A Fallow Heart (Tommy Creek #2)(58)

She swallowed her sudden anxiety, hoping her fear didn’t show on her face as he crawled to her. Closing her eyes, she bit the inside of her lip, trying to meditate on anything but the invasion that was about to take place.

What in the world had she been thinking, begging him to make love to her? She’d never enjoyed this with Travis. And just because Cooper had made her crave something didn’t mean she’d enjoy it with him either. But she’d feel like a dirty tease if she stopped him now, after he’d given her such earthshattering pleasure. She owed him a little reciprocation. Flinching when she heard him roll on his protection, Jo Ellen kept her eyes safely clenched shut.

She could do this. She’d done it before, and survived. She would survive now.

His heavy, muscled thighs moved tight between her legs; his hips rested lightly atop hers. And warm pressure nudged her.

It would be okay. I would be okay. It would be—

He filled her. One thrust, deep and certain.

She gasped, her eyes flying open. There was no pain, just…just…pleasure, indescribable, mounting pleasure. The pressure was so—

“God,” he rasped, looking stunned and shaken to the core, his mouth gaping and eyes flared.

Strangely enough, she felt as dazed as he looked.

When he didn’t budge an inch, merely held himself still when she really wanted him to move, she burrowed her eyebrows in question. “What’s wrong?” She’d done something bad, hadn’t she?

His lips quirked. “You just looked surprised is all.”

She was stunned. She’d been braced, tense and hopeful this wouldn’t hurt. But how could he know the pleasure held her flummoxed?

She licked her lips and tried to mask her expression. “Not at all. I’ve done this before. Why…why would I be surprised?”

He leaned down close until his lips grazed her ear. “Because it didn’t hurt.”

Her lashes spread wide with confusion and shock. But before she could question him, he chuckled and stroked her from the inside, drawing her to an almost immediate peak.

A moan seeped free as she clutched his shoulders and squirmed from the immense pleasure. Mortified, she pressed her face against his warm flesh to muffle some of the overwhelming desire claiming her. But with his next all-consuming thrust, he sank so deep he made her body constrict around him with hungry need. Jo Ellen gasped and bowed up, taut and rigid. She bit her lip to keep from exploding again, afraid to lose her control at a time like this.

As if reading her mind, Cooper gripped her hip, encouraging her to relax and move with him. “Don’t fight it, sweetheart. Just feel.”

“But it’s so—”

He grinned. “It’s supposed to be.” When he kissed her, she damn near consumed him alive.

With his mouth fused to her and his hands cupping and caressing her to distraction, he made them one being, coaxing her body to sync with his until she was desperate. Wild. Her fingers tightened around his biceps, her teeth dug into his shoulder. She wanted to touch him everywhere, wanted to bury her fingernails into his flesh and hold him as close as humanly possible.

His stride picked up, or maybe she forced him to hurry. She didn’t know who controlled the pace any longer, she just knew she loved it, loved the entire experience, loved merging herself with him until they were one. It made her want to…to...his body began to vibrate. With a cry of her name, he grasped her head hard before kissing her wet and open-mouthed. Together, they tumbled off the edge of sanity and into a pit of ecstasy.



* *



When Cooper sighed, Jo Ellen opened her eyes, uncertain if it was a satisfied sigh or a wistful, regretful one. She rolled her head to the side, glancing his way. He remained on his spine, the back of his forearm splayed over his face, much the same way he’d been five minutes ago when he’d initially rolled off her.

Wanting that connection she’d felt with him when he’d been inside her to return, she asked, “What?”

“Hmm?” He yawned and lifted his arm to find her watching him. “Oh, sorry. I was just thinking.”

Instantly concerned, she wrinkled her brow. “About?”

He chuckled. “I was thinking God must be mighty pissed at me right now.”

Barely a whisper emerged. “Why?” Oh, God. He had regrets, didn’t he?

“Because.” He cleared his throat, looking rueful. “I just totally defiled one of His angels.”

In instant relief, Jo Ellen blushed. “I’m not an angel, Cooper.” Though it flattered her he would label her as such—even knowing every one of her shameful, dirty, dark secrets.

“You’re right,” he groaned a sound of deep satisfaction. “You were way too sensual and delicious to be saintly. In which case, God’s still probably pretty ticked I fell for your tempting charms and gave into your carnal lure.”

His gentle teasing made her grin. “Oh, hush. God loves you.”

He laughed. “Yeah, He must. After letting me experience a taste of you, He really, really must.”

Not wanting him to know how much his words delighted her, she bumped her shoulder against his. “Are you always this much of a charmer?”

“Charmer?” His brows lifted. “What? I’m just being honest.”

She closed her eyes and sighed, too blissfully happy to respond. The comfortable silence stretched between them, and her relaxed body grew drowsy.