Her mouth stretched into a wide grin. “Why’s that?”
Letting go of her hand, he set his napkin on the table, pushed up from his chair, and circled the table to get to her. When he held out his hand, she stood. He didn’t move back to give her any space. She didn’t appear to mind. No, her chest met his a second before he dipped his head and kissed her.
Chapter 5
Laura thought she was ready. That he’d give her a brisk kiss and move back. However, it didn’t work out that way.
No, to begin with, the kiss wasn’t brisk. His lips pressed softly against hers and rubbed, tentatively circling. Then his hands slowly came up and gently cradled her head, like she was precious. When his mouth suctioned against hers, she couldn’t help but gasp because now she was imagining his lips surrounding the tips of her breasts, which were already hard and tingling.
She opened beneath him, and he groaned then swept inside, his tongue gliding against hers, stroking like she wanted it to stroke against her intimate flesh. She squeezed her thighs together and leaned against his body, wanting to rub on him like a kitten because he was hard everywhere but especially there against her stomach. Without even having her hand cup him, she knew he was large, and now, every plan she’d had to take this slowly and get to know him before inviting him into her bed flew right out of her mind. Lord, she wanted this man.
When he raised his head, she tried to follow him, rising on tiptoe.
He kissed the tip of her nose. “Damn, Laura,” he breathed.
She realized her hands had slipped around to his back, and she was clutching him. “That was some kiss,” she whispered.
“I’m not that good,” he said, a small smile curving his mouth.
“Beg to differ,” she said, sliding her hands tentatively up and down his back. “You’re hard everywhere,” she said, then realized she’d spoken her thought out loud.
His smile stretched. “I am.” And then he pushed his groin against her belly to prove it.
She closed her eyes for a second then looked up at him. “Would you think I’m a loose woman if I asked to see what you’re got pressing up against me?”
He blinked. “Only if you’re sure. I had plans to take this slow.”
Surprised, she raised her eyebrows. “You did? I mean, you had plans…?”
He nodded and lifted her chin higher with his forefinger. “I planned all kinds of dates to help you get to know me. I didn’t intend to give you more than a peck on the cheek tonight.”
“Why? Take it slow, I mean?”
“Because…I like you.”
“You don’t know me.”
“I know enough. I like looking at you, smelling you…”
Her eyes widened.
He leaned down and sniffed her hair then nuzzled into the side of her neck. “You smell like vanilla and spice. I get hungry just inhaling your scent. I like the way you greet every customer with a smile. I like that smile, that mouth…”
He kissed her mouth again, and she could tell her lips were swollen, more pillowy. He’d done that.
His hands cupped the sides of her hips, his fingers splaying over the tops of her buttocks. “And now, I know how soft you are to touch. And I like that, too.”
Laura hoped like hell she didn’t pass out from hyperventilating, because she was panting like a cat. “But…you wanted to go slow.”
“Because I knew if I held you like this, got this close, I’d want everything.”
“And that’s bad?”
“It is if you don’t want me that close and don’t want to give me everything.”
“This…everything,” she said, her breaths coming faster now. “Does it include this?” she said, her hand slipping between them to at last cup his cock.
“Fuck,” he whispered.
“I’m okay with that,” she said, slowly stroking his length through the denim. Her body hadn’t been exaggerating his size. He was thick and hard and long, and dammit if she didn’t want to feel all of that inside her.
He nuzzled her cheek. “Keep touching me like that, and I won’t go slow. Won’t be able to.”
She shook back her hair, emboldened by the flare of his nostrils and his darkening eyes. “I don’t want slow, Preacher. I want it all, and I want it now.”
He froze then blinked. Before she could think about what that meant, he moved, stepping back and ducking down to scoop her up into his arms.
“Don’t you dare pull a muscle in your back,” she said giving him a fierce frown. “I’m too heavy.”
“And I’m strong, Laura. Let me.”
And because she’d never experienced this, being carried by a man, she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and let him.
Even though she wasn’t moving a muscle, she was breathless as he marched down the hallway to her bedroom. Good Lord, she’d never wanted any man this much. In the past, sex had happened because she’d been properly wooed, knew the guy well, and felt comfortable getting naked with him. Sex had always been a test to her. A way to see whether the guy she felt comfortable with could convince her there’d be enough of a spark to sustain a lifetime of sex with one partner.
She’d never found that spark. Not until now. Hell, he hadn’t done more than kiss her, but already she felt as though her body was on fire.
He strode into the bedroom and straight toward her bed. There, he ducked down and deposited her gently on her feet. Then he stood in front of her, not touching her. “Too fast?” he asked.
She shook her head. “Not fast enough,” she said then bunched the fabric of her dress in her hands and pulled it upward.
He took a step backward and toed off his boots, unbuckled his belt, pulled his button-down shirt free of his waistband, then flew through the buttons.
The second he tossed the shirt to the side, she sucked in a deep breath. She’d never seen a chest like that. Well, maybe in movies, but never in real life. In the light streaming through the doorway, she could see his muscles were well-defined. Not an ounce of excess flesh to soften them. Now, she was back to worrying about losing the dress.
He jerked his chin toward her dress. “You change your mind?”
“Um, maybe we should close the door.”
“There’s no one here but us.”
“Too much light,” she said, her voice sounding a little strangled to her own ears.
His head tilted. “It’s going to be okay, Laura. I’ll like everything you show me. Promise.”
Laura was glad he couldn’t see her blush. Before she could overthink her actions, she pulled the dress up and tossed it to the side. Now, she stood in just her lacy bra and panties and those sparkly sandals.
His gaze traveled down her body then made its way slowly back up.
By the time his gaze met hers again, goose bumps prickled her skin. It was like she’d felt his glance glide right over her.
“One last chance…” he said, his hands moving to the button at the top of his jeans.
“I promise, I’ll like everything you show me,” she said, repeating his words.
His mouth quirked up at one corner, and he flicked open the button, dragged down the zipper, then pushed his pants and his underwear toward the floor.