The Guy Next Door - By Lori Foster, S Donovan, V Dahl Page 0,45
Natalie.” Such an understatement. Now that he knew he loved her, he wanted to hear a similar declaration from her. But he didn’t mind going first.
“I thought you’d be tired from all that tense driving.”
“Especially after that, I need you.” While carrying her to the bed, he kissed her nose, her forehead, her temple and ear. “I’ll always need you, you know.”
Her breath caught at the weighty meaning of those words. “What?”
Jett stood her beside the bed. He touched her cheek, brushed the corner of her mouth with his thumb. “Damn, but the things you make me feel are…powerful.”
“Powerful?”
He held out a hand, showing her. “You make me shake.”
“Oh, Jett.” She closed both her hands around his. “That’s just reaction from a near wreck.”
“No, honey. That’s reaction to knowing you could have been hurt. I wouldn’t be able to bear that.” Smiling was beyond him, so instead he kissed her. “Don’t move.”
He was back in seconds with a towel and he went about drying her. Going down to his knees in front of her, he took his time, being quite thorough. “God, Natalie, I love your body.”
She laughed nervously, her hand in his hair. “I don’t understand you tonight.”
Jett looked up at her. “I love your laugh, too.”
Her voice trembled. “Jett, really…”
“And the way you shrug off compliments.” He stood and cupped her face. “You’re tired, aren’t you?”
After slowly licking her lips, she ventured, “Well, not too tired, not now, not after you’ve just been touching me.”
He made a sound between a growl and a groan. “I especially love how sexual you are.” Knowing his repeated use of the L word had thrown her, Jett gently lowered her to the bed and knelt over her. “Just relax and let me do everything.”
“But…” Her beautiful eyes searched his. “You have to be tired, too.”
He shook his head and cupped her breasts in both hands. “I’m in love. Now hush.”
She went perfectly still, frozen, stiff—but Jett didn’t let that stop him. He caressed her breasts, teased her nipples.
“Jett, wait.” Natalie tried to catch his arm. “What did you say?”
“I said for you to hush.”
“No, before—”
He drew her nipple into his mouth, stealing her breath.
But her fingers clenched tight in his hair. “Damn it, Jett.”
Laughing a little, he said, “I even love it when you’re bossy.”
She breathed hard and fast, her gaze intent. He watched her throat as she swallowed. “You said…you said you love me.”
He could understand her confusion. “I’ve been battling with myself, pissed off one minute, jealous the next. And so damn turned on I couldn’t stand it, but it was never enough.” He shook his head. “You’ve turned me inside out, woman.”
Natalie searched his face a moment, then frowned. “Good.”
“Good?”
“You’ve turned me inside out, too.” Tears burned her eyes. “You love me?”
“Why else would I let you torture me like this?” He pushed her hair from her face. “When I lost control of the car… God, I’ve faced a lot of shit in my life, and I just sort of roll with it. But thinking you could have been hurt? It shook me. Bad. And I knew I had to stop being a chickenshit and just ’fess up.”
Slow to accept his declaration, she asked uncertainly, “By saying you love me?”
“Yeah.” He gave her a lopsided grin and shook her a little. “And if you love me, too, you need to put me out of my damned misery and tell me so.”
She launched herself close to him. “I love you. I’ve loved you for a long time now. I didn’t want to admit it because if I did, and you didn’t feel the same—”
“I feel it. Trust me, I’ve got it bad.” Lowering them both to the bed, Jett kissed her parted lips. “Say it again.”
Her hands opened on his chest. She stroked him then slowly slid her arms around his neck. “I love you, too.”
Thank God. But she was so skittish about family and relationships, he had to make sure she understood. Braced on his elbows over her, he gave her his most intent stare. “I need more than just sex, Natalie.”
Her gaze was soft, her voice more so. “How much more?”
In comparison, he sounded harsh and demanding. “Everything. The whole shebang.” The more he talked about it, the more he needed it. The more he needed her. Of course, she looked so happy and so accepting that his thoughts had already skipped ahead to being inside her, to hearing her cry out, feeling her squeezing him… Stay on