“A little, but I think swimming helped my stiff muscles.” She lifted her arm. “No pain at all. The dive didn’t bother me.”
“I asked Cook to prepare a soup for you with—” He wasn’t prepared for her kiss.
Cora took his face and kissed him, a sweet, chaste kiss that ignited the fire of his passion in a moment. She moved her lips over his, giving him little bites.
“Forgive me,” she whispered against his lips. “I wanted to kiss you when we were swimming, and I couldn’t resist.”
He caressed her silky cheek and stroked her bottom lip with his thumb. “Is this why you asked me to see you?”
She ran her tongue over her bottom lip. “Yes.”
“I understand you perfectly. I can barely contain myself when I see you. The only thing I can think of is to kiss you.”
He inched closer, sharing his breath with her. When their lips met again, he couldn’t suppress a growl of pleasure. The scent of lemons teased his nostrils. Underneath her perfume,the aroma of camphor reminded him she was still recovering. He held her by the waist. She climbed onto his lap, straddling him. Not what he expected but wasn’t going to complain. The moment of pause was filled by their desire as they stared at each other. The sunlight filtering through the leaves played with her freckles.
“You’re so beautiful,” he whispered, tracing the line of her jaw.
Her next kiss was sheer passion. He got lost in that kiss, in the warmth of her skin, and in her sweet scent. Each lash of her tongue caused him to shiver with need. She undid his trousers and gripped him as if she needed it, too.
“Cora—” He gasped as she worked his length with her small hand.
“You said you wouldn’t touch me unless I wanted it.” She rubbed the tip.
“Hell.” He forgot what he wanted to say next. He was so hard that it hurt.
Her skirts gathered around them when she rocked her hips over him. Sweet torture. He groaned as she guided him closer to the slit of her drawers. He could feel her heat and wetness over him.
“I want you, Ethan,” she said, brushing her lips over his neck. “I really do. Don’t doubt me.”
He’d give her whatever she needed. He didn’t care if it was only a physical affair for her. He didn’t care if she didn’t feel what he felt. As long as she wanted him not because she meant to repay him.
She rolled her hips and sheathed him inside her, inch by inch. She paused to kiss him hard and deep. She was a tight velvet fist, clenching him. He reclined his head and sank his fingers into her supple bottom cheeks. She slowly moved down,sheathing him with her softness. They both groaned when he was buried deep inside her.
“It’s been so long…” She breathed on his neck. “You feel wonderful.”
“Bloody hell, Cora. You too.” He was about to explode with pleasure and need.
Before she started moving, he unbuttoned her shirt and tugged at the bandages until he bared her spectacular breasts. He tongued and pinched her nipples, tearing a delicious moan out of her.
With his hands on her hips, he helped her find a rhythm, moving her up and down. Her inner muscles gripped him hard, bringing him to the verge of a cliff. Her breasts bounced when she moved, and he paused to kiss them again. She placed her hands on his shoulders and went faster. He stared at her face, savouring every little movement of her hips and every blush on her cheeks. He wouldn’t last long. His body was already on fire.
He slid a hand between them and rubbed her, smiling as she moaned louder. She found her release with a cry, digging her fingers into his shoulders. Her inner muscles squeezed him tightly with little spasms. He couldn’t contain himself any longer.
Before spilling, he lifted her and held her against his chest as they both shivered in each other’s arms. They remained wrapped one around the other, their chests touching with each breath. It was perfect. Thinking he might lose it all was a dark blade twisting in his soul.
She brushed her lips against his ear. “I love you, Ethan. It scares me to death, but I do.”
He hugged her more tightly, hardly believing her words. He hadn’t dared to hope she would reciprocate his feelings. A rush of energy coursed through him, bringing a tightness to his chest from too much happiness.
“It’ll be my goal to dispel your fears and show you how happy we can be.”
“You’ve already shown me that. That’s why I fell in love with you. I was only scared to admit it.”
He pulled her head down for another long kiss. But he wanted more. He wanted to hear her scream of ecstasy again. He swapped their places and knelt between her open legs, putting his hands on her knees. She stared at him with wide eyes, her chest rising and falling quickly. He pulled her thighs further apart and took a moment to admire her glistening pink beauty.
“You don’t have to,” she whispered, her cheeks crimson.
“I want to.” He stroked her intimately, caressing her silky skin. She shivered. “Have you ever experienced that?”
