Need spiraled through her as turbulent as a tornado.
They'd waited long enough. Had been pulled apart too many times with his injury and her family.
Tonight was for Liam. For her. For them.
"Do we need to move to the bedroom?"
"Probably. But you feel too good to move." He glided his hands up her back once again and then around to cup her breasts. After long moments, he dipped his head down and teased her with his lips, sending an arc of liquid desire directly to her core.
"Stand up."
The murmured request took a moment to register in her fuzzy brain. Buzzed on wine and Liam, she complied.
He traced his finger along her waistband, one slow, continued caress across and back, and then he worked the button free. The zipper opened with one pull and he leaned forward, shifting on the cushion, and eased her jeans down her legs, leaving her in her underwear.
She stepped free of the pants and his hands fisted on his knees. "You're beautiful."
"And you're wearing too many clothes." She brushed his hand when he reached for her. "I'll help you."
Kneeling beside the couch, she trailed her fingers over his shorts, taking her time and making him groan. She leaned forward and pressed a kiss to his stomach, then kept her gaze on his as she slowly opened his shorts. His cloth covered arousal poked through the opening and she trailed her finger over it, relishing in Liam's deep groan.
His hand covered hers and he pulled her away. "Now, we need to move to the bedroom."
"Let me get your crutches."
"No. I don't want my arms holding onto them when I could be holding onto you. If you help me, I won't need them." He moved his leg off the ottoman and slowly stood up, and then shoved his shorts down to his feet and stepped free.
She stood by his left side. "Where do you want me?"
His eyes glittered. "That's a loaded question."
Fresh heat flushed through her body. "You know what I mean."
He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and drew her into his left side. She slid her arm around his waist. At times, she forgot their height difference was so great, but being skin on skin with him was a tantalizing reminder of his broad strength.
Walking down the hall, they stopped for kisses every few steps. When they reached his bedroom doorway, he backed her against the threshold and kissed her breathless.
And then, he drew her inside.
LIAM
AFTER COUNTLESS NIGHTS and fantasies, the real deal was here, and reality was so much better than fantasy.
Liam turned on the lamp by the bedside table, but left the rest of the room cast in darkness. Reaching for Claire, he moved carefully as his eyes adjusted. She was a goddess. Hair like gold, eyes like aquamarine, and her small body, delicate yet strong. Not only physical strength, but emotional too.
She was a giver, over and over again. She needed someone to make sure she was taken care of too, and he nominated himself for the job.
Claire linked their fingers together and stepped into him. Holding hands at the foot of his bed, they kissed. Slow and sexy, the moment seared into Liam's memory.
This woman.
He was over his head for her.
He grazed his fingers up the silky skin of her arms. Hers followed the same path on his. When he reached her shoulders, he continued the journey down the sides of her torso, causing her to shiver, and then teased over the blue striped underwear that rode low on her hip. Needing more, he sat on the bed and pulled her between his legs.
She stroked her hands over his chest, driving him crazy. "Is your ankle hurting?"
He had no idea. His head was too clouded with lust and the beautiful, almost naked woman in his arms. "Something else is."
Claire's fingers traced over his thighs, over his boxers, stroking his length. He rested his forehead against hers and edged his fingers under her panties, determined to drive her as high as she drove him, working his fingers against her until she clutched at his shoulders and gasped his name. Then he did it again.
When they were both panting and straining together for more, he pulled her onto the bed and rolled until he covered her with his body. Caging her with his hands on both sides of her head, he leaned down and kissed her, then he worked his boxers down and kicked free. Claire arched her body and shimmied out of her underwear. It sailed past his head on its way to the floor.
Grinning at her, he lay on his side, facing her, and drew her against him. They rocked together, their fingers seeking to draw out pleasure, guided by whispered requests and gasps and groans.
Liam rolled away and dug through the bedside table drawer until he found a condom. Protection in place, he moved between her legs. He braced one hand by her shoulder and together, they guided him to her center.
Throbbing with overwhelming need, he paused, drinking in her lips swollen from his kisses and her eyes misted in passion. Smiling, Claire curled her other hand around his neck. “Kiss me.”
He complied, tangling their tongue together. Her legs encircled his waist and then her heels dug in, urging him on. He sunk inside in one slow, smooth slide. His eyes closed and he groaned as her tight, wet heat gripped him.
Claire's fingers in his hair held him close and they came together in breathless thrusts. He wasn’t going to last long this first time. She felt too good. Perfect, actually. But damn, he was determined that she hit her peak first. He hitched her leg higher and rolled his hips—faster, deeper, harder. Until he was steeped in her feel, scent, and taste and still, it wasn’t enough.
Those
