“What a terrible idea,” she said, blinking rapidly at him.
Jamie began kissing her neck, his hands roaming over her body. She still had on her pretty white underwear, but he didn’t remove it, just ran his hands over all of her, feeling, caressing. “I’ve thought you were beautiful since the first day I saw you,” he said as his kisses moved downward.
He certainly did seem to know what to touch and how to do it, she thought as his hands and lips moved over her body. She wasn’t sure when the last of her clothing came off, but she was nude before him and he touched her body. His hands caressed her inner thighs so that she opened her legs for him. His lips on her breast made her arch her back.
When she was ready for him, she found that he had protection with him and he put it on.
When he entered her, she clung to him, loving the weight of his big body. He still had on his shirt and she could feel the buttons on her skin.
The size of him, the weight, the pure masculine smell of him, nearly drove her to a frenzy. She came before he did and he held her to him, caressing her back. Just holding her tightly to him, letting her feel the release in her body.
Gradually, he began his long, slow strokes inside her, waking her in a way she’d never felt before. It was as though something deep within her was coming alive.
She gave herself over to it, let herself feel only this man and this moment.
“Jamie,” she whispered.
“I’m here,” he said, his lips against her ear. “I’m always here.”
His shirt came off and she felt his hot skin near hers, felt the ridges of the scars. Her hands on his back went over the bumps and dents—and they made her smile. This was Jamie. This unique, fascinating man was Jamie.
When he came, he fell against her, holding her to him. As he lay in her arms, his body limp, relaxed, she had a feeling of power. He needed her. For all his strength and size, all his masculinity, with her he could release all that. With him, it was a matter of trust and possibly love.
They slept for a while, wrapped up together, so close they were like one being. In the early morning, Jamie became restless. A nightmare. As always, Hallie soothed him with kisses. He settled, but a moment later he woke up.
“Did I do it again?”
“Yes,” she said, smoothing his hair back from his face.
“I may never recover,” he said softly. His naked body was close to hers, his leg over hers, and she could feel the tension that was beginning to build in him. His tone was light, but she could feel that what he was saying meant a lot to him.
“I know.”
“No, you don’t,” he said. “I may always be plagued with nightmares. I can’t imagine that I’ll ever be tolerant of loud noises. If I hadn’t wanted you so much, I would never have gone to a family wedding. All those doorways and people and noises and—”
She kissed him. “I know. It’s all part of you.”
“The scars inside me will always be there. Years may dull them, but they’ll never go away. I can’t live like other people; I have to make concessions.”
Hallie wasn’t sure, but she thought maybe he was talking about the two of them being together past when his leg healed. She didn’t have a reply to that but just kissed him some more.
“I like you
r answer,” he said. “Your turn to be on top.”
Smiling, he rolled onto his back while holding her up, and set her down on him. He was ready for her.
Hallie woke to the sound of water running. The door to her bathroom was open and she saw Jamie in front of the mirror. He had just a towel around his waist and he was shaving.
He saw her in the mirror. “You finally woke up.”
She stretched luxuriously, not bothering to keep the sheet over her naked breasts.
Jamie paused in shaving to watch her. He finished, dried his face, then went to sit on the side of the bed.
“You in just a towel,” she murmured as she ran her hand over his arm. “That’s what got me in trouble the first time.”
He kissed her, but when it became deeper, he pulled back. “I don’t know how you want to handle this, but Adam just sent a text. Your boyfriend will be here in a few minutes.”