Lowering his knee to the bed, he enjoyed the view of her sitting up and unsnapping her bra before leaning back and wiggling out of her panties. He caught the tail edge as they scraped down her ankles and held them up. “Mighty fine undies you have there, sweet pea.”
She plucked the panties from his hand and playfully tossed them to the floor. “We’re getting behind a bit if you’re calling me ‘sweet pea.’”
He let his gaze roam over her curves, feeling his bodysurge with heat and need as he beheld her. “Who’s behind?” He slid his hand up her inner thigh to her curls. “We’re right on schedule.”
She gave a moan as he parted her there and rubbed. Loving the way she arched into him, he wasn’t sure how much more he could take, but he was determined to make sure she was with him this next time all the way.
Laying her back on the bed, he kissed his way up her belly until he was at her breast, moving his fingers deeper within her. She moaned and arched off the bed, right where he wanted her. His mouth captured her nipple, kissing lightly before sucking more deeply. She was groaning now, thrusting against him, and he knew he had her ready for him.
Leaning up, needing to kiss her, he took her mouth in a slow, deep kiss, feeling her pulse and strain under him. She caught his head in her hands and held him still while she ravaged his mouth. Then she drew away and fell back. “Now, Ben. I need you now.”
He needed her too. Like he needed breath and the land and all he held dear. “Yes, ma’am,” he said as he widened her legs and slid between them, fitting himself to her entrance.
She strained against him, but this wasn’t the time for struggle. He wanted her surrender.
“Hannah,” he murmured, leaning over her.
Her feverish green eyes met his, and she touched his jaw, smiling so sweetly he felt his heart come to life at last.
“You still say my name the same way,” she whispered, a new light filling her gaze. “I never stopped loving you, Ben. Never.”
He laid his forehead against hers, feeling their hearts start beating as one, knowing the union was complete. “Me neither. You’re my everything. You always have been, and you always will be. Now let me make you mine again.”
She lifted her legs and locked them around his waist as he slid inside, inch by slow inch, watching her face begin totighten with passion. He gritted his teeth to keep his control, wanting to draw out their loving, grateful to his soul that she was here in his arms again.
“You are still the most beautiful woman I’ve ever known.” He smiled as he thrust deep, making her moan. “Come with me, love.”
Surrendering himself, he began to slowly thrust into her, finding their rhythm, knowing she was with him every step of the way as she started moving with him. God, they’d always been good at loving, but as she urged him on, using her hands on his hips to increase the speed of his thrusts, he thought the time apart might have made things even better.
He could feel the tension rising in both of them. She was biting her lip to stay with him, as she always had, and that was all he needed to reach between them and press where they were joined, sending her flying, taking him with her.
He reared back, letting her pulses sweeten his own pleasure, and when he was spent, he fell forward onto his elbows over her and laid his head against her neck, savoring the feel of the deep throb of her body, a call he’d always imagined was a woman’s way of keeping her man with her longer after the initial passion had crested between them.
The peace he felt in her arms was the same bone-deep contentment that shut all thought and quieted him to his soul. His rapidly beating heart slowed as he held her. She was sweat-slicked like he was, and her scent called to him in a way no other did.
All woman. His woman. Forever now.
Every cell in his body seemed charged with renewed life and the overwhelming love he had for her. He wasn’t a man for romantic fancies, but he felt like the land looked in spring. Everything felt raw and bright and possible after the long, cold, desolate days of winter.
When he could finally lift his head, he smiled down at her. Her cheeks were flushed, her lips rosier. Her auburn hair wasa mess, which was just about right, to his way of thinking. Good loving should make a woman look mussed, or the man wasn’t doing it right.
His throat grew taut, and any words he might have said got all good and stuck there. He could only trace the beautiful curve of her cheek and lean down and kiss her lips with all the sweetness and tenderness inside him.
At that moment, he silently pledged that no matter what happened, he would love her right for all their days. “I’m really sorry for how my selfishness and pride ripped us apart, honey.”
“Ben—”
“I know. We’ve covered this. But I believe it’s only going to make us stronger. Hannah, I’ll never stop loving you and making sure you feel valued and treasured for the rest of my days.”
It is my solemn vow and promise.
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
When Hannah gazedup at him, she felt so deliriously happy.
She could feel that grounded peace that moments like these gave Ben. He was like a towering oak who stood quietly and dependably, the kind even a stormy wind couldn’t move. She’d always loved that about him.
His beautiful silver gaze was filled with love, but when he pressed his forehead to hers again in yearning, she knew he struggled to find the words to express how he felt.
