Page 36 of More Than a Hero
She exhaled softly, then smiled. “That’s good to hear, Pete. In all honesty…” She tipped her head, her smile deepening, a hint of mischief lacing her tone. “I’m here with lots of expectations.”
A slow heat rolled through him, settling deep in his gut. He tilted his head, waiting.
Her fingers tightened around his. “Expectations of kisses. Of caresses. Of everything that comes after.”
Her words shot straight through him, right to his heart, and lower, to where need pulsed hot and insistent. He willed himself to stay steady, to let her set the pace, even as desire coiled tight in his chest.
And then she stepped closer. The first kiss was soft and tentative, an unspoken promise exchanged between them. But as she leaned in, pressing herself against him, something ignited… a slow, simmering heat turning to fire.
His hands slid up her back, pulling her against him as their lips moved together, deepening, searching, learning. She sighed against his mouth, and the sound undid him. A low groan rumbled in his throat as his grip tightened, his body pressing against hers in a silent plea for more.
By the time they broke apart, they were both breathless, their foreheads touching, their bodies swaying slightly as if they needed to stay connected. And Pete knew this was just the beginning.
Angie stepped back, her chest heaving as she sucked in air. Her hands settled on the bottom of her shirt and she slowly lifted it over her head. Pete now found it hard to breathe as her cream satin bra captured his attention.
He wanted to reach out and drag his finger along the lace at the top of her breasts, but he wasn't sure he could move, terrified that this would be a dream and she would suddenly disappear.
She stepped closer, her hands reaching for his shirt. She slowly drew it upward until she lifted it as high as it would go. He took over and then dropped the shirt to the floor. They stepped closer, and his hands, once again, moved to her waist as herslifted to his shoulders. Her lips curved slightly, and the gentle smile pierced his soul.
He bent to kiss her again, his tongue dancing over hers. His hands glided along the soft skin of her back and deftly unsnapped her bra. He slowly slid the straps down her arms until the silk material fell at their feet. He pulled her close, and now, with her naked breasts pressed against his bare chest, he felt every inch of her skin branded on him. He cupped her face as he poured every ounce of emotion swirling through him into the kiss. His erection was pressing against the zipper of his jeans, painful and eager.
Now, as they dragged their lips from each other, chest heaving, her thumbs slid into the waistband of her sweatpants.
He unbuttoned his jeans, and as he pulled down the zipper, he felt a sense of relief as his cock had room to swell even more. He toed off his shoes and shoved his pants to the floor. She was still standing with her thumbs in her waistband, her gaze roaming over his chest and down to his cock.
Standing completely naked in front of her, he spied a smile on her face, and he grinned. She wasn't coy and wasn't playing games. She liked what she saw, and he sure as hell liked what he was looking at.
She suddenly blinked as though startled and jerked her sweatpants down. He offered a hand as she stepped out of them, keeping her body steady.
The light of the room was dim, but as his gaze lazily drifted from her beautiful face down her body, he spied her swollen knee.
"Not now," she raggedly whispered.
His gaze jerked up to hers, uncertain what her words meant.
"Please, please don't ask about my health right now," she begged. "I promise I'll tell you anything you want to know, but just not right now. All I want is to lose myself in you."
So many thoughts swirled through his mind, making it hard to focus. He knew that after the day she'd had, maybe she only wanted sex with him as a comfort. As a way to feel alive after witnessing death. It wasn't unusual… and while he would grant her anything, he would need to hang on to his heart if that was all she wanted from him.
Her hands lifted to squeeze his arms, and she shook her head. "No, Pete, it's not what you're thinking. What I said didn’t quite come out right." Her brow had furrowed, and worry creased her face.
"Hey," he said gently. When her eyes landed back on his face, he continued. "I'm here, sweetheart. Whatever you need, I'm here. I'll be your person, whatever that needs to be."
She swallowed deeply and nodded. "When I said I wanted to lose myself in you, I didn't mean that I just wanted sex to feel alive or to erase the day. I meant that I want to be your person, not just a hookup. And yes, I want you to be mine. Whether it's a tough day, or a celebration, or just I'm glad to be with you… it's all of those.” She shook her head. “I’m screwing this up, aren’t I?”
“Not at all, babe,” he said, cupping her face. “Just say what’s in your heart, ’cause that’s the only way I’ll know what’s right for me to do.”
"It means I want to feel with you. Be with you."
His finger landed on her soft-as-petals lips. "I get it, Angie. And I want to lose myself in you, too."
He bent, and with one hand behind her back and the other behind her knees, he carefully lifted her and carried her to the bed, where he gently set her down. "I'll do anything you want. I just don't want to hurt you."
She smiled and nodded. "My left knee doesn't bend very well right now. But anything else will be perfect."
Wanting to make sure she was as ready as possible, he bent over the bed and placed both palms on either side of her. He kissed first one breast and then the other, circling her nipples with his tongue before sucking deeply. He continued a trail of kisses over her tummy and mound. She opened her legs, and he inhaled her arousal. Like nectar to a bee, he dove in. With the flat of his tongue, he licked her folds.
Her breath hitched, and he loved the little sounds she made. Her hips lifted as though presenting herself to him. His mouth surrounded the bundle of nerves, and he sucked while sliding a finger inside her sex.
