Hard Checked (Ice Kings #4) - Stacey Lynn Page 0,57
like me saying her name or bringing her up, especially not now or here, in your bed, but yeah… as much as I’ve thought about doing things with you over the last couple of weeks, trust me, I’m nervous.”
“I don’t mind you bringing her up.”
His eyes narrow and I press my hand to his cheek. My thumb brushes along his scruff and toward his mouth before I sweep it back. God. I love a man with a well-groomed beard.
“I don’t,” I repeat, because he’s looking at me like he wants to argue. “She’s part of you and you’ve known her forever. Yeah, in my bed isn’t the greatest place, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to hear. You’ve gone through a lot, and don’t get me wrong, I’m freaking glad you’re here, but I get it. I’m only nervous because you showing up tonight and all that’s happened since then has totally surprised the hell out of me.”
The lines around his beautiful green eyes loosen and he blinks. After adjusting so he’s under the covers, he rolls toward me and opens his arms. “Come here, Georgia.”
I huff and listen, tucking my forehead where his throat meets his shoulder. He’s so warm and whatever cologne he wears smells so damn good, I settle in closer, pressing my hands to his chest.
“You feel good next to me,” I murmur and earn a brief chuckle from him.
“I like being next to you.”
And my heart melts into a puddle.
We talk about his games and the upcoming week while he plays with my hair. It’s whispered words, brief touches and kisses, and yet this feels so much more intimate than a night of bodies pressed together. He tells me about his family back in Minnesota, about his sisters and their kids. I tell him about my mom, and as the sun begins to make its way to the horizon, I close my eyes and we fall asleep.
Warm lips followed by the scruff of a beard along my jaw bring me to life the next morning. I don’t have to open my eyes to know Sebastian is next to me, or what he’s looking for. I lie still, allowing him to kiss and tease me with his mouth while his hand stays still at my hip. It appears we’ve barely moved at all in our sleep but instead of being on my side facing him like the last time I remember, I wake on my back, with his body pressed down the length of my side.
Sebastian’s hand begins its own exploration and slides to my stomach while his mouth travels south to my shoulder and collarbone.
I shiver, unable to fight again any longer and feel the curve of my lips lifting.
“Mmm. Good morning.” I turn my head away, giving him easier access.
“It’s definitely a good morning.”
My body responds to his words, his touch, the warmth of his mouth on my skin, teasing and warming me oh so slowly. His hand at my stomach slides across, down, beneath my tank and as his flesh presses to mine, expectation ignites down my spine.
“Sebastian.”
“Stop me if I go too fast.”
“There’s no such thing. Trust me.”
“Trust me, I’m afraid I could go too fast.”
I laugh and turn my head so I’m facing him and slide my fingers into his hair. Giving his silky, messy locks a tug, I bring his face to mine. “We’ll deal with it if that happens.”
“Like hell, it will,” he practically growls and presses his lips to mine. “I’ll manage.”
He kisses like he’s been starved for me, like he’s been waiting for hours for me to awaken just so he can taste me and taste me he does. He leaves no part of me untouched as he takes my mouth and begins exploring my body in earnest.
Everything about him seems to be a puzzle, a missing piece here or there, a clue I have to dig for. And every time I find one, it feels like the smallest victory, watching him start to laugh, to smile… to admit he wants this.
There are so many layers to Sebastian I’m not sure how long it’ll take me to uncover them all, but damn it all to hell I am up to the task of searching. We kiss fervently as he presses up my shirt. His thumb runs beneath my breast and I arch into him, desperate for more. His featherlight touch coupled with the roughness of his calloused fingertips and palms sends sensations rolling through me, making