Page 22 of Joshua's Mistake
He walked closer until he was standing over her and she was forced to look up to meet his gaze. Her hair was damply stuck to her cheek and he pushed it back behind her ear. “Because I want you but I don’t deserve you.”
“That just sounds like nonsense to me,” she said.
“Are you saying you’d make love with me, Tessa, right now, after only meeting me two days ago?” His cock fought against the fly of his jeans. He wasn’t sure what he wanted her to say. He wanted her more than he’d ever craved a woman before in his life. Yet knowing how inherently good she was, held him at bay. His mind was dark and scarred while hers had been a perfect blend of virtue, toughness and light.
Her pretty lips turned up. “I’ve been thinking about it. Normally I’m not so easy. Actually, I rarely hook up. Sex complicates things in my experience. Sex with a psi is even more complicated. I’m not very comfortable with the connection during sex.”
He didn’t say anything, but he didn’t move away either. Her admission surprised him since they had been gently connected most of the time since they’d met. Watching her expression carefully, he recalled the way she had invited him into her dream the night before. Had that really been just for him? His body wanted to believe it.
She stood up and pressed her palm against his bare chest. “Why did you block me while I was in the shower?”
Her touch could bring him to his knees if he didn’t take care. “I didn’t want to scare you.”
“Why would I be scared? What were you talking to Will about?”
He put his hand over hers. “It’s not what we were talking about that worried me. I feel things for you I’ve never experienced before. I have my doubts that I can control it. You might be better off getting as far away from me as possible, Tessa.”
Her other hand touched his stubbly cheek. “Control is your thing, Joshua. I never said I wanted you to control yourself.”
A feral growl rumbled in his chest. She was not making it easy to behave himself. His head lowered until his mouth hovered half an inch from her lips. “Tell me you want me, that you want this?”
“Almost from the moment you walked into that room at the beach house.”
All illusions of controlling his desires dropped away as his lips plundered her mouth. She was sweeter than he’d imagined and he couldn’t get enough. If she minded his assault he would not have known by the way her hands clutched at his shoulders and her firm tits pressed against his chest. Her tongue mingled with his and a loud groan pushed up from his chest.
He wanted to be gentle and had to pull himself back to accomplish it. Instinctively he closed off his mind. He learned young that merging minds during sex had to be done with caution and she’d already admitted it was not something she generally enjoyed.
His hand slipped down to the bottom of the cotton shirt. He hesitated, giving her time to say no and expecting her to toss him from the room at any moment. Instead she lifted her arms above her head in an invitation to undress her. No more hesitation, he slid the garment up and over her head, leaving her gloriously naked.
Joshua took a step back to look at her lean, fit body and perfectly rounded breasts. He followed the line of her slim waist down to the swell of her hips. Her smooth skin was soft beneath his fingertips. “Jesus, Tessa, you’re gorgeous.”
“You’re overdressed.” She tugged on the button securing his jeans and slid the zipper down. He hadn’t put his underwear back on, so when she pushed them down over his hips, his cock stood out, hard and ready.
Stepping out of his pants, he cupped one perfect breast, lowered his head and captured the taut peak between his lips. She moaned and arched into him.
Tessa didn’t touch him immediately. A moment went by where the only body parts touching were his mouth to her sensitive nipple. The soft scent of honeysuckle kissed her skin and went to his head.
He sucked harder, tugging the morsel and making her cry out.
Her hand circled his shoulder, and his arm wrapped around her waist as he released her nipple and moved up to her lips.
She opened immediately for him and their tongues danced together. She was a drug and he felt an instant dependence.
His hand slid lower, cupping the soft flesh of her ass and kneading as he pulled her tight against him. His cock ached for relief, but he wanted her pleasure desperately, maybe more than his own. The edge of her mind poked at his. He urgently wanted to let her in, but caution won out and he blocked her advances into his mind.
Flattered and surprised by her offer, he still didn’t open up. Being with her was too raw and he feared he would lose control. At least for this first time he would close his mind.
Soft lips and tender flesh would be more than enough, more than he deserved.
Her consciousness nudged him again, and again he held her at bay.
She pulled away. “You don’t trust me.”
His chest tightened painfully and he brought his hand up to caress her cheek. “It’s not you I don’t trust, Tessa. I want you so bad I’m afraid I’ll lose control and hurt you. This first time let it just be physical and emotional. We can save other connections for other times.”
“I understand.” The sorrow in her eyes told him she was not being completely honest. It nearly made him change his mind.
He brought his other hand up to cradle her face and make sure he had her full attention. “I want every part of you in every way a man can want a woman and in ways most men can’t. I expect being inside your head while you come will be the most sensual moment of my life and I want to experience that over and over again. I just want to be a bit less crazed to be inside you physically than I am right now.”
