Follow Your Heart (Catalina Cove #4) - Brenda Jackson Page 0,54
draining of strength, he leaned down and dropped small kisses on her face and throat while shifting his body off hers. Feeling more content than he’d ever felt after making love to a woman, he pulled her close, cradling her body against his. He was convinced she could hear the raggedness of his breathing, as well as feel the racing of his heartbeat. He suspected she had no idea that those beats were a declaration of his love for her.
The last thing he thought when sleep consumed them both was just how perfect she felt in his arms.
* * *
VICTORIA COULD NOT help waking up with a smile on her face, and the feel of her body nestled in strong, warm arms made her smile even more. Last night had been everything she’d dreamed it would be and more. All through the night, Roman had stoked her fire, had explored her with his tongue to the point that she was certain her clit had his name all over it.
The only time they had taken a semblance of a break was when they’d heard the sound of the fireworks. They had paused to look out the porthole in time to see frissons of red light up the sky, giving it a fiery effect. Similar to how they’d been feeling. The sight had been beautiful and the fireworks truly magnificent.
She then thought of the care Roman had given to her last night. After their first time, he had gone into the bathroom, returned with a warm washcloth and gently wiped her body down. The gesture had been personal yet thoughtful. When she mentioned she hadn’t done this since Karl in college, he had warned her that today her body might be a little sore. When she shifted in bed, she saw he was right.
“What are you thinking, sweetheart?”
His term of endearment warmed her from head to toe and she rolled onto her back to gaze up into eyes. “How long have you been awake?”
He reached out and caressed her cheek, and his touch stirred her insides. “Since sunrise.”
She then remembered that he told her the highlight of his day was being on deck to see it every morning. “Sorry you missed seeing it.”
“I didn’t. I could see it through there,” he said, indicating the porthole that was across from the bed. The same one they’d seen the fireworks through last night. “But I hate that you missed it,” he said. “I didn’t want to wake you. But we’ll see it together tomorrow morning.”
Her heart thudded in her chest. Was that his way of saying he intended for her to be here again tomorrow morning? In his bed? Should such an assumption from him bother her? It didn’t. In fact, his words bolstered her thinking that he wanted to share the rest of his time in Catalina Cove with her as much as she wanted to spend those days with him.
“I’m holding you to that, Roman.”
As if satisfied with her answer, he leaned in and gave her a kiss. If it was meant to be a “good morning” kiss, it took a turn and quickly became a “fire up your hormones” kind of kiss. One she totally enjoyed and appreciated. She groaned a protest when he ended it.
“Now tell me what you were thinking about.”
Her heart continued to thud as she asked, “What makes you think I was thinking of anything?”
He smiled down at her. “Because you had been awake for a while.”
There was no way she would tell him what she’d been thinking, so she asked, “And how do you know when I woke up?”
“Your breathing pattern changed.”
She nodded. He must have been paying close attention to her to notice that. “Then why didn’t you let me know you were awake?”
His smile widened as he gathered her naked body against him, and she settled comfortably in his embrace. “Because I was fighting the urge to be a greedy ass and make love to you again.”
A chuckle escaped her lips. “I would not have thought you to be a greedy ass.”
He leaned in and placed a tender kiss on her lips. “Trust me, I would have been. You, Victoria Madaris, bring out the lustiness in me.”
The thought that she could arouse him thrilled her. “Then maybe I need to learn how to tame your lusty nature.”
“You can certainly try, but my lustiness is something you don’t have to worry about this morning. You’re sore. After last night, there’s no way you’re not.”