“Barry,” he said, still offended on her behalf. How dare anyone treat her like that prick had? “I’m putting the guy in ICU as soon as tomorrow.”
Her lids went to half-mast, the gray of her eyes softening to a smoky silvery-blue. “I think you’re a better gift giver than Ava, and she’s a master. But the point is, I’m choosy, and I don’t screw around for fun. Wait. I do screw around for fun, but it’s also for keeps.”
Two men. At last those words sank in, and grew roots. Only two. And she wanted him to be number three. He was baffled, humbled. And yeah, aroused. So damn aroused. The length of her glossy hair spilled around her head, her seemingly delicate shoulders. Her cheeks were flushed a lovely rose, and her lips were plump and parted, her every breath shallow and laced with need.
No matter how strong and valid his fears, he couldn’t, wouldn’t, spit on her gift to him.
“I’ve, uh, never had sex,” he admitted. “Never been with anyone.”
Those exquisite eyes widened. “You’re a virgin?”
A stiff nod, cheeks flushing.
“Because of your arms?”
Another nod.
“Oh, Hector.” A moan of excitement. “I’m glad. I like that. Want to be the first.”
He leaned down … down … until her ni**les were pushed against his chest, needy little peaks that enthralled him. She wigged until her thighs were outside his, trembling, locking around his hips. Damn, but she felt good.
“I told you. I don’t want to hurt you,” he croaked out.
“Then you’re going to have to give me everything you can.”
That wasn’t much, but damn if he wouldn’t do everything in his power to make every second they spent in this bed the best of her life.
And there was the voice of temptation, luring him into danger.
Can’t resist. “I’ll make you come without using my hands.” He’d never tried that with anyone, but with her … “Do you want me to make you come?”
White teeth nibbled on her bottom lip, plumping and reddening the luscious petal further. Undoing him. “Yes, please.”
“You just tell me how, then, and it’s done.” Whatever she suggested, he would try. He had very little experience with a woman’s pleasure, but damn it, he would try. He desired her, had dreamed of her too many nights, had fantasized so many times reality was now blurred.
If, at any point, the burning and itching flared up in his arms, he would stop.
Stopping would probably kill him, but he would do it.
“Let’s start with something small, easy. Like a kiss. Yes. Kiss me,” she pleaded, breathless. “We’ve done that before, and nothing bad happened. Right?”
His gaze dropped to her mouth. Her tongue swept over her lips, leaving a gloss of moisture. His c**k twitched, a lance of need shooting through him. Any minute now, and his zipper would bust, he was so full and hard.
He scooted off her, off the bed, and stood at the edge. She remained splayed on the mattress, her hair spilled around her, and her dress bunched just under her waist, hiding her panties. Fucking gorgeous. “Sit up for me,” he croaked. Things were less likely to fly out of control that way.
Still trembling, she pulled herself up, hair cascading into place. What he would have given to run his fingers through the strands. He knelt in front of her, placing himself a little lower than eye level.
“If I burn you, scare you, do anything you don’t like, tell me.”
“I will.” A feverish sigh.
Whether she would actually do so or not, he didn’t know. He wouldn’t risk her safety, though, not in any way, so he would remain vigilant. He would fuel her passion without becoming lost in his own. Something he’d never done. But for her … anything.
“Hector.” She leaned into him and pressed their lips together. Her tongue swept inside his mouth, her intoxicating flavor exploding through him. As sweet as before, with a splash of something darker, richer.
Don’t touch her. Don’t you dare touch her. Or explore her curves, or knead her br**sts, or finger her deep and hard. He’d probably come if he did. He’d never dared to thrust his fingers inside a woman, but he knew this one would be hot and wet, clutching at him.
“I want to put my arms around you,” she breathed. “Can I?”
“Yes.” God, yes. He placed his hands on his thighs, his fingers hooked over the curves of his knees. “Around my neck, but don’t touch below my shoulders.”
She scooted closer, placing her ass at the edge of the mattress while framing his torso with her legs. She danced her fingers across the spikes of his growing hair before sliding down to ride the ridges of his spine.
“Now. Kiss me now, and don’t ever stop,” she commanded.
“Yes.”
Their tongues met, mated, rolling together, darting apart, finding each other again, dueling. She moaned, and he swallowed the sound. Her nails bit into his shoulders, perhaps even making him bleed. He liked the thought.
In a snap, the burning and itching in his arms started up, but only slightly. He disengaged only long enough to check them out. There was a muted glow seeping from his pores, but nothing to worry about. Yet.
And for the first time, he didn’t have to worry about the woman he was with seeing what happened to him. She’d already seen. She knew the truth. And she hadn’t judged him. She hadn’t screeched in fear, hadn’t pushed him away or commanded him to leave her home. All the things he’d always nervously and angrily presumed. She’d simply questioned him, doing her best to find a way for them to be together.
“Hector, I want more. Please.”
Please. As if she needed to beg him. But he realized he had stopped to stare up at her, wonder radiating from him. This strong, brave female with a taste for luxury wasn’t afraid of him. Wasn’t disgusted by him.
If things proved too treacherous and he couldn’t allow himself to come, too, he would still do everything in his power to bring about her release. But what could he do to her that did not involve his hands? He could think of a few things …
His heated gaze skated over her, locked on her deliciously hard ni**les. Moisture flooded his mouth. “Take off your dress.”
Without protest, she whipped the material over her head. Her br**sts were hugged by a crimson bra that sparkled in the light. She wore matching panties that hugged the sweetest female body in existence.
“Unhook the clasp.” His tongue was so thick, he barely got the words out.