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Tia’s cheek rests lightly against my shoulder, her body a comforting weight in my arms as I carry her through the doorway and into our bedroom. She’s quiet enough, I almost wonder if she’s fallen asleep in my arms.
And the feel of her closeness, the fresh citrusy scent of her body wash, and the memory of her charming laughter tonight fills me with a warmth—a happiness—that I’m not quite sure what to do with. No woman has ever made me feel this way before.
I take her straight to bed, placing her on the soft sheets, and her deep onyx eyes meet mine with silent gratitude.
“Thanks for carrying me so much,” she murmurs.
“You’re welcome.” My lips tilt into a crooked smile, and rather than leaving her to get ready for bed, I kick off my shoes and join her on our king-sized mattress.
I know I can come across as abrasive and short-tempered at times, and I would never deny that I’m difficult. But after such an impromptu dinner tonight that Tia met with flawless grace and charm, I’m determined to show her the appreciation she deserves for saving my ass with the mayor. Because I know that without her boastful description of my heroics, her ability to look past all the harm I’ve caused her, and recognize the good in me, I never could have won him over.
Even still, I sense our relationship hangs by a threat, one that Tia spun into existence with sheer determination and surprising willingness.
Propping myself on one elbow, I peer down at my striking raven-haired bride, and she looks up at me with fathomless emotion in her eyes. When I lower my lips to kiss her passionately, her eyelids flutter closed, and I press my lips to hers with all the tenderness I feel for her at this moment.
Tia sighs sweetly, the sound so delicate and feminine that it makes my body ache for her—not in a lustful, ravenous way, but with an almost painful urge to protect her. Cradling her cheek with my palm, I stroke the pad of my thumb across her silken skin as our tongues dance together in a delicious dance.
And when Tia’s hand finds mine, cradling it against her face, I want to never stop kissing her. Her fingers brush lightly across the back of my hand and trace up my wrist to my elbow, where my cuffs are rolled to, then she trails a soft line back down to my knuckles.
Pulling back, I give her a soft smile and catch her delicate pianist’s fingers. Then I brush a kiss across them before resting them lightly on her belly. A jolt of anticipation snaps through me. The simple gesture brings into sharp focus the fact that Tia and I are having a child together. That our child is growing safe and warm beneath her palm.
And it fills me with wonder.
“You’re magnificent,” I breathe, tracing a finger along her jawline and down her throat, following the line of her collarbone and then sternum until I reach the gauzy red fabric of her dress.
Tia’s breath catches, her breasts rising, and I lean in to press a kiss to the swell of one.
“God, Leo, you’re driving me crazy,” she breathes, her chest rising and falling more rapidly now.
“Oh?” I tease, quirking an eyebrow as I move down the bed to be near her feet. Then I take her uninjured ankle and lift it to press soft kisses in a trail up her leg. “How about now?”
Tia moans, her head tipping back as I reach her thigh and suck the smooth skin lightly between my teeth.
“Yes,” she whispers.
I can’t wait to find out how wet she is for me. But tonight, I intend to take my time and properly worship her body. Hands gliding up her pale thighs, I guide the flowing layers of her skirt up inch by inch.
And all the while, my lips creep higher up her inner thigh.
Tia gasps as I reach the peak and brush my nose across her lace-clad slit, inhaling her intoxicating scent at the same time.
“I could eat you up,” I growl, peering up the length of her body to meet her eyes.
Her expression is agonized with longing, and I smile. Then I turn my attention to slowly undressing her. Starting with her hair, I reach up to the dark knot sitting high on her head. I find the band holding it in place and gently pull it until the bun unravels, sending her hair cascading across the pillow in silken waves.
Tia runs her fingers along her scalp, loosening the strands from their tight updo.
Meanwhile, I turn my attention to her dress. Gripping the layers of her skirt, I guide the stretchy fabric up over her ribs, her breasts, her shoulders. Tia sits up, raising her arms to allow the dress to come up over her head, the sleeves turning inside out as they come off last.
And that’s where I start my sacrament once again. Clasping her palm, I press kisses to the purple fingerprints that mar her delicate wrist. Tia watches me, the fingers of her free hand combing into my curls as she soaks up the attention like a starving man who’s just been given a hearty meal.
I smile softly against her skin, relishing the way she looks at me with fire in her eyes. The heat of intense desire. A shiver ripples through her body when my lips find the sensitive spot at the crook of her elbow, and goosebumps rise across her flesh.
Humming appreciatively, I suck the skin between my lips and stroke it with my tongue. She moans softly, her hips shifting on the bed, and I know I’m turning her on. With a last soft kiss, I release her arm to return my attention to her lips. As I kiss her, I reach behind her to unclasp her bra with one hand.
Guiding her back onto the bed, I hover over her as I claim her lips, kissing her deeply. At the same time, I lift the tantalizing lace cups from her breasts and toss her bra aside. And when I palm her breast, Tia’s back arches, pressing the soft flesh between my fingers.
I caress her with all the tenderness swelling in my heart, and Tia seems to blossom under the attention, her body shifting and undulating in the sexiest of dances as her excitement makes it impossible to hold still.
