“You make me feel beautiful when you look at me like that,” she whispered.
“You’re always beautiful.”
She lay on her back, widening her legs in an invitation he wouldn’t decline.
He stretched himself over her, covering her body with his, but she wasn’t content. She tugged at his clothes, unbuttoning his waistcoat and shirt, until his chest was naked.
“You’re beautiful, too.” She dragged a hand over his chest, leaving him breathless. “And brave.”
He moved off her, only to complete the job and remove his clothes. She dragged him down again with a hand on his nape.
He stretched out over her, skin against skin, sharing his heat with her. He wished he could hold her, caress her, and touch her while telling her how beautiful she was, instead of needing his fingers to communicate with her.
Their kiss was slow and delicate as she rocked her hips. The friction of her heat against him made him quiver with need, but he wanted to take his time. He wanted to make her forget the pain and loneliness of those years she’d spent being abused.
He kissed the swift pulse in her neck, caressing her hip and thigh. Then he started to move forth, inching inside her with infinite care. She drew in a breath, moving her hips in slow circles.
He watched her face, enthralled by her expression of sheer ecstasy, and he was happy to be the one making her feel loved and cherished. Her inner muscles gripped him tightly as he slid deeper inside her.
She gasped for a moment, and he paused to sign, “Are you hurt?”
“No.” She sounded breathy. “It’s all right. Please.”
He sheathed himself fully, feeling the strength of her grip.
Heaven. Perfection. Love.
They both exhaled. Then he started moving in and out of her as gently as he could, watching her face for her reaction.
There was no pain though. Her plush lips parted with a sigh. Her eyes became heavy-lidded, and her breath came out in quickpants. He paused only to kiss her neck and caress her lovely breasts.
He sped up his rhythm when he was sure she wasn’t hurting. She threw her head back, exposing the slender column of her neck as he pounded faster.
Tension built up in his muscles, and all his blood flowed down. He was on the verge of a monumental release, but he forced himself to wait.
She sank her fingers into his shoulders when she found her release first, and watching her arch underneath him, scream his name freely, and close her eyes was too much. He followed her, shaking with a primeval force.
She held him tightly as if wanting to anchor him to herself. They breathed and shuddered in each other’s arms until the spasms of pleasure left only ripples. He wanted to tell her he loved her, not sign it, but tell her. He didn’t want to use his fingers.
“I love you.” He put all his strength and effort into saying the words, but only an awful, grunting noise came out.
She held his face in hers, searching his eyes with her gaze. “I love you, too, Samuel.”
He signed this time. “I love you. I wish I could tell you with my voice.”
“There’s no need. I feel it. Your eyes, your touch, and all your body scream how much you love me. There isn’t a more profound way to tell me how much you care for me. My soul listens to yours all the time.”
They hugged so fiercely one would have mistaken their hug for a goodbye.
