Dead of Winter (Battle of the Bulls #2) - T. S. Joyce Page 0,34

that you can get dirty without complaining. That you can loosen up and have fun. It’s sexy.”

Raven slid her hand down his forearm to his wrist and squeezed. She didn’t want him to pull away.

He eased her back until she was pressed against the edge of the sink, right by the shower. Slowly, he pulled her towel away from her and tossed it behind him. With the back of his forefinger, he drew a line along her collarbone and then down, down to trace her breast. Raven let off a trembling sigh and a small shiver at how good it felt to be touched.

His hand was strong as he cupped her tit, massaged, then melted her completely when he massaged the other. His fingertips trailed fire where he explored. Streaks of warmth down her ribs to the curve of her waist to her hips. Dead looked at her skin like he was memorizing it. Memorizing every curve, slope, indentation. Every freckle. Every tattoo. The look in his eyes filled her stomach with a happy fluttering sensation. She was beautiful to him. She could tell in the hungry look on his face and the smile that curved up just slightly when he brushed her hair off her shoulder and traced her jaw line. Time and time again, he moved back to her breasts, kneading them until she was putty in his capable hands.

There wasn’t an ounce of rush on his time. Raven’s shyness faded as the minutes wore on, and she settled into a comfort she’d never known before.

“May I?” she whispered, tugging at the hem of his T-shirt.

He nodded. No words here. Not right now. He lifted his arms, and she peeled his shirt over his head. She blew out a steadying breath as she studied him, too. The hair on his defined chest was so light. When she ran her fingertips across it, Dead rolled his eyes closed and shivered. He was so much bigger than her, taking up most of the small bathroom, but he seemed content, just like this, while petting each other.

She wanted more, but not too fast. Not too fast. This wasn’t some quick treat and then done. She knew down to her bones this was different than anything she’d ever experienced with a man. It was special. It was bonding an animal to an animal. It was bonding a heart to a heart.

He cupped her cheeks and watched her face as she traced the deep lines of his muscles. The one between his pecs, the ones between his abs, the ones at that sexy hip muscle that delved into his jeans. She hugged him and traced the thick muscle on either side of his spine, and he shivered again. This time, he elicited a deep rumbling sound that called to her animal, too. Ooooh, beautiful, sexy boy. She was in trouble with him.

She reached between his thighs and groaned when her hand landed on his thick, stone-hard shaft.

He reached into the shower and felt the water, then eased her into the small space. It wasn’t a big shower, but he stripped out of his jeans and stepped right in after her, then pulled a washrag off a shelf. He began rubbing the abrasive cloth gently across her wet skin. She leaned back, wetting her hair as he cleaned her. Nothing had ever felt so good in all her life. His hand holding her waist still, his other cleaning her skin, his eyes tracing the washcloth with a hungry look. The water was steaming but not too hot, and when he was finished, she took the cloth from him and began to wash his skin, too.

She’d never been a part of something more intimate. He turned for her, and she ran the cloth down his muscular back. On the floor below their feet, muddy water ran into the drain. When the water ran clear, he turned toward her and poured shampoo into his hand, and then massaged her scalp until she was moaning, her head tilted back and her eyes closed. His fingers felt so good. And while she rinsed her hair out under the hot water, he went to kissing her. Kissing her lips, her throat, and then he bent low enough to pull her nipple into his mouth. She gasped as he sucked hard, then leaned into it and gripped the back of his hair.

“Dead,” she whispered, and that seemed to be enough for him.

He folded her into his arms and squeezed out