AllFreeNovel
Share Us
They each put their shoes on, donned their dry outer layers and hurried back down the sloping trail. Getting to the lodge took much less time than hiking to the waterfall had taken.
As they hurried across the garden, she said, “This is a one-night thing. Is that okay with you? Just one night.”
He wasn’t sure which of them she was trying to convince. One night wasn’t what he wanted. But if that was all she could offer, he’d take it.
“Okay, one night.”
He yanked open the door and she winced. “Shh!”
“Sorry.” Apparently, she wanted to be sneaky. They tiptoed across the foyer and into the hall. The lodge had retained the warmth that had already faded outside. “Your room or mine?”
“Mine,” she replied. “I’ve got a bigger bed.”
He liked the way she thought. While she dragged him to the bedroom, he didn’t see much of her small apartment. Just enough to know that she had an open plan lounge with a small kitchenette attached. She switched on a lamp and they both shed their clothes, then he snagged her by the waist and drew her close for a kiss. Her full breasts squished into his chest and he ran his hands down the sensual curve of her spine. Damn, he loved the shape of her. Soft in places, firm in others. Well-proportioned and athletic.
But something was missing. The kiss was nice, but now that they were both naked, she seemed more reserved than she had in the forest.
“You okay?” he asked. If she was uncomfortable, he’d leave right now, no matter how much he wanted her—and the hard shaft bumping against his lower belly proved just how verymuch he wanted her.
She ducked her head. “It’s silly.”
He propped two fingers beneath her chin and lifted it up. “I promise I won’t laugh.”
She squirmed, which didn’t help the situation down south. “It’s been a long time for me.”
“Me, too.”
“No, I mean a really long time.”
Ah. “You haven’t since your husband?”
She shook her head. “And the thing is, I haven’t been naked with a man since I got all these scars.” Her voice hitched on the last word, like she was afraid to draw his attention to them.
He knew how much it must have cost her to mention them. She wasn’t by nature a self-conscious person, and he suspected she was upset at herself for giving into any kind of weakness, but how could she possibly believe he’d think less of her for the marks on her body that showed all she’d lived through?
“You don’t have to worry about that,” he told her softly. “Your scars are beautiful because they’re a part of you. They show how strong you are. How much hardship you’ve overcome. You have absolutely nothing to be ashamed of.”
She gave a strangled laugh. “Now I know you’re just buttering me up.”
“No, I mean it. You’re perfect because you’re you.” He had never been one to compliment women extravagantly, and now that he wanted to, he hoped he wasn’t botching it. “Do you know how much the last couple of days have meant to me?” he asked. “They’ve been really special, because of you.” He dragged in a deep breath and took the plunge. “You have a beautiful soul, Katarina.”
She stiffened and locked eyes with him.
He forced himself to continue. “If you want to stop now, or if you want to keep your shirt on so you feel more comfortable with yourself, that’s absolutely fine with me.”
For a second, he thought she might take him up on the easy out he’d given her, but then she practically threw herself at him, and he staggered backward, landing on the bed with her on top of him. They both laughed, and the tension dissipated.
She kissed him, taking the lead this time. She thoroughly took his mouth, then shimmied away and explored his body with her tongue and lips. He kept his eyes glued to her as she flicked his nipple with her tongue, then followed the groove at the top of his abdomen down to his navel, at which point she seemed to grow shy. She skimmed over his groin and started again at the inside of his knees.
“You have nice legs,” she said.
He didn’t think anyone had ever commented on the attractiveness of his legs before. “Uh, thanks. I run a lot.”
She worked her way back up his body, this time peppering kisses over his upper thighs. Finally, he felt the warm wetness of her tongue dart over the tip of his erection. Any breath left in his lungs exited quickly.
“Again,” he croaked.
She did. Her tongue danced on his tip in tight little circles, and she took him in her hand. Her dark head bent to welcome him between her lips, and he wasn’t sure what was more erotic: the sight of her—naked and pleasuring him—or the sensation of her mouth like slippery silk around his hard length. He gripped the sheet and fought the urge to buck his hips.
