To Love and Protect (Must Love Diamonds 4)

She nodded and glanced down as she lifted a hand to fiddle with one of the tiny straps at her shoulder. A grimace flashed across her face, but she lifted her chin and met his gaze. That’s when he saw the vulnerability in her eyes and realized the courage it took for her to recreate the scene from nine years ago.

But so much had changed—and thank God it had.

He walked over to his dresser, removing his Beretta and concealed carry holster on the way. After tucking them in the top drawer, he drew in an unsteady breath and pivoted to face her. As he crossed to the bed, he slid his gaze down her body and back up with open appreciation. This time, he didn’t want her to have any doubt as to whether or not he wanted her.

His pulse raced as his whole body practically vibrated with anticipation.

“You’re as beautiful now as you were then.”

She bit the corner of her bottom lip. “It’s a little snug.”

Only across her breasts. “It’s perfect.” He reached for her waist, and the heat of her skin seeped through the silky fabric as he urged her forward to the edge of the bed. “You’re perfect.”

He started to lean down to kiss her, but she pulled back slightly. “Are you okay with skipping dinner?”

“You really think you have to ask?”

“It’s just…you’re all dressed already—and you look very nice, by the way.”

Dev stepped back and stripped down to his briefs in world-record time. As he kicked his pants aside, he said, “There. No longer dressed. Any other questions?”

She shook her head slowly, her gaze dipping down to his chest, then his stomach, and lower. As her attention lingered, he wasn’t sure if she was checking out his erection stretching the front of his briefs, or staring at the scars on his left leg. Surprisingly, the second didn’t bother him anymore. Not with her.

“You still look just as nice.”

The huskiness of her voice sent his blood surging through his veins as he bumped his knees up against the mattress and reached to pull her to him.

Shelby kept a few inches of space between them, with her palms pressed to his chest. She tilted her head to the side, her gaze sweeping over the floor. “You’re just going to leave your clothes and shoes lying all over the place?”

“Right now, I don’t give a flying-fuck where my clothes are.” He suddenly paused. “Are you making fun of my OCD because you’re nervous?”

“A little,” she admitted while ducking her head.

He wasn’t really OCD, he just liked things put in their place. Usually. When he didn’t have much better things to like.

Dev lifted his hand to tilt her chin up with his knuckle, then skimmed his thumb along her bottom lip. When her lashes fluttered down and her lips parted with a shallow breath, he leaned in to fuse his mouth with hers. He teased and nibbled, keeping things soft and gentle until she sighed in surrender, wrapped her arms round his neck, and leaned her whole body into him from breasts to thighs.

Her lips parted, and her tongue sought his, tangling and retreating, luring him in to explore the addicting sweetness of her mouth. He lost himself in the kiss, stroking deep while his hands roamed and caressed, learning her curves and how they fit so perfectly against his angles.

When he palmed her ass and didn’t feel the telltale line of panties or a thong through silk, he skimmed up under the hem to find nothing but bare skin. Need flexed his fingers on her firm flesh, and his erection swelled against her belly. The urge to lay her down and bury himself to the hilt made him tremble.

He left her mouth to kiss his way along her jaw, and over to her ear. She raked her nails through his hair, her breath rapid little puffs that revved up his arousal. He worked his way down the delicate line of her throat to the swell of her breasts, then bent to suck one nipple into his mouth through the silky slip.

Her sharp gasp was followed by an inarticulate sound of pleasure. Pulse strumming, he switched to the other side. Her fingers clenched in his hair, tugging at his scalp even as she held him closer.

“God, that feels good,” she breathed.

With one hand at her back, he turned just enough to brace his other hand on the mattress to lower her down. Lying beside her, he ran his forefinger along the neckline of her negligee. The material stretched, and he skimmed back and forth, moving farther down with each swipe, until the silk slipped underneath the curve of her breast, leaving the rose-tipped mound exposed in the gathering twilight.

When he moved to do the same to the other side, Shelby asked, “Should I take it off?”

“No way.” He watched with mouth-watering anticipation as inch by inch of her second breast was revealed. “I’ve dreamed about this scrap of silk and lace for nine years, and I’m going to make the most of every second.”

Her chest rose and fell with each aroused breath she took, and he drank in the sight of her before dipping his head to run his tongue around the tip of one nipple. He took his time playing and caressing, until she breathed his name again, and he suddenly needed to hear it in the height of her passion.

Dev skimmed his hand down over her belly, dragged the hem of her nightie up, and slid a finger between her folds to find her wet and ready. Her body tensed, but the first skim of his finger over her nub as he sucked hard on her breast had her bucking her hips with a gasp.

Switching sides, he worked her almost to the edge before kissing his way back up to her mouth. Tension gripped her body, and moments later, she bowed beneath his touch as she cried out his name. While she caught her breath, he dug a condom from his nightstand, and stripped off his briefs to roll on the protection. He turned back to find her watching his movements, her expression revealing that seductive mix of innocence and siren from years ago.