Wylde (Arizona Vengeance 7)

“Your bedroom,” he clarifies.

“Oh,” I reply with a dreamy smile. “Down the hall, last door on the right.”

And then I’m in Aaron’s arms, him having swept me up in a purely romantic fashion. I don’t even have time to be embarrassed my skirt is around my waist, or to care his shoulder careens off the corner wall where my living room meets the hallway, or how he fumbles with the light switch at the door until he ends up flooding the entire room with too-bright light from my overhead fixture.

Aaron carries me to my bed—to the end—and actually drops me there like a bag of bricks. I don’t have time to be surprised or even offended by his rough treatment because his hands are immediately all over me.

My sandals come off, then go flying over his shoulder. His fingers slip into the elastic waistband of my skirt, managing to hook my panties at the same time, and he yanks them down my legs.

Immediately, I’m embarrassingly aware of being half-naked and splayed out under a bright light. I slide my hands down my belly to cover my crotch, but I stop when Aaron’s eyebrows shoot together, and he gives me a fierce glare. “Don’t even think about covering yourself.”

“Turn out the light then,” I snap, keeping my fingers hovering over my stomach.

“Not a chance,” he says with a leer. “I’ve been dreaming of this moment for two weeks, and I’m not missing a single scintillating moment of your gorgeous body. So keep your hands away from down there unless you want to play with yourself—”

“Aaron,” I exclaim, feeling the burn of embarrassment engulf my ears.

With another lecherous grin, he shakes his head. “I’ve got so many things to show you, Clarke.”

I can feel my blush spreading over my entire body, but I don’t have time to be self-conscious about it. Aaron extends his meaty fist, grabs a hunk of my shirt, and lifts my torso off the bed until I’m sitting, my lower half completely naked and legs splayed out in front of me.

He bends to place a soft kiss on my mouth, then, ever so gently, he removes my glasses. I almost fall backward when he releases his grip on my clothing, but he only turns to the dresser behind him to set my glasses down. When he shifts back my way, his expression is focused as he takes one long stride to reach the bed again.

His hands come out and before I even understand what’s happening, my shirt and bra are off and being tossed to the floor.

Aaron takes a half step back, raking his eyes over me. I’ve never felt more foolish in my life as I sit upright with my legs straight out, which doesn’t flatter my stomach in the least. My gaze falters, falling away from his burning one.

“You’re beautiful, Clarke,” Aaron murmurs and despite my extreme discomfort in the bright light of my room, I can’t help but look up.

I expect him to talk me down from my horrible lack of self-confidence between the sheets so to speak, the residual damage left over from the horrible experience losing my virginity saddled me with.

Instead, my mouth goes desert dry when Aaron merely lifts his t-shirt over his head. He does it slowly, revealing inch after inch of smooth, tanned skin and rippling muscles. His broad chest and strong shoulders corded with muscles are revealed, the shirt falling from his fingers to the floor.

“Let’s get on equal footing, okay?” he asks gently.

I can only nod.

Aaron toes off his shoes, then sits beside me on the bed to remove his socks. When he stands, he pulls his belt off slowly but with assurance. His jeans and underwear come off next in the same move. Overwhelmed, I stare at the beauty of his body as it’s revealed.

Sadly, I realize I’ve never taken a really good look at any of the men I’ve been with in the past. Lights had usually been off. Sometimes, it had just been drunken fumbling. Other times, the act had been performed so hastily that not all clothing had come off.

And those instances had been fine. Adequately enjoyable. Although the thought of Aaron and me hastily going at each other without the patience to fully undress has huge appeal… at a future date and with the knowledge the result would be way hotter than any of those fumbling experiences.

But in this moment, Aaron clearly wants me to examine his body. He wants me to enjoy each inch he reveals.

He’s wordlessly telling me—as he stands before me like a golden Adonis all muscled and with his thick, long shaft fully engaged—that I have every right to gaze at him until my heart is content.

He’s so beautiful. I’m not quite sure my heart will ever be content, but I don’t feel foolish at all right now.