“I still think you should stay here.” Sin sighed.
“No.” I was going. I didn’t care how many times Sin tried to talk me out of it. Besides, it would look fishy if he showed up without Cal’s prize.
“Lucius, tell her she should stay.”
“You’ll get no help from me. She’s right. She deserves to be there.”
“She deserves more than that. Much more.” Sin pulled me into his lap.
Lucius scowled. “If you’re doing this, I’m out.”
“We’ll talk business later.” Sin waved him away.
Lucius grumbled and slammed the front door on his way in.
“Are you tired?”
“No.” I leaned against him and watched the fireflies spark. “I feel good.”
“What hurts?” He ran a hand up and down my thigh, goose bumps rising under the thin material of my pajama pants.
“Nothing.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. Stop worrying.”
He kept rocking us at a leisurely pace. “I’ll never stop worrying about you.”
“I know, but I’m fine now. I’m healing. I want to get back to painting and walking and riding with you and Teddy. And mainly, I want you to stop feeling guilty.” I kissed his neck.
“I don’t think I’m capable of that.”
“You didn’t think you were capable of love, either.”
He canted his head to the side, the stubble along his cheeks looking even darker in the low light. “Touché.”
“You don’t have to be careful with me, you know? I won’t break.”
“I can’t hurt you.” He peered down at me, worry wrinkling the skin near his eyes.
I nibbled at his neck. “Take me upstairs.”
“No, you’re still healing. I can’t.”
I twined my arms around his neck and pulled myself up to his mouth. I licked along his bottom lip and bit down on it.
“Stella.” His voice lowered to a growl. “Don’t.”
“Make me stop.” I kissed him and ran my fingers through his hair, pulling close to the scalp where I knew it would hurt.
He slid his hand up my thigh and gripped my ass, then lifted me so I straddled him. He kissed me hungrily, like he’d been starved for me. I caressed his tongue with mine and moved my hips back and forth over his growing erection.
He dug his fingers into my waist and moved me faster on top of him.
“No.” He pulled away. “We can’t. You’re hurt.”
“I’m not.” I kissed down his neck.
He gripped the collar of my shirt and pulled it aside, the ugly red scar from Cal’s cut curving around my collar bone. “You are.”
“It’s almost healed. Give this to me. Please?” I dropped my eyes. “Unless you don’t find me attractive any longer, now that—”
“Don’t be an idiot.” He crushed my mouth with his, one of his hands tangling in my hair. Lifting me with ease, he walked to the door, his lips still pressed to mine, his tongue ruling my mouth.
I wrapped my legs around him as he pushed through the door and into the house. Making quick work of the stairs, he carried me to my bedroom and lay me down.
He pulled his shirt over his head. I stared at the broad expanse of his chest, the masculine V of his torso. I took the hem of my shirt and started to pull it, but he stayed my hands with his.
“I want to do it.” He pushed my shirt up slowly, dropping soft kisses along my skin with each inch he exposed.
By the time he reached my breasts, I was clutching his hair and arching my back. He kissed around the bottoms of each, keeping his slow pace. He paid extra attention to my scars, his breath tickling me as his mouth sealed his love to my skin.
He kissed my nipples, still taking his time as my shirt moved higher and higher until he pulled it over my head and tossed it to the floor. His eyes were reverent as he kissed my lips with the same soft pressure he’d used on the rest of me. My thighs were on fire, and I wanted him, all of him.
He ended the kiss too soon and dropped to his knees, pulling my pants and panties off. Starting at my toes, he kissed up each leg. The gentle caresses multiplied and reverberated through my body until all I could think of was him.
Spreading my legs, he lay his palms flat against my inner thighs. His warm breath grazed my pussy, and he kissed my bare skin, up and down until no spot was left untouched. I jolted when he slipped his tongue inside me.
He hesitated. “Is it all right?”
“Better than all right. Please don’t stop.”
He gave me the devious smile—the one I once loathed and now loved—before diving back down. His stubble scraped against my thighs as he licked me from entrance to clit. I moaned at the overwhelming rush of sensation. He did it again and put his hands under my ass, lifting me to his face as he devoured me.