Truly, Madly, Whiskey(79)
He wrapped his arms around her, kissing her shoulder. “Missing your dad?”
She cradled Harley between them. She loved the way he was looking at her, his eyes brimming with desire. She almost kept her thoughts about the dolls to herself, but she liked that she could finally share her innermost thoughts with him. It was another level of intimacy that she’d come to love.
“I always miss him, but I was just thinking about how much I counted on those dolls for all these years. It’s not like they have magical powers. It’s silly, really, but having them around gave me strength.”
“That’s not silly. That’s love and trust. You believed in your father’s love, and it gave you strength to become the incredible woman you are.”
Embarrassed by his praise, she kissed Harley and set her on the floor. “Thank you. I’d like to think he would be proud of me. So much has changed since we’ve been together. Do you wish you had chosen an easier girl?”
He shook his head. “No, sugar. You’re the only woman for me, and if you don’t know that yet, then I’ll just have to try a little harder.”
“I know it.” She touched her lips to his. “It’s hard to believe that Jed kept all that stuff from me for all these years and I never told him about what happened to me. We suffered separately for so long, and despite living with a mother who did her best to ruin us, we both turned out okay.”
“Better than okay, babe. You’re amazing. Do you think you’ll tell Jed about what happened in college?”
“Yeah, but I couldn’t tonight. We’ve both been through enough today.”
As he led her down the hall, she said, “You give me strength, Bear, the way you believe in me. Thank you, and thank you for being here for me.”
“Don’t thank me, babe. Just love me.” He drew her into a delicious kiss. “Come on, let’s get you in the tub.”
He opened the bathroom door, and steam washed over her skin. He’d brought in the candles from the bedroom, and their flames danced in the romantically dim room.
She piled her hair on top of her head and secured it with a clip. Bear crouched before her, taking off her boots and running his hands up her legs. His touch made her whole body want. He lifted her dress over her head, and it sailed to the floor, followed by her bra and panties. He helped her into the warm bath, which felt luxurious, instantly relaxing her.
He pulled off his boots and socks and unbuttoned his jeans, never taking his eyes off her as he unzipped his jeans ever so slowly. She licked her lips at his provocative striptease as he worked them over his powerful thighs and kicked them to the side. Lord, she loved the way he looked in those black briefs. Visually devouring that formidable bulge, she scooped up bubbles and spread them over her chest, sinking lower in the warm water. She was slick between her legs, and she had the urge to touch herself while she watched him. It was the first time she’d experienced such a strong pull for the lascivious desire. He was watching her so intently, she wondered if he could tell. She couldn’t resist brushing her fingers over her taut nipple, and inhaled sharply at the heat that seared down the center of her body.
He stripped off his briefs, exposing the part of his body she’d come to crave. She loved touching him, loving him with her mouth, her hands, her body. My soul. He knelt by the tub, kissing her as he dipped his hand beneath the bubbles and caressed her belly, moving his hand up as he took the kiss deeper, until it rested just beneath her breasts. She arched, wanting to feel that rough, strong hand caressing her, his fingers inside her. He feasted on her mouth while he moved his thumb lightly over the underside of her breast. When she tried to lean up, he slid his hand lower, teasing over her curls and dipping between her legs. She moaned into the kiss and felt him smile. He loved drawing out her pleasure, and she was learning to draw out his when they were making love, learning how to angle her hips, how to touch him and how to kiss him, how to suck on his neck when he was buried deep inside her and bring him right up to the cusp of release.
His fingers moved over her sex, without entering her. She broke the kiss, the anticipation overwhelming. He kissed her neck, dragging his tongue along her jaw, then nipping at it as he continued his relentless taunt down below. She grabbed the sides of the tub, raising her hips.
“Bear,” she said breathlessly.
“I love hearing you say my name when you’re so close to the edge. But I love hearing it even more when you come. Scooch forward, baby. Let me get behind you.”
He climbed in behind her, and she leaned back, sighing with the warm, wonderful feel of his hard body. He wasted no time, sliding a hand between her legs and turning her face toward him, capturing all her needy noises in a penetrating kiss. There was something about being just out of reach that made their over-the-shoulder kisses scorching hot. His finger drifted over her sex, driving a path between her legs in a magnificent rhythm that brought her hips up and made her toes curl under. She soared with pleasure, and his free hand threaded into her hair, keeping their mouths fused together until she collapsed against him.
She turned, wanting—needing—to be closer. Straddling his hips, she took his face in her hands and kissed him deeply. She was conscious of all the places their bodies touched and of the water lapping at her belly, sloshing over the sides of the tub.
“Hold me,” she whispered. Dropping her hands between them, she curled her fingers around his erection.