“You’re primping.” He put a hand to his groin and drew in a breath. “It’s not necessary, girl, you know that. It’s impossible for me to want you more than I already do. But I can be patient.”
“Such a champion.” She caught the edges of the pale blue towel and drew it open wide, waited a heartbeat, then let it drop to the floor. “But I’m not as strong as you, and I can’t wait.”
Before she’d drawn her next breath he had her scooped up in his arms and was striding for the bedroom. He came down on the mattress over her, kissing her long and deep while his hands cupped her breasts, kneading and cuddling.
He said nothing as he freed her mouth and kissed a path down her body, licking, biting gently...sucking.
Within only a few minutes she was lost. “Denver, now.”
Instead of prolonging the pleasure as he often liked to do, he launched himself away from her, dug in the bedside drawer for a condom, and was back over her seconds later, kneeing her thighs apart, settling his weight on her.
She braced herself, her breath held, her heart thundering. But he slowed, carefully holding her face, kissing her so tenderly while whispering, “Cherry...”
He entered her in one steady, relentless press, staying firm against her until her body softened and accepted every thick inch of him.
“There you go,” he whispered huskily. “That’s my girl.”
She couldn’t speak. By now she’d expected to be used to his size, but each and every time it thrilled her anew to be so completely filled, so totally possessed.
“Move with me,” he urged her, sliding a hand under her bottom and guiding her into matching his rhythm. Faster. Deeper.
The pleasure tightened, sweeter and hotter.
Denver pressed his face into her neck and groaned, his muscles flexing, heat pouring off his body. That did it for her. She clutched at him, muffling her raw cries against his shoulder as she let herself go. Seconds later, he did the same.
It was nowhere near late, but as she felt Denver relaxing she trailed her fingertips up and down his broad back. “Know what I want to do?” she whispered.
He groaned again, but manfully worked his way up to his elbows. He looked at her, then kissed her, and kissed her again. “Tell me.”
Knowing he hadn’t had much rest lately, she hoped to persuade him to turn in early. “I want to sleep.” The yawn snuck up on her, perfect timing to stress her point and hopefully convince him. “I’m zoned, and you could probably use a good night’s rest, as well.”
His beautiful eyes smiled at her. “God love you, girl, could you be more perfect?”
She opened her mouth, but he said, “It was a rhetorical question. Sleep would be good, so stay put while I get rid of the condom. I’ll be right back.”
As soon as he disappeared into the bathroom, she got up to smooth the quilt they’d displaced, then turned down the bed and crawled under the covers, still naked.
He strode back in, but paused to stare at her. “Damn, but you look good like that.”
Cherry reached a hand to her hair. “Like what?”
“In my bed, in my house.” He held her gaze. “With me.”
It’s where she’d always wanted to be.
He turned out the light and joined her, pulling her into his arms. “We need to see about arranging it more often.”
It was dark, quiet, Denver’s hold secure. She waited just a little too long before she got up the nerve to whisper, “Okay.”
Denver was already asleep.
* * *
CHERRY STIRRED AWAKE to Denver making love to her—for the second time. The first had happened in the middle of the night. He’d roused her with a hand between her thighs, his mouth at her breast and before she had a chance to catch up she’d been coming.
Now as he kneed her thighs apart and pressed into her, she opened her eyes to predawn light filtering through the curtained windows.
At his easy entry, she realized she was ready for him and wasn’t even a little bit amazed by that. “Denver.”
He kissed her. “Say it again.”
“What?”
“My name.” He rode her gently, his breath hot against her throat. “Say it.”
“Denver,” she whispered on a moan, the word breaking as pleasure sharpened.
“God, I love hearing that little catch in your voice when I’m inside you.” He closed his arms around her, sheltering her, cradling her close, bringing tears to her eyes as another release built and then shattered, making her cry out.