Page 78

I rested my head against her belly as her panting slowed, my head rising and falling with each breath, her hands in my hair. Eventually, I rose to my feet to kiss her under the still rushing water. Then I kept my eyes on her as I soaped up her skin, washing away all traces of paint.

She returned the favor, my jaw tightening and my fists clenching as I struggled to keep control, the sight and sound of her coming undone under my touch followed by her hands and mouth all over my wet skin driving me to the very edge of restraint.

Finally, when I was sure I couldn’t hold on any longer and might just climax at her touch, she shut off the shower and led me out of the bathroom, handing me a towel to wipe off the worst of the moisture as she did the same. And then, my eyes glued to every curve, she walked to the bed, easing back onto her elbows, beckoning me to her.

A primal burst of possessiveness drove me forward and I dropped the towel to stalk over to her, climbing over her body and planting my hands on either side of her head, the muscles in my arms bunching as I looked down at her.

She shifted under me, pulling me into a kiss as she wrapped her legs around my waist to guide me to her.

We had dispensed with the condoms by now, Nisa on contraception and both of us having gotten checked to confirm we were safe.

I brushed a wet strand of hair from her forehead as I pressed into her, then farther in, her pupils blown out with pleasure and her wet heat surrounding me tightly as she encouraged my movements with the hard press of her hand on the small of my back.

My control was slipping farther from my grasp the harder I attempted to hold on to it. “Nisa,” I rasped into her neck. “It’s not going to be long for me.”

“It’s okay,” she murmured, stroking my neck. “Let go.”

Her fingertips dug into my skin as my movements became deeper and more urgent. I gripped the bedclothes with one hand, the other cradling her face as I kissed her again and again, matching my strokes until heat exploded up my spine and sent shuddering waves through every nerve ending. “Nisa,” I groaned as I gave in to it, letting it consume me and wipe every thought from my mind except that I needed her. I needed her to be mine, to stay with me where everyone before her had left.

30

Nisa

I LIKED HOW his breathing became slow and steady afterward. How relaxed his body was as he let his full weight rest against me.

I massaged my fingers into the still-​wet strands of his hair in the way I knew he liked, the way that made his eyes go all sleepy and his eyelids grow heavy.

“Mm,” he murmured in approval.

We were lying cocooned in my duvet. We had lifted either side over the top of us once the heat of our antics had dissipated and the chilly air on our freshly showered skin had brought out goose bumps. Now we were nice and toasty inside the blankets.

“Thank you,” I told him.

“For the orgasm?” he asked, his voice muffled against my chest where he was resting his head.

“No. Well, yes. But also for what you said downstairs. About wanting to look after me, and have me look after myself.” My heart swelled for him. “No one has ever said that to me before.”

He lifted his head, eyes sleepy but meaning shining within them. “I meant it, Nisa. You deserve to be your authentic self, without everyone around you either taking a piece of you for themselves or quashing you into something you’re not.”

My heart skipped like a stone skimming water before melting into a gooey pool of absolute mush. I kissed his cheek, then the other, savoring the strong jut of his cheekbone and the graze of his dark stubble under my lips, then kissed his firm, smooth mouth. “You are the most amazing man I have ever met and I’m not sure I deserve you.”

“You do,” he said, his voice gruff. He lifted a hand to catch the side of my face and kissed me again. Then he paused, looking into my eyes. His gaze was soft and vulnerable and I instinctively tightened my arms around his shoulders, taking a deep breath of his woodsy, musky scent. “Greg says I should tell you how I feel about you,” he said, his voice low and gravelly.

My heart did an actual somersault, banging against my rib cage. “And how do you feel?”

He kept his gaze on mine as he swallowed hard. “I really, really like you.” He paused. “I think more than I’ve ever liked anyone.”

Emotion rose in a hard lump into my throat, making it difficult to breathe. “I really, really like you too.” I bit my tongue hard to stop more words rolling off my tongue—​words that would be too much too soon and would scare him off when this kind of thing was difficult for him.

A relieved smile broke out over his face, and I felt him take a deep breath. “Glad we’re on the same page.”

I gave him a soft smile, lifting my head to kiss the tip of his nose, then pulled him back down to cradle him against me. “I’ve thought about what you said. And I’m going to call Aisha and tell her that she needs to speak to Mum and Dad herself about going traveling.”

His arm tightened around my waist. “Good girl.”

I smiled, bending my head to whisper in his ear. “You are more than enough, Kerr Murdoch.”

I felt his smile graze across my skin.