Harlot (Bartered Hearts 2)

“I…I did too.”

That surprised him. “Did you?”

“Yes. I’d lie in bed at night and slide my hands over my nightgown, and I’d wonder what it would be like to be your wife. I wondered if you’d be disappointed at how straight I was beneath my stays.”

His huff of laughter hurt his heart. “Never. Everything about you amazes me.”

“Don’t say that,” she whispered.

“It’s true. It’s still true. And you must be meant to be just as you are. The opposite of me.” He slid her hand from his shoulder and down his chest. Her fingers spread out over his heart, and he could feel the beat of his pulse against her palm. “I must feel rough and hard to you.”

“A little,” she agreed. “But so warm. You feel…comforting.”

His throat went thick at that. That she could still find his body comforting after what he’d done. He ducked his head to kiss her breast. Her hand slid to his back, and when his mouth found her nipple, her nails dug into him. He licked her gently at first, then pressed his tongue tighter, sucking at her.

She moaned for him, and then she was gasping, one of her knees rising to lie along his thigh. His cock brushed her hip, and he couldn’t help but push against her, the pleasure too intense to resist.

He moved his hand down, aware of the way her stomach jumped in shock, and then he felt the softness of her hair, the spring of it under his trembling fingers. Strange that his own nakedness was crude to him, his body just a tool and an ugly one at that. But with Jess it was all stunning. Skin and hair and sex like something created to make the world more lovely.

He pressed his whole hand to her, holding her for a moment. His finger settled against deeper heat. He slipped it between her folds, his breath a growl as he felt her wetness.

When he moved his finger up, she gasped, so he did it again and again, his cock throbbing at how sli

ck she was, how her legs parted for him. His body screamed for that feeling around him, squeezing his cock.

He clenched his eyes shut and tried to breathe deeply. Not yet.

“Caleb,” she moaned, her hips tipping toward him. He slid a leg over hers, spreading her wider.

“Is that good?” he whispered.

“Yes!” Her breath came faster, as if she were racing toward something. Caleb could feel his cock growing slick against her skin, sliding between his belly and her hip, and he groaned in pained torment.

She said his name again, her nails digging into his shoulder as she clutched him.

“That’s it.” He stroked her faster. “That’s it, Jess. Just like that.”

“Oh, God,” she gasped, her hips jumping now, straining up and up to meet his fingers. “Oh, Caleb.”

She screamed, a hoarse, wrenching cry as her body went tight beneath him. He could feel her muscles twitch under his fingers as her climax broke over her. Her head tipped back, her neck taut and long as she cried out over and over.

By the time she calmed, he was breathing as hard as she was. “You’re so fucking beautiful. A miracle.” Her thigh trembled beneath his.

He slid between her legs and took himself in hand. “I don’t want to hurt you,” he murmured. He brushed the head along her heat, and she whimpered. “Tell me if I hurt you, Jess.”

He rubbed himself against her, his heart nearly stopping at the feel of her slickness against his cock. Finally, he notched the head to her opening and eased in just a half inch. “I’ll stop if you want.”

“No.” Her legs curled around his thighs and pulled him closer.

Caleb winced as he sank an inch deeper. “Slow,” he hissed.

“No,” she said again, the word a little jagged.

“I’d rather die than hurt you. I want to make this feel good. For once, I want it to be right for you.”

He hated the sob she gave as she arched to take more of him. He pulled back a little, then pressed in. “Is this all right?”

He felt her nod, but her breath shuddered as if she were crying. Caleb stretched his body over hers, trying to hold his hips still as he found her mouth with his. “I love you,” he said against her lips.