“Hold that thought,” he murmured.
He was back a moment later, protection in place, his arms gathering her close as he rubbed his long, hard length against her. The moisture gathered at the apex of her thighs made the movement smooth and frictionless.
She arched her back, enjoying the way the hair on his chest abraded her nipples. He was all man, packed with muscles, work-roughened hands, two days growth of beard that felt so good against her skin.
Eyes locked with hers, he entered her slowly. Taking his sweet time, he sank in, inch by inch. And the most delicious sounds rumbled from his chest. She took that as a supreme compliment.
When he was bottomed out, she ran her foot up the back of his left leg. He shuddered, and the movement caused his cock to tease her g-spot. A sigh left her lips, as she tossed her head back, trying to recreate the angle, the feeling.
Then he moved.
Gracious he was thick.
Though he was all carefully restrained power, she could tell that he was holding back. Each thrust was delicious and methodical, carefully sending her spiraling upward. The look in his eyes was sweet and tender.
“So, this is what it’s like,” she murmured.
“What?”
“Making love.”
She trailed a fingertip down his cheek and over his lips. This was so different than last time, so romantic. Her lips curved at the thought. Wasn’t sex supposed to be romantic? Intimate?
Sabrina didn’t even care that he didn’t respond. In fact, she appreciated the way he kept up his perfect tempo, driving her body closer to release.
It hit her suddenly, stealing her breath. Her skin tightened, and she strained against him, milking her orgasm for everything it was worth. Above her, he stilled. His jaw flexed, and his eyes clamped shut.
When they came down from the high, his chest heaved against hers and she kept him locked in her embrace.
“I loved you,” he whispered against her ear. “I knew it that night at the fair. I hated the way you just cut me out of your life and I resented you.”
“I loved you too.”
“I know.”
He kissed the tip of her nose and pulled away. After disappearing into her bathroom to take care of the condom, he returned, sliding under the covers.
Her heart did a little happy dance. He was staying.
She shimmied between the sheets and sank into his embrace.
“I'm sorry I wasn't a better friend back then. I had no idea those girls tor--”
His voice cracked, and she hugged him tighter.
“They were great at hiding it.” At the time she hadn't understood what she'd done to them or how a person could be so catty, so hateful. But with time and distance, she'd finally realized they'd been threatened by her friendship with him. Not that that excused their behavior.
“I'm glad you told me.” He rubbed her arm and kissed her forehead.
Sabrina rose onto her elbow and met his gaze. “Turning you down for that second date is my biggest regret. Second runner up is that I didn't have the confidence to tell those mean girls to shove their opinions where the sun doesn't shine.”
Rich laughter rumbled out of him and he pulled her on top of him. With one arm bracketed around her back, the other cupped her cheek. He stared into her eyes for several moments.
“No more regrets.”
16
“Guess who called me today?” David said as he entered her bedroom two Fridays later.
Sabrina was in the bathroom applying mascara. Over her shoulder, her gaze raked over him. She’d made love to him almost every night for two weeks and she still couldn’t get enough.
They’d made a lot of progress since he’d read her journal. Staying up late, talking, kissing, reminiscing. She was falling for him all over again. The sweet boy she remembered was still in there.
Knowing it drove him wild, she licked her lips.
The resulting growl made her smile.
“Who?”
“What?” He stepped into the bathroom and wrapped his hands around her hips, pulling her ass against his groin.
“Who called you today?”
“Allen Croft.”
She paused the mascara wand long enough to lift her brows at him. “Is that right?”
“Know anything about that?” he asked, staring down at her ass. The red dress did wonders for the curves she worked so hard for. He was happy to work out with her, which was a fun addition to her workout regimen.
“Perhaps.” She focused on her makeup again, reaching for a nude colored lip liner. After a slow, careful application that made him wait, she said, “I may have given him your number when he called me earlier. What did he want?”
“He wants me to fly to Florida to talk about a pet project.”
She slathered on a matching lipstick.
“Well,” she said, pursing her lips to even it out, “you’re free till January, right? You should do it.”
She was all for him following his dreams. Though they’d talked about the past, he hadn’t shared much of his and she got the impression that there was some deep pain lurking there. Things that he couldn’t bring himself to talk about.
“Maybe.”
“You said you’d like to do something more creative, maybe this is it.”
“I’d like to do something creative with you,” he murmured, giving her hips a little thrust.
Sabrina laughed. “And ruin this makeup?”
He flexed his fingers into her hips and sighed. “I suppose it’ll keep.”
“Good. Let’s go eat.” She turned and gave his crotch a gentle pat. “Food. Let’s go eat food.”
“Tease.”
She laughed again.
On the way out the door, she plucked her long, black coat from the back of a chair. The weather had turned brisk in the last few days, but she was prepared thanks to her occasional trips to Lake Tahoe.
“Let me.”
David took the coat from her and held it out, so she could put it on. She had to admit, chivalry wasn't dead, and it was a pretty big turn on.
“Thank you.”
His hands lingered, and she leaned into his touch.
They'd decided her car was more practical for
