Vow to Protect (Vow To Protect 1)

It’s these thoughts chasing through my head as he closes the door behind him. I watch as he crossed the room, removing his jacket and slipping off his shoes. It’s a graceful dance he’s done every night, and it’s never any less mesmerizing.

His shirt comes next, his wide shoulders flexing as he strips it off and tosses it on an armchair near his closet. When he gets to his belt, the book I held in my lap is already forgotten, and I can’t keep my eyes off him. I don’t know if he realizes I watch him so closely or not. I really don’t care if he does. I like to look at him, and he doesn’t bother hiding his own interest when he watches me dress or undress.

“I can feel your eyes drilling holes into my back, Angel,” he says as he takes off his watch and places it gently on the dresser. Guess he answered that question.

When he turns to face me, he’s only wearing tight black boxer briefs. His abs are outlined all the way up to his solid pecs, and I can’t take my eyes from him.

“You’re staring,” he says, but there’s an affectionate lilt to his tone that makes me offer a sheepish smile.

“I could say I’m sorry, but I don’t think I am.”

He dives toward the bed and slides in alongside me. In seconds, I’m dragged into his arms. “Where did that smart mouth come from? I’ll have to put it to use if you’ve got nothing better to do than give me attitude.”

“You watch me too.” I feel the need to point out. To defend myself.

“So I do,” he says, dropping his mouth to the upper curve of my breasts to bite gently.

I arch into him, loving the way he feels against me. He’s been giving me time, allowing me to come to terms with what I’ve been through, but right now, sex doesn’t seem like a hardship. I’ve learned he knows how to make it good for me, and I know he won’t hurt me any more than necessary.

Maybe I should offer myself to him and just get it over with. It’s been such a big deal in my head, but I want to shrink it down and make it meaningless. If it means nothing, then maybe it can’t hurt me.

He shifts on the bed to lie on his side and pull me closer. We stare into each other’s eyes, and I want to stay here. Just live this tender moment for the rest of my life. If only he’ll keep looking at me like that.

“Anything you want to say since you were so focused on my undressing?” he teases.

I shake my head, heat washing into my neck, no doubt staining my chest and face pink above the cream silk of my nightgown. “No. I just enjoy watching you sometimes, is all.”

A part of me can’t believe I admitted that to him out loud. As if men need more ego stroking than they get on a daily basis. But it’s equally important to me for him to know that I think he’s beautiful. “You’re lovely when you’re not on display for anyone.”

“Yet you were watching me like I was. How do you know I wasn’t performing for you?”

I smile and snuggle closer. “You might have been. If so, I feel special that you would expend so much energy to please me.”

He rears back in an inch as if my answer surprises him. “There you go again, disarming me with bold honesty. I like when you do that. It makes me hard.”

The straightforward way he tells me about his erection sends heat through my already throbbing body. My heartbeat is in my ears already, but now, I’m warm through and through.

His compliments make me feel a little more confident. Despite the blush burning my ears, I enjoy the fact he finds me sexy. If Sal ever did, he never said it, only offered plenty to say about my frigidity. Not that I cared too much about his opinion. Adrian’s, however, I do care about. I want him to look at me and see me as a woman.

I place my hand on his chest and gently push him to lie on his back. He watches me with a sexy little grin on his face. The man doesn’t smile much, but when he does, damn, I want to make him keep doing it.

“What are you up to, Angel?” He’s amused, and that’s fine since any minute now, I’m going to need his help to complete my plan.

Once he’s completely flat and shifts in the bedding to flatten his hips, I scoot closer, gently easing one leg over his, and then another so I’m kneeling between his thighs. I can’t help but stare at the outline of him, already hard in his underwear.