Heated Pursuit (Alpha Security #1)(68)
Beneath him, Penny groaned. He took his mouth off her body only long enough to pull the shirt over her head, and then his lips were back on her, flicking, nipping. He rubbed his mouth down the length of her neck. By the time he reached the delicate curve of her collarbone, he had her bra off and his hand cupping one perfect mound.
When their gazes entwined, something clicked. Changed. Suddenly Rafe didn’t remember how to make his chest rise and fall, and judging by the widening of her eyes, Penny didn’t either. This time when he took her mouth in a kiss, it was different.
This was different. They were different. Lust and need still threatened to drown them both, but there was something stronger hovering between them. This time when he twined his fingers into her hair, he felt his trembles rumble through their touching bodies.
He wanted to prove her right—that he could be all the things she deserved and so much more. But unable to find the words, he let his eyes, his mouth, and his hands do the talking. For now.
They worked together to ease the BDUs down her slender thighs, underwear and all. Layers slowly evaporated, each removal instigating a new round of caresses. He could’ve taken her at any point, but this wasn’t about the quick thrill. It was about savoring. About showing. About living for the first time in his life.
Rafe enjoyed the sight of her naked and spread out before him. Her eyes stayed locked on his as he gently urged her legs a little wider and settled between her thighs. “I don’t know what I did to make you look at me like that, sweetheart, but I’m so glad that I f*cking did it.”
Her hand cupped the side of his face. “You were just you, Rafe. That’s all you ever need to be with me.”
Her words directed him right over the edge of his control. As he stared into her desire-filled eyes, he touched his mouth to her center and relished her breathy sigh. On the second slow swipe of his tongue, she quivered.
“Rafe. Please,” Penny moaned.
Sliding his hand up to play with the taut peak of her left breast, Rafe lingered on her swelling clit before taking another pass through her wetness. Again and again. He could stay in this spot all f*cking day. With the taste of Penny on his tongue, time lost meaning. Only her pleasure mattered, and he focused on every breathy moan until her body started to flutter against his mouth.
Rafe picked up the pace in small increments, taking her right to the edge—and with one gentle flick over her clit, pushed her over. Her body tightened, hips bucking up toward his mouth as he stroked her through her climax. He stayed with her for every little flutter and soft keening moan…right until the last quake rolled from her body.
Rafe climbed his way back up her body. “You’re always gorgeous, sweetheart, but when you fly apart like that, you’re unbelievable.”
“You’re blind,” Penny panted against his mouth. “I did the best I could in that shower, but water can only do so much to wash away an entire jungle.”
“There’s nothing wrong with my eyesight, Red.” Feather soft, he brushed his mouth over hers in a kiss that despite the gentleness of it, packed one hell of a wallop.
Penny shivered, not protesting when he tucked her knees around his hips. The change in position slid his rock-hard cock through the folds of her wetness. He slid back and did it again, this time making sure the rim of his dick brushed against her clit. Sucking in a breath, Penny canted her hips upward and encouraged him to do it again.
He teased them both for as long as he could handle, and then, making sure he had her full attention, he slid into her tightness with one slow push. They both groaned as her body reflexively wrapped around him. It was freaking heaven. A homecoming.
He dropped his forehead to hers, fighting the urge to go too damn fast. “I don’t think I can let you go, Red. God help me, but I don’t think I’m strong enough to watch you go.”
“You don’t have to. I’m right here. I’ll always be right here.” She kissed his cheek. His chin. And then finally, she slid her lips over his waiting mouth. Beneath him, she rolled her hips. Her body sucked him in to the hilt. “Make love to me.”
He didn’t need to be told twice. They were in perfect sync, locked together as one. One thrust turned into another until the quickening of her muscles turned their movements frantic.
“Rafe.” Penny’s ragged sigh urged him harder…faster.
The unguarded warmth shining at him through her eyes broke his hard-fought control. Her body erupted, muscles clamping down on his cock like a vise. Rafe thrust deeper, intensifying the strong pulses with each stroke. He quickly roared his own mind-boggling release. Slick from sweat, he continued to rock their bodies together.
It took forever to come down from the high, and even when the last pulse eased away, the euphoric feeling stayed behind. The ghost of a smile on Penny’s face flipped something in his chest.
His former self would’ve backed away from the unknown and then created a thousand-mile distance. The Rafe Penny had somehow created now molded her against the side of his body and held on tight.
The truth was a warm glow of energy that filled him from the base of his core outward. His body, heart, and soul no longer belonged to him.
They were hers.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
A few short weeks ago, Penny would’ve never imagined being cocooned in Rafe’s arms, much less the safe feeling that came with it. And it was more than knowing she was physically safe that turned her insides into a warm pile of goo. It was the knowledge that she could be herself and be enough—with the right person.