Fate (Steel Brothers Saga #13) - Helen Hardt Page 0,34

went wide.

“But not tonight.”

She looked visibly relieved. “It’s new.”

“The next time you wear it around me, it won’t last long.” I eased the stretchy fabric over her shoulders, taking it down to the tops of her breasts. Her cleavage beckoned. Daphne had perfect breasts, more than enough to fill my large hands.

I met her gaze, and she nodded ever so slightly.

I untightened the tie holding her wrap dress and then brushed it over her breasts, letting it sit on her hips.

I drew in a swift breath.

Her bra was black lace, her tits scrumptiously overflowing. I cupped them, trailing my fingers over the soft exposed flesh. Her nipples tightened against the lace, two hard berries begging to be touched. Sucked. Bitten.

“Has anyone else touched these breasts?” I asked gruffly.

She shook her head.

God, she truly was innocent.

“I’ll be the first,” I said, “and the last.”

She widened her eyes, but in truth, the words probably surprised me more than they did her. Yeah, I’d thought about destiny. Yeah, I’d used the word soul mate. But to hear such words actually escape my throat was new. Very new.

And the words rang very true.

“I’m going to take off your bra now, Daphne.”

She nodded.

I deftly unhooked the garment in back and let it fall over her arms to the floor in a black heap on the blue carpeting.

Then her breasts…

They fell against her porcelain chest, the pink-brown nipples hard and turgid.

For a moment, I thought I could be happy merely looking at her, letting my gaze drift over her perfection.

But only for a moment.

I cupped the soft mounds, her skin silken against my rough hands. Her nipples stretched forward, as if begging for my touch. I thumbed them both gently.

“Oh!” she gasped.

Truly untouched. And so very beautiful.

I bent my head—

“What are you doing?”

I met her brown gaze. “I want to kiss your breasts, baby. Suck on your nipples.”

“O…kay.”

“You’ll love it. Trust me.”

She nodded. I gently kissed one nipple. A soft sigh crept out of her throat.

“Good?” I said against her skin.

“Yes. Good.” She sighed again.

I rained tiny kisses over both nipples and the tops of her breasts, getting her ready for what would come next.

Then I sucked one nipple between my lips.

A swift inhale squeaked from her throat.

Damn, this going slowly was more difficult than I ever imagined. I wanted to rip that dress the rest of the way off, shove her panties to the side, and sink my cock into her warmth. My already blue balls were going to be ready to fall off by the time I got where I was going.

But she was worth it. Somehow, I knew she was worth it.

I continued sucking gently on her nipple despite wanting to bite it hard and make her scream.

I liked my sex rough. I liked my women to submit.

But Daphne Wade was so innocent. Her innocence went further than her being a virgin. I couldn’t pinpoint exactly what it was about her, but I felt such an ache to protect her at all costs.

I’d never felt such a profound need before.

If possible, my desire to protect her was even stronger than my desire to fuck her.

Which meant…

Fuck.

I couldn’t do this right now.

My cock was a massive aching rock inside my trousers. It had a mind of its own, and man, did it want to get laid tonight.

But I had to let my head prevail. Daphne, no matter what she said, wasn’t ready for sex the way I knew it. I could be gentle, but gentle for me wasn’t gentle the way Daphne needed it.

I let her nipple drop from my lips. “Daphne,” I said softly.

“Yes?”

“I can’t believe I’m going to say this.”

“What?”

“This isn’t right.”

Her eyes misted over, laced with sadness. “Oh? I’m not pretty enough, am I?”

Was she bananas? “You’re more than pretty enough. You’re the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen.”

Her body was already pink and supple, but a visible shiver raced through her. “Then why?”

“Sex isn’t about being pretty enough or liking someone enough. Or even wanting someone enough. It’s about being sure both people are ready for it, and I don’t think you are, baby.”

“I am. I told you I am.”

I inhaled. Fuck. Her scent—that musky scent of arousal laced with a floral fragrance that was uniquely Daphne.

Her body was ready, no doubt.

But her mind was not.

“I am,” she said again.

“Baby, you need to know something about me.”

“I know all I need to know.”

I chuckled. “You know next to nothing. I’m not the kind of guy who—”

I stopped abruptly. If Daphne