Page 159 of Sheltering You

“You’re not married anymore.” And why was his voice so husky?

“This is true.” Her words were barely a whisper.

He held her eye contact. “Are there any…rules I need to know about? With the mourning? The whole…widow thing?”

“For a beloved husband, yes. But for Khalid?” Her head shifted back and forth, the gesture slight as if she didn’t want to move—as if she didn’t want to risk breaking their connection.

He dipped his head and inhaled her scent, shampoo and Christmas and everything he’d ever wanted. He yearned to taste her. He wanted her lips against his. But he would give her time. He wouldn’t force himself on her the way Qasim had. He wouldn’t pressure her. He had all the time in the world, even if his body was telling him differently.

But she rose to her tiptoes and touched her lips to his, the slightest pressure.

He was almost afraid to move. Slow. Take it slow.

He tried. Honestly, he tried.

She started it.

When her lips moved, he responded in kind. At least, he hoped it was in kind. He wasn’t completely sure.

Her mouth opened, and he had no choice but to dive in. To explore. To claim this woman he loved. This woman he would love until his last breath.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

As a schoolgirl, Jasmine had dreamed of her first kiss. She’d expected it to be romantic and beautiful.

And then it had come from Khalid, and it had been ugly and hard.

She’d hated it. She’d hated every kiss he’d ever given her.

Though she had never said so, Khalid must have discerned how she felt—or maybe he’d felt disloyal to his beloved wife—because he had stopped kissing Jasmine. The things they did were intimate—and she’d loathed his every touch—but there was something even more intimate about kissing.

Or intimate in a different way. Which didn’t make sense to her.

Or hadn’t, until now.

Now, beneath the towering forest, with the scent of smoke rising through the chimney and the waves crashing so close, Jasmine felt drawn to Derrick in a way she’d never felt drawn to another man.

His arms around her, his warmth enveloping her, she’d known he wanted to kiss her. She’d closed the distance because she’d wanted him to know that she was open to a relationship with him. She loved him. And with Khalid gone, she could be with him.

She’d felt alive in his arms. She’d felt safe and protected.

She hadn’t wanted to kiss him. She’d only wanted him to know she was available to him.

And yet…

And yet, when his lips had met hers…

Oh.

Oh.

This was what a kiss was meant to be.

This soft touch. This wondrous exploring. This promise of more.

Derrick’s mouth was gentle and warm.

He held her against him, shielding her from the wind as he’d shielded her from the evil that had tracked her down. This man had protected her and guarded her and loved her. He’d loved her so well.