wearing only sleep pants, knelt down at the side of the tub. “Because with you, I feel like myself, like I have a grasp on things.” It was a wonderful illusion, one he wanted to hold on to.
Ivey drifted her fingers along the surface of the water. “You have a better understanding of life and the people you love than anyone I know.” Her gaze trapped his, and her voice lowered. “When I think about Justin and all the things he might have gone through, I’m so grateful that you’re his dad.”
Corbin swallowed heavily. “Me, too.”
“Justin needed someone strong, someone who would accept him, appreciate him and love him unconditionally.”
What did Ivey need? Was he enough for her? Could she overlook all the challenges that lay ahead? Despite her assurances, he didn’t want to put it to the test. Not yet.
Dipping a hand beneath the water, he stroked her thigh. “So you love me.”
Her smile twitched. “Yes.”
“I like hearing it.”
Her gaze warmed. “I love you, Corbin.”
There were a million things he needed to say to her. A lot of things they had to work out. But in that moment, he wanted her. No, actually, he needed her.
So damned much.
Without explaining, he turned off the jets and pulled the drain on the tub.
Ivey laughed. “I take it my bath is over?”
“Sorry.” Very seriously, he said, “If I don’t have you soon, I’m going to explode.”
Satisfaction replaced her humor. “All right.”
Coming to his feet, Corbin shook out the towel and held it open for her, then wrapped her up when she stepped into it. He didn’t bother drying her, not yet. Not now.
He couldn’t.
Instead he backed her to the wall, heard her quick inhalation as her warmed skin met the cool tiles, and he kissed her.
God, he loved kissing her.
Her lips were open, her tongue inviting. Ivey always gave so much. All that she had. Everything he needed.
After indulging her mouth for several minutes, he shifted to trail his teeth along her throat, then her collarbone.
Reaching out, Ivey pushed the lock on the door.
Yeah, good idea. He didn’t want any interruptions—and he didn’t want to take the time to find a bed. Having her right here, against the wall, seemed like a fantastic idea.
To ensure she was onboard with that idea, he kissed a path to her breasts. The towel dropped.
Neither of them cared.
Ivey tunneled her fingers into his hair and guided him to right where she wanted him to kiss her. Honestly, it was where he wanted to kiss her, too, so he closed his teeth gently around one ripe nipple, tugged, licked and finally sucked her in.
Going to her tiptoes, and arching forward, her body tightened. That reaction only spurred him on. Switching to the other nipple, he let his hands roam all over her. Every inch of her satiny skin fascinated him.
Driven to make her as heated as he was, he slowly moved down her body, lower and lower until he dropped to his knees. With his hands on her backside, he pressed hot, open-mouth kisses to her stomach and each hip bone.
He glanced up and found her with her head tipped back, lips parted and eyes closed.
She was the most compelling, interesting, sexy woman he’d ever known.
Nuzzling against her in the most intimate of kisses, he listened to her escalated breathing. She was warm and silky wet, ready for him. Maybe anxious for him.
He murmured, “Widen your legs.”
Without hesitation, she stepped one foot out from the other. Corbin used his fingers to part her, then kissed her again, licked...and sucked.
He couldn’t get enough of her, fast enough.
One hand released his hair so she could put it over her own mouth, muffling her small cries and groans. After a few minutes he felt her trembling, and knew she was close.
He stayed with her, attuned to her every response, until she came undone. Ivey never held back.
He loved that about her.
Once she started to ease, he came back to his feet, kissed her mouth and said, “I don’t have a condom here.”
“In the bedroom down here?”
“No. I meant to store more in the closet, but...the day went off the rails.”
She gave in to a heartfelt groan, rallied a second later and with a sated smile she stepped around him to snatch up her clothes. He helped her get on her nightshirt and panties and then, ignoring the shorts he held out to her, she grabbed his hand. “Come on.”
Together, they rushed from the bathroom, through the quiet house and up