Fever (Breathless #2)(34)

Even as she knew she should resist, a big part of her was relieved. She’d been alone and fending for herself, eking out a spartan existence for so long, and to have this man sweep in with promises to care for and protect her was dizzying. And so very tempting.

Her life wasn’t much. But it was what she was used to. How was she supposed to make the adjustment from her world to his?

Yes, he’d been adamant that they lived in the same world, but she knew better. They may occupy the same universe, but his life was so different than hers that she couldn’t even comprehend it. He had wealth and power. His life was well ordered and he had exacting standards. What on earth did he want with her? Why did he want her? It made no sense to her. It defied all logic.

“What the hell are you thinking?” he murmured.

“That I have no idea why you’re so determined to involve yourself with my problems,” she whispered back. “I don’t understand why a man like you would want someone like me. It’s crazy, Jace. I can’t fathom it. None of it. It’s like a bizarre spin on the Cinderella story—only for girls like me, there aren’t happily-ever-afters.”

“I’m starting to regret every time I ask you what you’re thinking,” he grumbled. “You’re too damn honest. I was thinking more along the lines of you thinking how gorgeous I am. Or maybe that you woke up fantasizing about me f**king you while you’re still half asleep. That other shit you’ve been thinking is just f**ked up, and I swear if it takes me forever, I’m going to get that crap out of your head.”

She laughed, relaxing against the pillow. His eyes gleamed when she laughed and his hold tightened around her.

“God, you have a beautiful laugh,” he said hoarsely. “And your smile. Jesus, it knocks the breath out of me.”

Her entire body reacted to the look on his face.

“You can’t talk to me like that,” she breathed. “Nobody says things like that to a woman he just met. It’s insane.”

“I just did. And I plan to keep saying them until you believe every word.”

She shook her head, trying to drive away the muddled confusion swirling in her mind. Any moment now, she’d awaken in the shelter and all of this would have been a dream.

“You’re real,” she whispered.

He rolled, shifting his body above hers so he looked down into her eyes. His body settled, covering hers as the sheets twisted around his hips. He maneuvered until her thighs were spread and she could feel his heavy erection right between her legs.

“I’m real, baby. This is real. We are real. The sooner you accept that, the sooner we can move forward and you can be happy. I want you to be happy. I want you to be content. Warm. For you not to have to worry about your next meal. Most of all, I want you to know without a doubt that I’ve got your back. And your front. And your sides. I’ve got all of you and I’m not letting go.”

“How can you want me after all I told you last night?” she whispered.

He leaned down to kiss her, his body pushing more firmly into hers. He reached with one hand, sliding under his pillow, and retrieved a condom. She watched in shock as he lifted up his body after tearing away the wrapper with his teeth and sheathed himself with the latex. It all happened so quickly, so expertly, that all she could do was gasp when he slid fully into her.

Then he paused, still staring down at her, his eyes oddly tender. “All I know is that when I looked across the room that night at the party and saw you, everything changed for me. There was instant recognition. No, I didn’t know anything about you at that point, but what I did know was that you were going to be mine. As for that bullshit about me not wanting you after you told me about your past, well, it’s just that. Bullshit. We all make mistakes, baby. Nobody is perfect. I’m not. You’re not. It would be boring as shit if we were.”

Tears pricked her eyelids and he kissed the corner of her eye before any could spill over the edge.

“Don’t cry, Bethany. Not here in our bed. Not with me inside you. I want you to shut out everything else except me and you and the way I make you feel. Forget everything but this.”

He pulled back and then eased forward, pushing gently until he was all the way back in again.

His voice changed, becoming more serious, but his gaze never left her. “I’m not saying this is going to be easy. I’ll make mistakes. You’ll make mistakes—mostly about trying to draw attention to the differences between us. I realize it’ll take time for you to get over this mind-set that you’re somehow not good enough for me. It pisses me off but I get that you can’t change a lifetime of seeing yourself the way you do overnight. But I’m going to work on it and I’m going to wear you down, so just be forewarned. I’m a persistent bastard and I never walk away from something I want, whether in business or my personal life.”

She reached up, wrapping her arms around his neck, and pulled him down to meet her kiss. He seemed surprised by the sudden gesture and he let her take control of the kiss.

“Shut up and kiss me,” she whispered against his mouth.

He smiled, his lips curving against hers. “Now that I can do, baby.”

They went silent as their tongues tangled and clashed, twisting and rolling until she was breathless and panting. He groaned low in his throat and pushed his arms underneath her so he could gather her closer against his body.