“Oh, Liam...” She was crying in earnest now, her cheeks wet with tears she couldn’t suppress. And Liam was kissing her—eyes, cheeks, lips. Soft kisses. Gentle kisses. But when she kissed him back his kisses changed.
“Cate. Oh God, Cate,” he breathed in between kisses that stole her breath and made her body ache in secret places. His hands were everywhere. Strong, sure, touching her everyplace that needed his touch.
Soon it wasn’t enough. She wanted his hands on her bare skin, wanted to feel his warm body next to hers with nothing between them. She wanted to feel him moving inside her, joining their bodies together so they’d never be apart again. “Please...” she whispered against his lips. “Please love me...oh please...”
* * *
They undressed each other in the darkness. Cate wanted to see Liam, but she didn’t want him to see her scars again, just in case, so she stopped him from turning on the bedside lamp when he placed something he’d retrieved from his overnight case on the nightstand. But the moonlight was enough for her to see his body—smooth, tanned skin over hard, rippling muscles. And that part of him she was going to take into her body was ready for her. Her breath came a little faster when she touched him and he swelled against her fingers, but she knew in her soul he would never hurt her. She just had to convince her body’s reflexes.
He sat her down on the edge of the bed to remove her socks and shoes. Then, “Lift up,” he told her, and when she did he slid her jeans down her hips, then off. When they were both completely naked, he knelt at her feet, gazed into her eyes and said, “You trust me, don’t you?”
“Yes.” She couldn’t help that the word came out a little breathless.
“Then before we do anything else, let me do something for you.” He placed his hands on her shoulders and exerted just enough pressure so she knew he wanted her to lie back.
“Okay.” Again that breathless sound.
His hands moved to the inside of her knees, and again he exerted gentle pressure that told her exactly what he wanted of her. He settled between her parted legs, stroking her thighs with his warm hands, up and down, up and down. Each time coming ever closer to the apex of her thighs, sending tingling chills of excitement all through her. “Trust me, Cate,” he said as he lowered his head.
She arched up and caught her breath on a sobbing moan when pleasure unlike anything she’d ever known coursed through her. Liam’s tongue touched and teased, his hands held her firm as she writhed beneath him, and his breath was warm, sending shock waves through her as he loved her with his mouth again and again. Cate’s hands grasped the sheet beside her, trying to find purchase as every sense concentrated in one location, as every muscle tightened ever tighter. Part of her wanted to beg Liam to stop, but she’d sworn she’d never beg for anything again—and besides, she’d die if he stopped. So she let him lead her higher and higher—up, up, up—until she couldn’t take any more and she simply exploded.
She wasn’t crying, but the physical and emotional release felt as if she had, and she reveled in it. She floated for a few seconds, just letting the little aftershocks control her, blissful peace permeating her entire being. Then Liam stood.
She heard a tearing sound and was vaguely aware of his movements. Suddenly he was there beside her on the bed, lying on his back and pulling her unresisting body on top of him. His breathing was as ragged as hers when he said, “Spread your legs, sweetheart.” When she complied, she felt him nudging at the portal of her womanhood. “Guide me in, Cate,” he pleaded. “Show me you want me as much as I want you.”
Then and only then did she realize Liam had planned it this way from the beginning. He’d made sure he wouldn’t hurt her with his entry, had made her come first so she would be exquisitely ready for him. And he was letting her be on top so she wouldn’t feel forced in any way.
Love for him washed through her, an intense emotion she finally acknowledged in her consciousness as love. She grasped his erection—sheathed in the condom he’d donned for her protection—and seated him securely inside her. Then she flexed her muscles and pushed down, throwing her head back and catching her breath in wonder as he filled her completely...without pain. She rocked a little, but it didn’t hurt at all. It felt...incredible. It felt...transcendent. It felt...like love.
His big body was trembling, as if his muscles were screaming at him to move...but he wouldn’t. And she knew he was waiting for a sign from her that it was okay, that she was okay. She rocked again, pushing him even deeper, loving the feel of him so hot and hard and deep within her—the rightness of it. “Oh, Liam,” she breathed as she braced her hands against his chest and continued rocking. Her nipples tightened until they ached, and she wanted his hands on her. Wanted him to caress her there. Everywhere. But he wouldn’t...unless she asked. Because he loved her.