“And happy.” She stood in front of him. He peeled the thong off her, bestowing a kiss on her womanhood before she climbed into bed.
Her gaze seemed glued to his body. If the knowledge that she excited him made her happy, he was about to make her euphoric. He stood up to remove his clothes.
He slowly unzipped his pants and they dropped to the floor. She licked her lips as he turned to face her, proudly showing her just how much she excited him. He took slow, deliberate pains in removing his briefs.
As he walked toward her, her entire body tingled with excitement. She'd never seen anything as magnificent as his full arousal.
Her breath caught in her throat, labored. Her head reeled.
The sound of her unsteady breathing filled the room, and Jared moved closer with a faint smile. “Did you enjoy the show?'
She looked up and nodded wordlessly, unable to do so much as speak.
Moving slowly, he eased back the sheet and lay down beside her.
Her heartbeat quickened. She reached for him, enjoying the hard strength of his arousal in her hand. “I think we can speed up the pace.'
He smiled. “Didn't anyone ever tell you anticipation is half the fun of making love?” he murmured, brushing back a lock of hair from her face and kissing her on the cheek. “No shortcuts the first time, sweetheart. I want to make it as pleasurable as I possibly can for you.'
Tears stung her eyes.
He rested on his elbows and glanced down at her. “What's wrong?'
She reached up and touched his face. “I wish you could have been my first.'
He squeezed his eyes tight then opened them. “I don't and neither do you. You wouldn't have Matt.'
A tear fell onto her cheek. She nodded and trembled at the warmth that shimmered in his eyes.
Reaching into the nightstand, he sheathed himself with a condom. He bent his head and nuzzled the area behind her ear. “Please tell me you can spend the whole night.'
She quivered as waves of desire shot through her and bathed her in heat. His fingertips rubbed her nipples into peaks, plucked the points and rolled them between his fingers. He lifted her breasts and soothed the aching tips with his tongue, finally his mouth closed around her nipple. She dropped her head back and moaned, trying to speak between the whimpers of pleasure.
“Yes,” she hissed. “Ohhh.” She sucked in her breath when his hand moved. Warmth spread across her skin as he inched his way down her ribs and past her stomach.
“I was going to cry and beg if you said no.” He chuckled low, and groaned softly as his hand slipped between her legs.
She closed her eyes as his fingers moved lower, touching the center of her dampness. His palm cupped her, rotating. The weight made her desire spike. His fingers entered her, rubbing against her warmth. She closed her eyes as the tension built in her body.
He poised his naked body over her. She caught her breath and clutched at his back. “You're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen.” His knee separated her thighs and she felt his arousal near her center. “I want to watch you come apart the first time, Katherine. Open your eyes.'
She glanced up at him as he entered her. His eyes bathed her in love. It felt so good to have him inside her. She sighed. “Please, don't move. I want it to last.'
For a moment, he lay still, and then he lowered his head to suckle her breasts.
Her tumult built.
She couldn't control her need for release. She moved and gasped from the pleasure. “It feels soooo good.'
Their gazes held.
He thrust, meeting her movements. She arched toward him, wrapping her legs around his hips, pulling him deeper with each thrust.
When they reached the peak of pleasure, they fell together, each one called out the other's name as tremor after tremor rocked them. They had stepped beyond friendship, beyond a perfect affair into closeness neither of them wanted to end.
Later, when their hearts beat in unison, Jared pulled her into his arms. Her head rested on his chest. “Katherine, you're the best thing that's happened to me in my entire life. I'm so glad I found you.'
She entwined her bare legs with his under the cover. “I'm glad you found me, too. Well, you could say I fell for you right from the start. So you're glad I talked you into this?'
He chuckled. “Yesss.” Holding her in his arms, he whispered, “I almost forgot.” He kissed the top of her head. “I promised Thomas you'd do something for him and Grace.'
She yawned, drawing nearer to him. “What did you promise?'
“It'll help your mother,” he suggested. “You would do anything for Grace.'
She quirked an eyebrow. “Jared Randall, stop beating around the bush. What did you promise Thomas I'd do?'
“Talk to Grace about sex.'
“Are you
Chapter Fifteen
Jared couldn't believe Katherine had spent last night in his bed. His gaze lingered on every inch of her lovely naked body as he untangled sheets and recovered them.
“Wake up, sleepyhead.” He pushed a lock of silky, dark hair behind her ear, gave into temptation and nibbled her lobe.
A throaty whimper came up in reply, her slim arms slipped around his neck. He rolled away, rested his head on his elbow and stared down at her. “Oh, no. I want to talk.” He smiled at her closed eyes and relaxed face. “Last night I tried to talk to you several times about our relationship and the future, but we got carried away.'
She opened one sleepy-eye and wet her lips. “Which
He shivered when her fingertips trailed down his stomach into dangerous territory. He groaned with frustration.
“Yes, sir,” she said, saluting him military style. She sat up with her eyes full of mischief, exposing her full breasts.
“Cut that out.” His gaze riveted on her beaded nipples, poised, begging him to fondle them. “You're trying to distract me again.'
She smiled at him, flopped back down and pulled the covers obediently over her chest.
He snatched what dignity he could and held the edge of the sliding sheet over his full erection.
“Is this better?” she asked, ducking underneath the covers and holding the pillow over her head.
“Stop playing games,” he pleaded, moving away from her.
Maybe Katherine didn't realize they were at a crossroad in their relationship, but he did. He knew it the minute he had made love to her. She had surrendered her sweet body to him, but he had surrendered his heart and soul to her. After last night, he wanted to bind her to him so tightly that nothing this side of heaven could rip them apart. Was she ready for total commitment? Would she trust him with her life and Matt's?
He shook his head. “I'm serious. We need to talk to Matt and Grace.'
She peeked out, tossing the pillow aside. “What about?'
“Katherine Marisa Cahill, if you think I'd settle for last night and not have you and Matt in my life forever, you better think again. You're not running from this relationship. Matt needs a father, I know you want more children, so do I, and they aren't going to be born out of wedlock like I was.'
She threw her arms around his neck and laughed. “Do I feel like I'm running, darling?'
God, he loved everything about this woman.
“You little vixen.” He swatted her bottom, his hand staying to reward it with caresses.
