Page 47 of Graced
She needed Rhyne, and she needed him as more than her protector.
Grace threw her arms around his neck and clung to him.Her body fed on his warmth and the solid strength of his muscles she felt beneath his t-shirt.
Something papery was shoved against her chin.
“Here.Blow your nose and wipe your eyes with this.”
Releasing him, she did as she was told.Lifting her face, she remembered where she was, where they were.She turned to look at him.At his intense gaze searching hers for signs of sanity returning.It felt perfectly natural for her to take his cheeks between her hands and lean in to kiss him.
She felt his initial hesitation, but when she released his face and slid her arms around his neck, he succumbed to the moment.His hands pressed against her back as he pushed her closer to him.His mouth took hers, and his kiss erased the last shreds of the nightmare from her sleep-addled brain.
He overwhelmed her, dominated her, and she didn’t care.She didn’t fear him.She didn’t fear him hurting her.
There was an instant when he unexpectedly pulled away from her, leaving her confused.She opened her eyes to stare into his, and she got the impression he was…embarrassed?
“What?Did I do?—”
He quickly cut her off.“No.You’ve done nothing wrong, if that’s what you were going to ask.In fact…” Taking a deep breath, he ran a hand through his hair.“Grace, one of us has to pull the plug on this, or else…”
“Or else what?Rhyne, if I wasn’t sure of what I was doing, I wouldn’t be kissing you.”She ran her fingertips over his scruffy beard.“I want you.I want to make love with you.Damn it, Rhyne, I need to feel safe and wanted.Can’t you understand that?”She paused as another reason took shape.“Oh!Oh, no.I’m sorry.”She started to pull away but he stopped her.
“Wait.What are you sorry for?”he asked.
“I never considered you wouldn’t have the same feelings for me.I never thought that you might not want to get involved with me.”
She was puzzled when he started chuckling.
“You mean you couldn’t tell from the way I kissed you back?”he lightly teased.“Yes, I want you.Yes, I want to make love to you.Yes, I want to get involved with you.Hell, if I didn’t care, do you think I would’ve gone after Welsh the way I did?Do you think we’d be here right now if I didn’t want to keep you safe?”He caressed her cheek with the back of his knuckles.“There is one small problem, though.”
Grace gave him a wide-eyed look as she waited.
“I don’t have any sleeves with me.”
“Sleeves?Oh!You mean condoms?”Smiling, she blushed slightly.“Rhyne, I can’t get pregnant while I’m on my period.”
His nostrils flared, and she knew he was sniffing her.
“You can’t?”
“Rhyne… What’s your last name?”
“Castille.”
“Rhyne Castille, you’rehowold?And you don’t know that simple biological fact?”she teased.Before he could respond, she slid her hand behind his neck and pulled his face toward hers.
* * *
Rhyne found himself in unfamiliar territory.In some ways it frightened him.In others, it left him feeling and rethinking emotions he’d never experienced before.
He froze, his eyes locking on hers.Time ceased to pass as their gazes remained on each other.Their breathing synced, and unspoken answers passed between them.There would be no need for a condom.Not now, not ever, and they silently understood why.Even after her period ended, they wouldn’t use one.Once this whole ordeal was over, if they both survived, she’d remain with him.
She’d stay with him as long as she could, as long as he was able to have her.Time or circumstance would eventually separate them, but until then, he would cherish her.
So when she drew his mouth back down to take hers, he allowed himself the chance to take what she was offering without guilt.
Her scent was intoxicating.The smell of her blood wafted into his sinuses like the sweetest perfume.With his arms around her, he lay down on the bed, taking her with him.She snuggled closer to his body as he explored her neck.Sniffing it, rubbing his beard over the sensitive area, tonguing her sweat.Grace arched her back, exposing her throat and upper chest for his licks and nuzzles.Her actions made him chuckle.
“I don’t bite,” he murmured against her soft skin.
