At his words, she collapsed against him. Her body shook in sobs and he felt dampness against his shirt. She was shedding the tears she’d been trying so hard to hold back.
He stroked her back, pressing his lips to her soft hair and kissing her gently. A protective instinct flared through him, so strong it nearly bowled him over . . . followed by the realization of just how much he loved this woman.
And if the time was ever right to tell her, it was now. A part of him wanted to hold back, at least until he’d had a chance to talk to Jake—Jake was a part of this relationship, too—but Danielle needed to know she was loved, and right now, that was more important than anything else.
“Danielle, I understand why you’ve always kept to yourself. Why you’ve shied away from love. Because you’ve always believed you were alone. But . . .” He tucked his finger under her chin and tipped her face upward. Rivulets of tears streaked her cheeks. “If I have my way”—his voice lowered to a murmur and he smiled tenderly—“you’ll never be alone again.”
Her gleaming eyes gazed at him without comprehension.
“Because . . . I’m crazy in love with you.”
“You’re . . . ?” She shook her head in confusion. “I . . .”
He kissed her tenderly on the lips.
“Sweetheart, I love you. I want you to be a part of my life.”
Her eyes clouded and he knew she was struggling to accept his words. Of course she would struggle with this. She couldn’t trust love. Not that fast. But she would with time. He’d make sure of it. But right now, he wouldn’t give her time to deny his feelings. Or hers.
He captured her lips again, gently at first, stroking her lips with his own. Then he deepened the kiss. Finally, she succumbed to his tender persuasion and melted against him. Her tongue glided along his lips, then slipped inside. He groaned and gathered her closer.
Danielle knew she was losing the battle. Trey in love with her? But that’s not how it was supposed to go. He was supposed to fall for Jake again. Not her!
But God, it felt so good being in his arms. It felt so warm . . . so comforting. She felt so loved. His embrace felt like a warm, safe haven. It was sweeter than anything she’d ever experienced.
He’d said he loved her. That he wanted her in his life.
He would cherish her . . . and take care of her.
Thoughts of Jake and the betrayal this would mean slipped away, despite her desperate attempts to hang on to them. They simply could not survive Trey’s passionate, tender kisses, which showed how clearly he loved her.
And as her heart soared, she realized how much she loved him, too.
She stroked her hands over his broad shoulders, then down his sculpted chest, reveling in the feel of hard male muscle under her palms. He was so strong. So masculine. Solid. With him she would never be alone again. When she needed someone to lean on, he would be there.
She stroked down his taut stomach and over the denim bulging below. She unzipped and slipped her hand inside, desperate to feel his rock-solid cock. Wanting to join with him in the most basic of ways. To remind herself how well they fit together. To experience again the deep intimacy of making love with him. Of surrendering to him, knowing he would never hurt her, and she would be totally safe in his arms.
She wrapped her fingers around his cock. Hard as marble, but hot as fire. She stroked his length. He pressed her back against the bed and unfastened her blouse as he stared down at her with loving eyes.
“You are so beautiful.”
She stroked him again, loving the feel of his hard shaft in her hand. She cupped the crown in her palm and stroked the ridge under the corona. He peeled back the fabric of her top and kissed the base of her neck, then nuzzled gently. He left a trail of sweet butterfly kisses as he traveled to the swell of her breasts, kissing above the lace cups of her bra. He unsnapped her bra and drew it away from her body. Then his lips found her nipple and he tasted her.
Wild sensations fluttered through her as he nudged the tight bead with his tongue, then sucked lightly. She tightened her hand around his shaft. Her insides ached with wanting him. He kissed across her chest to her other nipple and drew it into his warm mouth. She moaned at the incredible sensation. He captured her lips again, then drew away from her. He unfastened the snap on his jeans and dropped them to the floor, then relieved her of her jeans, along with the panties she wore.
He returned to the bed and kissed along her thigh while lightly stroking the other. Tingles rippled through her and she ran her hands through his sandy brown hair, the spiky strands gliding through her fingers. Then his mouth found her intimate folds and his tongue dragged along her opening. He covered her clit and his tongue dabbed lightly.
A flurry of pleasure skittered through her. When he began to suck, she grasped his head and held him to her. As he licked and sucked, he stroked her opening with a seeking finger. She arched against him, moaning her encouragement. He slipped inside and stroked her hot passage.
Pleasure swept through her as he tweaked her clit. She opened her arms. He stood, his magnificent cock standing straight up, then prowled over her. He captured her lips and she arched her chest against him. Her brushed brushed against his solid chest. Soft against hard. Her nipples drilled into him as he lowered his body onto hers. She guided his cock to her slick opening and stroked it along the wet folds. He smiled and thrust forward, driving his considerable length deep inside
