Hank’s eyes filled with admiration, grasping her h*ps with a low growl of approval. “You are even more beautiful than I imagined. And believe me, I have imagined you this way more times that I can count.”
His hand stroked up again, holding…
She looked down. He’d picked up the feathered Mardi Gras mask, trailing in a silky teasing path, along her leg, over her hip and higher until he stood in front of her again.
Already gasping in anticipation, she made fast work of his belt, his zipper, until he kicked away his khakis and boxers. She grazed her fingers down the ridged six-pack of his stomach, to his narrow hips, sliding over to encircle his erection, which strained upward against his belly. Slowly, she caressed him, stroked him, working her thumb over the pearly bead on top, slicking her hand. Watching his face, the way he bit his bottom lip, sent a rush straight through her.
His jaw flexed with tension, his eyes sliding closed for two heartbeats before he clasped her wrist and drew her hand away. In a flash, he bracketed her waist and tossed her gently on the bed.
Climbing up the bed, he stretched over her, large and restrained all at once. And in his hand, he still held the Mardi Gras mask. He stroked the feathers along her neck with just the right amount of pressure to tantalize without tickling. Hmm…that felt so unexpected and good.
Her head lolled to the side and thank goodness he got the message to continue along her collar bone, back and forth until goose bumps rose along her skin. He trailed the silky softness between her br**sts, circling one then the other, again and again, until she bit her bottom lip to keep from crying out at the tingling pleasure, to keep from begging him for more.
He flicked one taut nipple, then the other. Back and forth, he drew patterns of pleasure along her skin while she murmured a mix of pleas and demands. She gripped his arm, her head pressing back into the pillow.
The feather skimmed along her stomach, then around to the inside of her thighs, so close to teasing where she needed him most. She gasped for air—for release—her pulse thundering in her ears.
His fingers replaced the feathers. Then his mouth. Her hands went to his shoulders, holding him in place. Taking her pleasure. Her mind filled with all the ways she would please him through the night.
The flick of his tongue, the sweet subtlety of his touch drove her higher. Then she couldn’t think about anything but the velvet feel of how he gave and gave to her, taking her so close—
But she didn’t want to go alone. He’d already done so much for her. She needed them to be partners in this much as least.
“Hank,” she gasped, drawing him upward until he stretched over her again. “Now. I want all of you now.”
She arched her h*ps against him, the thick length of him pressing against her. If she moved, adjusted, angled him, she could have him inside her, flesh to flesh—
Oh, God! Her nails dug into his shoulders. “Condoms… How could I have forgotten?”
She wouldn’t trade Max for anything in the world, but the pregnancy had been an accident, the product of a night when she and Kevin had too much to drink and got sloppy about using birth control.
“You didn’t forget because you just spoke up—” he cupped her face “—and I have that taken care of.”
Rolling to his side, he reached to the bedside table and opened a drawer. The box was still sealed, and she realized he’d bought the condoms for this, for them.
She angled up on her elbows, watching as he sheathed himself. Anticipation, and more of those nerves pattering through her. So she looped her arms around his neck and drew him to her, needing the forgetfulness she was damn certain she could find with him. The thick pressure between her thighs chased away any doubts.
Hooking her legs around his, she urged him on, welcomed him inside her until he was heart deep. Her eyes squeezed closed to battle back emotional tears because finally she had him, after so long wondering and wanting, and the feel of him moving inside her was even more than she’d anticipated. And yes, even more than she’d feared because something this special made her rethink the rest of her life.
Although the last thing she wanted to do right now was make plans for the future. She wanted to live in the moment, just the two of them, the scent of her lavender soap mixing with his aftershave. The special blend of them clung to the air. She rolled her hips as Hank thrust, their bodies syncing into a rhythm unique to the two of them.
The sound of his voice in her ear stoked her along with the slick glide of their bare bodies against each other. So close, he took her to the edge again and again, holding back at the last second until she clawed at his back, desperate for release until—
Wave after wave crested over her, shattering her with the intensity of bliss restrained for far too long. A cry rolled up her throat, and he captured the sound with his mouth—or maybe he was muffling the hoarse shout of his own release.
His arms folded, and he blanketed her. Aftershocks trembled through her, through him, as well, binding them all over again.
Slowly, awareness returned, bit by bit with the cool gusts of air from a ceiling fan she hadn’t even noticed before. Her hands roved over Hank’s body, a precious weight anchoring her to the bed. Somehow, the mask had been crushed between them, but she couldn’t bring herself to make him move so she could toss it aside.
For now, the masks were off literally and symbolically. No past or future casting shadows.
Right now, she had Hank in her arms, and she held on tight, scared as hell of how badly it would hurt to lose him if she let herself care too much. Having had her heart shattered once, she wasn’t sure she had the strength to risk experiencing that pain a second time.
* * *
Hank sprawled nak*d on his bed, working to catch his breath after round two with Gabrielle. She’d proved to be equally as adept in playing with the mask and tormenting the hell out of him.
Then satisfying the hell out of him.
Being with her had been every bit as world-rocking as he’d expected. Now he just had to work to make sure she didn’t run scared. Because already he could see doubts and fears chasing through her eyes.
Curled up beside him, which also kept her face averted, she toyed with the feathered mask. “I hadn’t pegged you for the playful type, but I like the surprise.”
“Glad to hear it.” He stroked his knuckles along the small of her back, just above the sweet curve of her bottom.
“You’re different here, away from the squadron, more open.”
His father’s shadow wasn’t lurking around each corner ready to ambush him here. “Everyone wears a facade at some point.”
“Being bare is a scary thing, being vulnerable.” She shivered and he tugged the satin comforter over her.
He tucked the covers around her and pulled her back to his side. “I’m not going to hurt you.”
A choked laugh sputtered from her. “No one can promise that. Life hurts.”
He knuckled her chin upward until she had to look in his eyes again. “Are you hurting right now?”
She shook her head. “No, of course not. I’m happy and satiated and a little scared, but not sad. Not hurting.”
“Good…very good.” He dipped his head and kissed her, lingering until she sighed. “Let’s see if we can keep you that way. I have a gift for you.”
“Another one?” She crinkled her nose. “You’re going to have to get your business partner to invent a new game if you keep this up.”
“Trust me.” He saw the uneasiness in her eyes, the fear that he would give her something totally inappropriate after they’d had sex. She really didn’t know him well at all. But he intended to change that.