following, cupping me gently before his thumbs brushed over my hardened nipples.

“You’re perfect,” he said.

I arched into him, desperate for more. He dipped his head, and his lips closed over one nipple as his fingers teased the other. A soft moan escaped me, and I tangled my fingers in his hair, holding him to me, unable to control the way my body responded to him.

“Oh, Jaxson,” I murmured his name as a plea.

He pulled back just enough to meet my gaze, his eyes flickering with both tenderness and raw desire. He stood and shed the rest of his clothes in a frenzy, and my breath caught as I took him in, grateful for the moonlight outlining every inch of him.

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