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“Why not do both?”
“It’s thePeople don’t have this conversation before breakfast”
“Sure they do They have sex in the ”
She chewed and sed “You’re just saying that to put et an extra Danish”
He picked up his coffee and took a sip, then studied her over the container “You don’t think people ?”
“No Yuck What about brushing your teeth?”
“You get up and go into the bathroom and brush your teeth You can even pee if you want”
“That’s romantic”
“It’s better than wetting the bed”
She shuddered “Can we change the subject?”
“Is it the idea of sex or bodily functions that bothers you?”
“I can deal with the peeing I have s work It’s just, really? Sex before lunch?”
“You’re obsessed with meals”
“I like to eat” She stared at hiht? You’re not one of those people ants to wear fur handcuffs or anything, are you? Because that’s not on my play list”
“You have a lot of rules”
“I like rules”
“I like breaking them” He stood and walked around the table, then held out his hand “Come here”
Wariness darkened her eyes, but she put her hand in his and let hiainst the cabinet, the sainst the counter Then he pulled her in She came to a stop about a foot away
“Closer,” he said quietly
She took a single step
He chuckled and put his hands on her waist “All the way, little girl We’re going to have actual bodily contact When we’re done, you can have another Danish”
She pressed her lips together “Can’t you stand up so we’re not touching there?” Her index finger pointed down to his crotch
“Touching there is the point”
He felt her stiffen He waited, hoping she wouldn’t back up Finally she inched forward another half step He kept his hands on her waist, guiding her the rest of the way Finally her hps settled against his
He re physically would be a bad idea Still, she arm and, despite her attempts to hide it, very much a woman
They were at eye level with each other He liked that He liked how she was strong and very much his equal The combination of attitude and terror touched him in a way he hadn’t expected
“Hands here,” he said, raising his ar his shoulders
She did as he requested
“Breathe,” he added
“I’”
Barely, he noted Shallow breaths would add to her anxiety, but his plan was to distract her If it worked, she would forget to be afraid If it didn’t, she would probably give hiroin
“Here’s what’s going to happen,” he said softly “I’ainst me You can break away anytime you want”
She listened intently, her eyes wide He could hear the battle raging inside Part of her wanted to get over her fear, but the rest of her wanted to bolt This wasn’t co vulnerable
He put his hands on her back, just below her bra He splayed his fingers and pressed just firh that she could feel hi her forward If all ell, she would lean into him on her own
“I’ to kiss you,” he continued “You don’t have to respond” He grinned “It would be nice if you didn’t slap me”
“I won’t” She trehtly “Okay I’m ready”
He’d been hoping for a shtened with rage at the bastard who had done this and compassion for the woman he held Then he closed his eyes and leaned in
Her id Heher As he went back and forth, he felt soht and licked the spot
Her breath caught and he felt her tense up eveninto his shoulders but not in a “take htly, then pressed his mouth to her cheek
Fro to her jaw, then down her neck He ering for a second The fingers on his shoulders relaxed, as did her back Her breathing deepened He ainst it
The return journey was just as slow When he reached her cheek again he paused before touching his er and was pleased when she stayed relaxed
He repeated the process on her other cheek, working his way down to her jaw, then along her neck He was careful to stay high enough that she wasn’t threatened When he reached her earlobe, he lightly nibbled on the curve He was rewarded with a soft gasp and her body eased a millimeter closer
Slowly he moved his hands from her back to her face He cupped her cheeks in his palms and stared into her eyes Hers ith apprehension but less than they had been before He also spied the first subtle signs of arousal Flushed cheeks, parted lips, slightly dilated pupils
“Charlie,” he whispered, then touched his lips to hers
For a second there was nothing Then her ainst his Her arms eased around his neck and she leaned into him
He held back, not wanting to startle her He brushed hisslow They stayed like that for several seconds, then she tilted her head a little and parted her mouth the tiniest bit
He doubted she are of what she was doing, of the invitation He would guess that back in high school, she’d had boyfriends and they’delse
He dropped his hands to her hips He wanted to ease around and put theht, humorously That wasn’t what he wanted He wanted to rip her shirt off her and feast on her breasts Then he wanted her nad, sitting on the counter, so he could push into her with all he had
The intense fantasy surprised and pleased hiical need It was about wanting to be with a specific woh he hadn’t shared Charlie’s concerns about his ability to perfor the journeyand the destination
But that was a long way off For now, it was enough to kiss her
He brushed his tongue against her bottoain, then slowly slipped inside her ainst his Pleasure shot through hi He stayed in his head, knowing he couldn’t get lost in passion Not yet
They circled each other, brushing tongues, deepening the kiss She relaxed eveninto his He felt the pressure of her brsts against his chest Her flat belly rested against his growing arousal
She was still close, but they weren’t touching She rested her hands on his shoulders before sliding the and dark, her mouth swollen