Leaping Hearts(48)

A.J. was also overwhelmed with anticipation. Running her hands over his shoulders and to the front of his shirt, she sought the buttons that were keeping his skin from her touch. She knew there was no turning back and didn’t care about anything except the stiff anticipation of his body and the way his hands felt traveling over her skin. Her world receded until her only reality was the weight of him over her, the delicious slide of his lips across her collarbone, his teeth as he nipped at her earlobe. Urgently, her hands fumbled with his shirt, ripping cloth as she struggled to get to the skin of his back. Her voice called his name hoarsely.

She watched as Devlin tore the shirt from his body and then wrenched up her own. She felt cool air tickling her skin and helped him free it, letting it fall into the heap that was growing as more of their clothes were tossed aside. She felt wanton and liberated, revealed not exposed, and all she wanted was to feel him seeking the heat at her core with the shaft that throbbed at his hips.

When her breasts were bare to his eyes, Devlin sucked in his breath. She was resplendent with her hair spilling over her satin skin, her lips full and bloodred from his kisses, the salmon pink tips of her nipples peaked with invitation. With delicious anticipation, he brought his mouth to her breast, tugging at the hard marble nub until she writhed under him. Slowly, he moved his hands down her taut stomach and began to unzip her jeans. Fevered though he was, he didn’t want to rush her, but when she lifted her hips and made it easier for him to free her, he clenched his jaw. With hands that trembled, he slid the pants down over her creamy thighs and then he was stroking her delicate ankles, learning the strength of her calves and finding the sensitive area behind her knees.

A.J. sought him out, bringing his lips up to hers and feeling his tight length over her. She struggled with the waistband of his slacks and he pulled back, swiftly peeling them off before returning to her in a rush.

“Devlin,” A.J. moaned. “Devlin?”

He made a noise that was an aching groan punctuated by a question mark. It was the best he could do.

“Devlin.” She was struggling to make her mouth work. “You should know I…”

Her voice trailed off as he slid his hands across the top of her panties.

“It’s been…” A.J. bit her lip as she felt him stroke over the flimsy cotton.

“Are you okay?” He saw passion and torment in her eyes. “Do you want to stop?”

Devlin prayed she wouldn’t say yes.

“I don’t know how to tell you this,” she murmured awkwardly.

His body throbbing and aching, vision blinded by passion, he asked in a hoarse voice, “What is it?”

“I haven’t done…this”—she hiccuped over the noun like a broken record—“in a long time.”

The very malest part of him was thrilled. “We don’t have to do anything that makes you feel uncomfortable.”

“I want you,” she said, putting her lips to his. “I want to do this.”

As Devlin absorbed her response, A.J. felt tremors pound through his body. It gave her a sense of power, and with it, she went about learning the hard contours of his chest and belly, using her hands and her mouth. He thrashed under her, calling out in a desperation that made her go even further. She tormented him and teased him, bringing him to the brink but no further, until he let out a growl and rolled over onto her.

He ripped her thin panties in haste and settled himself over her. Their eyes met and he slowly slid into her body. It was paradise. In that first instant, as their hearts beat together and their bodies and breath mingled, they both knew they would never be the same again.

Starting slowly, and growing with urgency, he moved within her. They held each other tightly against the impending release, which built and built until they thought they could stand it no longer. Finally, with rough cries, and heaving breaths, their bodies climaxed in a burst of ecstasy.

Much later, after he noticed the chill in the air and covered them with the throw blanket to keep her warm, Devlin found himself in awe. Now that they’d been together once, he couldn’t wait to be inside of her again. She was the kind of lover he’d been looking for without knowing he was on a quest. Gifting herself with honesty and abandonment, she had taken pleasure from him and given it back to him without any artifice. With her, he’d known true intimacy for the first time.

A.J. stirred in his arms and his breath caught as her eyes opened. Her expression was that of a cat in sunshine. Satisfied, glowing, content. He’d do anything to keep her looking like that.

Devlin kissed her softly.

“How do you feel?” he asked.

“Wonderful.” She ran a hand across his chest as he laughed huskily, thrilled.

“Devlin?”

“Yeah?”

“I didn’t know it could be like that.”

“Neither did I.”

“And I’m glad I’m not leaving this house. Leaving you.”

“Me, too. I never wanted you to go.”

She sighed, relieved that everything was going to be fine and nothing would change. Except for the nights. And they were only going to get better.

Devlin felt her relax against him and was likewise glad the decision had been made. Now they could move forward and see where all the passion and emotion would take them. First thing in the morning, he’d start looking for another trainer. Someone close by so she wouldn’t have to drive far. Someone who was good and would take care of her in the ring.