Her breasts were as lovely as he’d imagined, high and full with pink tips that begged for his touch. “You are the one who is beautiful,” he said. “You have brought nothing but beauty to my life, angel. I promise I will never betray the trust you’ve put in me.”
Lifting his hand, he gently cupped one full mound, and then he pressed his lips to hers. The instant their lips touched, passion exploded between them, and he pressed her down upon the mattress, letting his hands roam over all the secret places he’d been dying to touch. He learned her breasts with his fingertips and then his lips, reveling in the way she touched him in return, her hesitation quickly turning to boldness as she realized how much he enjoyed her tentative caress.
All the thoughts he’d had earlier about taking things slowly flew out the window when faced with her passion and acceptance. Before he even knew exactly how it happened, he found himself touching her intimately, finding her slick and ready with desire.
He paused a moment to look down into her passion-flushed face, his pulse roaring in his ears. “Let me inside of you,” he whispered. “Please, angel. I want you so much.”
She nodded jerkily, then pressed her lips against his throat. “Yes,” she breathed. “I want you, too.”
Tears of joy and relief burned his eyes as lowered himself between her pale thighs, pressing home slowly, kissing her as she tensed at the invasion.
Serenity held on to Luke’s sweat-slicked back, stunned by the feel of him, the stretching ache, then sudden pain. She cried out, but he caught the sound with his mouth, until the pain eased, and she began to relax, confused and thrilled by the strange pleasure and fullness of having him inside of her.
He broke the kiss and stared down at her, his eyes tender and concerned as he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Are you all right?” he whispered, but his body was trembling, and she sensed how much he was holding himself back.
She nodded jerkily, unsure what else she should be doing. “I think so.”
He smiled crookedly and pressed his lips to her forehead and shifted his hips, creating a burning friction. Her eyes widened as he continued to move slowly within her, and she realized the act of penetration had not been the end of it, as she’d foolishly assumed.
As he moved within her, he whispered sweet words, kissing her again and again, until the pain disappeared, replaced by an indescribably pleasant sensation.
“You feel so good,” he gasped, quickening his pace and coaxing her to wrap her legs around his back. He angled himself differently, now stroking her in a way that made everything inside her suddenly tighten and contract, creating a wave of pleasure that made her gasp and shudder.
He groaned, seeming pleased with that reaction, then thrust deeply once more, his big body trembling and pulsing inside her.
For long moments, they remained frozen that way, and then Luke finally eased away, collapsing on the bed beside her, one forearm covering his eyes as his broad chest rose and fell with his shattered breathing. She stared at him, taking in his gorgeous, naked, muscled form, and marveling when she saw exactly what had just been inside her.
She didn’t know exactly how to feel about what had just happened, but there was none of the guilt, regret, or embarrassment she’d imagined such a moment would bring. Though he was not her husband, and probably never would be, she couldn’t imagine sharing herself this intimately with anyone else. If there was such a thing as fate or kindred souls, she knew she’d been meant to be Luke’s.
He slowly lowered his arm and met her anxious gaze, and his slow smile put her immediately at ease, for she saw the same thoughts and emotions reflected back to her in his eyes.
“You are a miracle to me,” he said softly. “The honor you just gave me, the beauty of being with you like this... I don’t think I have the words.”
A wave of sudden disappointment filled her as she realized shewantedthe words. As kind and sweet and sensual as he’d been with her, he had not yet said those three little words that would give her the security she needed about having done this with him. She thought about saying them herself, since she certainly wanted to, but the fear of confessing her love and not having the sentiment returned held her back.
He sighed and stretched, then pulled her up against him, pressing his lips to her hair as he hugged her tight. “Never leave me,” he whispered sleepily. “I can’t bear the thought of my life without you.”
“I won’t,” she assured him, snuggling against him, deciding that maybe he was just as afraid of speaking of love as she was. Neither one of them had much experience with that emotion, after all.
For now, she was content to enjoy the moment and push all thoughts of the future aside.
