I want her, but going too far could lead to regret, could make her second guess what she feels for me if done during such a traumatic time in her life.
She doesn’t fight me when I strip her down, revealing every milky inch of her skin, and I nearly groan when her legs fall open a few more inches when I step back to kick off my boots and jeans. I discard my socks, leaving my boxers on, and my cock pulses with need when her eyes drop there.
“Shower,” I manage before turning around and turning the water on.
I lift a hand to help her off the counter, but she reaches for me once again, pulling me right back against her, our mouths finding each other.
I lift her from the counter, hands gripping her ass and keeping her a few inches shy of my dick. Kissing is one thing, but rutting against her while she’s upset and looking for an escape isn’t something I’ll be able to handle the consequences of.
She gasps when the water meets her bare skin as if she was so tangled up in the kiss, she didn’t even realize I was moving her.
“Let me wash you,” I say against her lips, and her head dips, giving me permission.
I make sure she’s steady on her feet before turning for the bodywash. Using the loofah doesn’t even cross my mind because I’ve wanted my fingers on her skin for weeks, and despite all of my chivalry, I’m clearly not as strong as I’d like to think.
She tilts her head, neck exposed when I spread soapy hands on her shoulder. I want to keep this shower as economical as possible, but washing her stomach tests my resolve. Her nipples, like tiny pink erasers, point to me, and I’ve never wanted something in my mouth as much as I do those hardened tips.
I have to look away, washing her body inch by inch, hands skating over her thighs and legs, barely brushing the gap between her thighs, and I try to ignore the moans and grunts of pleasure escaping her parted lips.
By the time I get her rinsed and wrapped in a towel, I feel like I’ve summited Mt. Everest without taking a single breath. My chest is constricted and begging for relief. My cock, still trapped in soaking wet boxer briefs, outlines my need for her, pulsing with my own raging heartbeat.
After leaving the bathroom, I manage to get one of her shirts over her head, groaning once again when I realize it doesn’t cover her but an inch past her belly button.
“These too,” I whisper, pulling a pair of sleep shorts from the unzipped suitcase in the closet.
Her tiny hands rest on my shoulders as she lifts one leg and then the next and I watch with rapt attention as I pull them up her thighs, my mouth watering for a taste of her skin before it disappears behind the fabric.
“Bed,” I grunt, letting her step back. “I’ll be right back.”
I disappear out of the room, hauling ass back to my own so I can towel off and put some clothes on. I need about a dozen layers between us if I have any hope of surviving this situation.
I pull on a pair of sweats, finding her still standing in the same spot I left her in as I reenter the room.
“Come on,” I tell her as I grab her hand and guide her to the bed.
“Stay with me,” she whispers as she moves to the middle.
“It would take the National Guard to get me out of this room right now.” I climb in beside her, automatically reaching and pulling her to my chest the second I get settled.
Her fingers tease the hair on my chest as her breaths float over my skin.
My cock is hard, but she’s touching me so that’s not surprising. I ignore the damn thing and hold her closer.
Watching what happened today as it unfolded would stress me out no matter who was on the other end of the video stream, but knowing it was Hayden terrified me. I knew then that I could never lose this woman. This is the first time she’s ever been in my arms, and I can’t see another day of going without this.
As her breaths even out to mere puffs, I can’t help but feel like I’m going to lose her anyway.
Chapter 28
Hayden
I snuggle deeper into the warm arms holding me. I have enough wherewithal to know where I am and who is holding me, but that doesn’t stop the thrill from rushing over every inch of my body.
I was so frightened earlier when everything unfolded, but the relief I felt when Quinten showed up was indescribable. How can a man I’ve only known for a handful of weeks be able to calm me as much as he did?