Page 21 of Wild Valentine
The kiss deepens, and his hands run though my hair.
“Can I stay here tonight?” I ask.
He catches his breath and pulls my head back to look in my eyes. They’re full of heat, a mirror of my own.
“Is that what you want, angel?”
“Yes.”
I want to forget. I want to lose myself in this amazing, thoughtful, troubled man. For one night, I want to forget.
9
MARCUS
Ilead Hazel to the bedroom as the anticipation builds in my chest. Ever since I first laid eyes on my angel, I knew she’d be mine. Now it’s time to claim her.
I don’t know what will happen tomorrow when it’s her time to leave. I can’t ask her to stay, not when her mother’s ill, not when her home is in New York. But I can’t be without her.
There have got to be suburbs in New York that have parks and open areas. We could live outside the city and get the best of both words. Sure, there are no mountains, but as l long as I’ve got some wilderness, I’ll be happy. It’ll mean leaving the MC, but maybe I can start a New York branch. There have got to be veterans who need support in the city.
The city will be stifling, but I’ll do it for Hazel in a heartbeat.
It’s this future I’m thinking of as I lay her down on my bed. I climb on top of her, and our bodies collide as my mouth explores every part of her, kissing her neck, her throat, her chest. I open her shirt and run my hands over her luscious breasts, loving the way she moans at my touch. Her eyelids flutter shut and her lips purse as the most delicious sounds come out of her mouth.
She’s responsive to my touch and I enjoy caressing her, exploring her body as I ease her out of her cloths.
When I’ve got Hazel naked before me, her hair splayed out on the pillow, I sit back and admire her body, tracing the lines of her curves with my fingertips.
“You’re beautiful, angel.”
She smiles shyly at me, all traces of the confident city girl wiped away in this moment.
She sits up, and her hands fumble with my jeans. She’s clumsy and nervous, and I stop her hands and capture her chin.
“Slow down, angel. We’ve got all night.”
“Sorry,” she mumbles and bites her lower lip. “It’s just . . . I’ve never done this before.”
Does she mean hook up with a virtual stranger? Because I feel like I’ve known this woman half my life.
“This isn’t a one night stand, Hazel.”
Her eyes meet mine, wide and innocent and afraid.
“How can it not be?” she whispers.
I kiss her gently on the lips and pull back. I gave my heart to a woman once before, and she betrayed me. For years I kept myself closed off, but in a matter of days Hazel has torn down every defense I have. She already has my heart and my soul. She doesn’t know it yet, but I’ll do whatever it takes to be with her.
“Have faith, Hazel. Enjoy tonight, and we’ll figure out tomorrow, tomorrow.”
Her curious eyes scan mine, and I wonder what’s going on in that overworked brain of hers.
I’ve never seen anyone who needs a release more, and that’s exactly what I’m going to give her.
“Lie back.”
She hesitates. “I meant I haven’t doneitbefore.”
