her scalp drove her a little mad for him. “You are so beautiful.” She gave him that because she had to. She had to tell him. It wasn’t just his physical looks—and truthfully, he’d been gifted far beyond the normal—it was what she found in his mind.
He had a protective streak a mile wide. Maybe more. The children on his property, the older couple, Emeline, even his partner and his partner’s woman, all were family to him. He had added to that growing list Genevieve and Lourdes, and especially her. She was his number-one priority, but he would never let the others down. She couldn’t see beyond that, but that trait, that unswerving loyalty and protective instinct appealed to her as nothing else could.
Then she couldn’t think. Couldn’t talk. He changed the angle of his hips and the friction was exquisite. Perfect.
“With me,” he ordered softly.
She did exactly as he demanded and she wasn’t certain she had anything to do with the decision. It was his voice. The buildup until the tension was unbearable. Wanting to please him. Wanting him to give her that much pleasure. At the sound of his low command, her body came apart, taking his with it. The burn was fierce and unrelenting. She keened his name as the firestorm swept through her, her gaze held captive by his. She saw and felt the pleasure sweeping through him, pure bliss, throwing them both into a place they drifted together, a kind of paradise she found there in his eyes.
They remained locked together for some time until reality began to encroach. She heard the sound of a child’s laughter. Little Lourdes. Charlotte loved her laugh. The murmur of Genevieve’s voice, soft, teasing, imploring her to finish eating or she’d make the child do the dishes. More laughter. Lourdes didn’t buy it. But hearing them meant they were close to the kitchen, and she was stark naked. More, she’d had unprotected sex again.
“Don’t.” It was an order. His fist tightened in her hair. “I told you, you will not get pregnant. I’m clean and so, obviously, are you. We’re together. A new beginning. I’m not going anywhere, so let yourself enjoy what we have when we manage to have it. Lourdes is already asking for you in spite of your friend trying to distract her.”
“Oh, no. I’ve got to get up.” She pushed at his chest to move him, but it was like trying to move a heavy oak tree. He didn’t budge. She tried to look away, but he shook his head.
“You’re doing it again, trying to put distance between us so you can talk yourself out of what happened. Not this time. We’re together. We. Are. Together. You realize you have to get over panicking every time I touch you like this.”
“I know. I do. It’s just that I don’t think when you’re around. My brain doesn’t work. I felt you carrying me, but we went through the house with me naked. Anyone could have seen us. Lourdes could have . . .”
“I don’t share. Not. Ever. We’re on the top floor and no one saw me carry you here—I made certain of that. I will always protect you, Charlotte. In every way. I have clothes here you can get into, but first I need the truth about how sore you are.”
She blushed at that. Of course she was sore. He was still inside her, stretching her even though he was only half hard, but it would be embarrassing telling him that.
“Not embarrassing. Talk to me. I don’t want to take from you what you aren’t willing to give me, but in matters of safety and health, I have no choice.”
She didn’t understand that, but he was right. If a relationship between them was going to work out, she had to be able to communicate with him about every subject—especially sex. “I’m sore. Definitely. But I like knowing why.” That was truthful and still a little embarrassing, but she managed to keep her gaze on his.
“I can take the sting away.”
Reluctantly he opened his fist and allowed her hair to fall loose down her back. She hadn’t remembered him taking the topknot out, but then she didn’t remember him carrying her up to the third floor. She’d been that far gone. He slid out of her and then pressed his palm to her mound. For a moment there was intense heat. She swore she felt him moving in her. Not him. He was right there, solid