Page 81 of Protected from Malice
“No.” He caresses my hair. “Untamed. Natural. Gorgeous.”
“So… If I’ve wanted you since then. And you wanted me. Hasn’t it been long enough already?”
It looks like he’s fighting with himself. Inwardly debating between his wants and fears.
Then he scoops me into his arms. He captures my lips. As he carries me into the bedroom, he says, “You tell me the second you feel uncomfortable. Do not worry about upsetting me. Or disappointing me. You can’t.”
“I know.” I place my hand over his chest. His heart is pounding. “I’ll tell you.”
Just before we reach the bed, Rafe sets me back on my feet. He steps back to look at me again, devouring me with his gaze. “I want to see all of you. Is that okay?”
“Yes. As long as I get to see all of you, too.”
“Of course.” While I watch, he unbuttons his pants and shoves them down. Stepping out of them, he kicks them to the side, then peels off his shirt. Left only in a pair of black briefs, he stands before me. “The rest?” he asks.
I nod before answering in a breathless whisper, “Yes, please.”
I can’t stop looking at him. At his golden skin and all those incredible tattoos and the lines of muscle carved into his body. At the eight pack—at least—covered with a dusting of dark hair that tapers down below his waist. At the breadth of his shoulders and the way his arm muscles flex as he moves.
And at the way he keeps his eyes on me, constantly checking to make sure I’m okay.
Once he’s naked, I move towards him. Close enough to finally touch the tattoos inked across his chest. To trace the twin arrows intersecting a blade just above his heart, which I know represents the insignia of the Green Berets.
“Eden.” He sucks in a breath as I trail my fingers down his abdomen. “Ah, fuck, baby. Feeling your hands on me like that…”
I wrap my hand around him, stroking his velvety heat. He’s slick with excitement, growing thicker and harder the longer I touch him. Taking my time with it, I explore him—seeing what he likes best and memorizing it for the next time.
All through it, Rafe stays still. He watches me with hunger in his eyes. His hands fist. The tendons in his neck go tight.
He likes what I’m doing. And it makes me feel powerful.
I’m not sure how much time passes before Rafe gently catches my hand and pulls it away from him. “I love this,” he says. “But you’re going to make me come if you keep doing that. And there’s no way I’m finishing before you. Especially not our first time.”
“Okay.” I take a deep breath as I silently command the sudden eruption of nerves in my stomach to settle. Not because I’m nervous about actually having sex with Rafe, but this is thefirst time he’s going to see me naked, which is a pretty big deal for any woman.
“Do you want me to do it?” he asks. “Or would you rather?”
Undress myself, which I do all the time, or feel Rafe’s hands all over me as he does it?
“You,” I reply. “I want you to do it.”
So he does.
And it’s just as I always hoped it would be.
Skin revealed inch by inch. His touch slow and steady and achingly gentle.
And then he kisses me all over. Tenderly. Reverently. His gaze is on mine the entire time.
Once I’m fully naked and trembling with need, he climbs onto the bed and leans back against the headboard. Then he gestures for me to move on top of him. “Here,” he says. His hands settle at my waist. “If you sit—I think this will be the best way. For now. Until you’re sure?—”
“Okay.” I climb onto his lap, immediately understanding why he suggested this position. He thinks if I’m on top, I’ll feel more in control. That there’ll be less chance of triggering me.
I’m thankful for it. Thankful for him.
Just as I’m wrapping my legs around his waist, Rafe clamps his arm around me and leans over to swipe his pants off the floor. One-handed, he pulls out his wallet and slides a condom from it. “Don’t want to forget this,” he says as he swiftly tears the package open and sheaths himself.
With that taken care of, he adjusts me on his lap. His erection nudges at me, and I feel myself opening for him.
