Page 66 of Wicked Ambition

“I’ll remove it at some point, but the pistol is going to stay within reach. We should be safe, but I’m not risking it.”

“That’s one of the things I appreciate about you—the way you take care of me.”

“I’ll always take care of you,” Oz said, pressing a kiss to the corner of her mouth.

“I know you will.” Ayla turned enough to catch a full kiss. This time, she was the one who nipped his lip. “You’ve watched over me since I first saw you. Did I ever tell you how grateful I was for the rescue?”

“You did, but if you hadn’t, the night we spent together was thanks enough.”

“We’re standing here, talking,” Ayla pointed out.

“Pollita, you wanted to stop. You wanted to talk. I told you, you’re always the one in charge. I’m not going to hurry you along. We’ll take as much time as you need and not only now. That’s a forever promise.”

A forever promise.

Ayla gazed up into his earnest blue eyes and it suddenly hit her just how deep the waters were that they were swimming in. At least how deep it was for her. Somehow, some way, she’d fallen in love with Oziah West.

Oz watcheda stunned expression cross Ayla’s face. It didn’t last long before she tightened her grip on his shoulders and pulled herself closer. “I’m done talking. Let’s pick up the pace.”

“You’re the boss,” he said. Oz was definitely ready to move things along. There’d been a tentativeness in Ayla, one that had him taking things leisurely, but it was gone. In its place was decisiveness. His Pollita knew what she wanted, and it was him in bed with her. That didn’t mean he was going to rush, though.

He needed to make sure she understood they weren’t having sex. They were making love. They were forging a bond, one that had nothing to do with their baby and everything to do with the two of them.

Oz was claiming his woman.

Threading his fingers through her hair, he steadied her for another kiss. This one held nothing back and she met him fire for fire.

Ayla pushed at the fatigue shirt he wore open over his T-shirt and he released her long enough to shrug out of it. She was wearing another loose, flowing shirt in some blue color with a garden printed all over it. Oz tugged one of the ties at the neckline, deepening the vee. He ran a finger over her skin as he headed for the second tie.

Another tug and he could see the swell of her breasts. Dipping a finger behind the shirt, he traced the cups of her bra across the top. It was a tease for both of them. Her skin was soft, smooth, delicate. Pale compared to the tanned skin of his hands.

He moved to the buttons below the ties.

“Those are decorations. They don’t open,” Ayla said with a note of breathlessness.

“Guess I need an alternate plan.” He moved back a step, prepared to slide up under the hem, but she took matters into her own hands. Ayla had the shirt up, off, and tossed toward the wobbly yellow chair in a flash.

“Problem solved.”

“I see that, Pollita.” Her bra was plain, but it looked sexy as hell because it was her. Her blonde curls hit where the straps ended, enticing him forward. Oz wound a finger through one of her ringlets and leaned down for a kiss. Ayla met him halfway.

Oz took his time opening the hooks on her bra. His touch was even more gentle as he ran a thumb across one crest. Her eyesstayed dreamy. Cupping her with both hands, he continued his light caress.

“Stop teasing,” Ayla said.

“Teasing?” He raised his gaze to hers.

“I need more than these butterfly grazes.”

Now he understood. “I read that a woman’s breasts are sensitive when she’s pregnant. I didn’t want to hurt you.”

“That’s sweet.” She didn’t sound appreciative. Ayla tugged his T-shirt out of his pants. “But you’re being too careful.” She reached for the button at his waistband and slipped it free. “I’m not made of glass, and Oz? I’ll let you know if I don’t like something.”

“Understood.” He moved her hands away before she could tackle the rest of his button fly. “You get out of your pants. I’ll take care of mine.”

Taking off his holster, he checked out the situation by the bed. No nightstands or a headboard, but there was a flat ledge on the wall behind it. He set his weapon down and pulled off his T-shirt. He unbuttoned his fly as he walked back to Ayla. She was looking nervous, standing there in only her panties, and he needed to put her at ease.

He loved little Miss Priss, but he also loved how wild she could be when she forgot her self-consciousness.

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