Falling Fast (Falling Fast #1) - Tina Wainscott Page 0,62

whatever thoughts rambled through his mind. She wanted to know what he was thinking but was afraid to ask.

Safe. Good. Right. The words floating through her mind tightened her insides. But she had a job in Minneapolis, and he had a family of sorts here. The only family he had. Her mind tried to find a way to make it work, but she came up with broken strands every time. She needed to work with burn victims, and there was only a small hospital here.

But you need Raleigh, too.

She felt her hand involuntarily clench on his stomach. She didn’t want to let him go. Not yet.

Not ever.

His breathing grew steady and deep, and she drifted into sleep as well. Dreams of kissing Raleigh, walking on the beach hand in hand. But he released her and walked into the surf. She tried to follow, but the waves kept pushing her back to shore. Raleigh grew fainter as he moved farther away, the ocean swallowing him by degrees.

When she woke two hours later, he wasn’t in bed. Panic twined through her chest. She threw on a shirt and wandered out, afraid he’d come to the conclusion that getting close was too painful. He stood naked in the kitchen, a glass of water in hand. Only the moonlight pouring through the window cast any amount of light into the space. But it was enough to give him a mystical glow as he set his glass down on the counter and faced her. “Did I wake you?”

“I don’t think so. I just woke up…and you were gone.”

He held out his hand, and she drifted toward him without thought, sliding into his embrace. “I’m here.”

Their bare thighs pressed together, and she could feel his arousal against her stomach. He ran his hand from her forehead to her chin, gazing down at her. She could barely see his eyes, only dark, unfathomable pools.

“Let’s go out to the deck,” he whispered. “Sleep under the moonlight.”

But she knew he didn’t mean sleep at all. She nodded, maybe a little too eagerly. “I’d like that. I won’t be able to do that much once I’m back in Minneapolis.” Those words hung like storm clouds in the air for several seconds.

“You won’t have the waves to lull you to sleep. Or the salty breeze.”

Or him. But neither said that.

“I’ll get the sheet from the bed.” He walked down the hall and returned a minute later with the white mass.

He was still naked as they stepped outside, like a Greek god come from the sea. She took the sheet and laid it over the sofa, slipped out of her shirt, and drew him over. He pulled her close and leaned down to capture her mouth, the kiss growing from soft and sweet to ardent.

The sea breeze caressed her but was nothing compared with his hands skimming down her back and over the curve of her behind. She felt as free, naked on the deck, as she had skinny-dipping. But it had nothing to do with her nudity or being a little brazen. It had everything to do with Raleigh. He sparked her spirit, opened her to adventure.

He reached down between her legs, caressing her, getting her ready. She tilted her head back as he kissed down her jawline, to her ear, his tongue mimicking what he’d done to her just hours ago.

“Mmm, nice and ready now,” he whispered, nibbling on her earlobe, his fingers slipping inside her.

“So ready,” she said on a quick breath as those same fingers now teased her folds.

He swiped a crinkly packet from the arm of the sofa and tore it open with his teeth. Within seconds, he’d sheathed himself. He took her hand and sat on the couch, pulling her down with him. She straddled him, knees bent, and braced her hands on his shoulders. So hungry to have him inside her.

He let her take her time easing onto his shaft, feeling her body stretching to accommodate him. Pain and pleasure danced together briefly before pleasure took the lead. And not just pleasure but fulfillment.

When he was fully inside her, she closed her eyes and sank into the moment.

“You all right?” he asked, his hands coming to her waist.

“I’m exquisite.”

“Yes, you are.”

“Mmm” was all she could say, the only word she could manage through her tight throat. She started moving, driving him deeper, feeling him sliding in and out. She gripped his shoulders, steadying herself as a wave of emotions crashed over her. Safe. Good. Right.