Forbidden Falls (Virgin River #9)(76)

“Good…old…George…” And she closed her eyes and let herself be stripped.

Noah’s hands were sweet on her body; his kisses were both tender, then not so tender. His touch was soft, then not so soft, causing her to rise off the bed to try to reach him. He was taking his time, though his breathing was becoming ragged and she knew he was struggling to wait for her. He filled his hands and then his mouth with her br**sts, drawing on her until she felt she was going to fall over the edge again. He parted her legs gently, and found her slick inner parts.

When he took his clothes off, she found one of his many secrets—a tattoo of his own on his upper left chest. A fish, of course. Not that religious symbol, but more like a trout leaping out of a river. She ran her fingers over it; she loved it.

He was a talker. “I need you,” he whispered. “You’re beautiful, Ellie. And soft and sweet. I love the taste of your skin, I’m already addicted to your scent.”

She almost laughed out loud when she remembered swearing off men and realized that wasn’t going to work for her, not with Noah around. She hadn’t felt so much as a twinge of desire since long before Trevor was born; life was too hard and she couldn’t even imagine a man making it easier. That had been until Noah kissed her, then touched her.

“I can’t say no to you,” she whispered. “Noah, I didn’t think you’d do something like this.”

“I didn’t think I would, either. At least not yet.”

She put her hands against his bare chest and held him back. “Please,” she said. “If you do this, when you leave me, don’t be all guilty and sorry. Please.”

He touched her lips with his finger. “Ellie, I won’t be sorry. Didn’t you hear me? I’m in love with you.”

“No. No, you’re not. You’re in lust, that’s all…”

“That, too,” he said.

When he reached for his discarded pants and pulled a condom out of his pocket, her eyes widened. “You were planning this?”

“I was fighting this, but I knew better than to be stupid. The last thing we need right now is to be in trouble.”

Her eyes drifted closed while he suited up. And she said, “I think we’re already in trouble, but it’s too late. Fill me.”

Noah paused above her for just a second, because this was it, this was the moment. There would be no going back; this would bond them. He had certain values that had been set in stone for a long time. He didn’t take the act of love lightly. It wasn’t recreation, as it had been in his youth. It was more than just a part of life to him, it was a commitment. From this moment, he would belong only to her; he would be hers for as long as she would have him. And he was far past the point of regrets. He just hoped she wouldn’t be sorry.

He pressed his lips against hers while he entered her slowly. She inhaled sharply, rising against him, bringing him deeper. As soon as he began to move, she surrendered again. Another powerful orgasm shook her, causing her to tremble in his arms. And in a breath, he said her name twice. “Ellie, Ellie…” He held her still and deep, and when she was beginning to relax, he pumped his h*ps and let go with a deep, sexy groan.

He held himself above her so as not to crush her with his weight and he couldn’t even make himself leave her body. “Sweet Ellie,” he whispered, brushing her hair out of her face. “I think you’re saving my life.”

When he began to pull away from her, she tightened her arms around him. “No. Please,” she whispered. “Please don’t leave me.”

“I’m not going to leave you,” he said.

“Stay inside me. A little longer. I don’t think I’ve ever felt that way before.”

“Sweetheart,” he answered, lowering his lips to her neck, her shoulder. “You’re heaven.”

“And here I thought ministers were probably boring in bed. Are you sure you’re a minister?”

His answer was a mere chuckle and a little squeeze.

“And how about the whole waiting-for-marriage thing? I mean, I realize you don’t want to marry me, but I thought ministers especially never messed that up. Isn’t that a real special rule?”

He put a finger under her chin and lifted it so he could look into her eyes. “I’m just a man, Ellie. I’ve had to learn to accept that and so will you.”

“Do you feel like you failed?” she wanted to know.

“This was not a mistake. This was supposed to happen,” he whispered. “Ellie, I’m not going to let you down.”

“Hmm. You haven’t so far.” She laughed softly. “I thought you’d make love in black socks,” she said softly. “Badly. I thought you’d do it badly.”

“I guess you’re okay with it so far…”

“Ohhhh.” She sighed. “Oh, Noah.”

“Listen, I have to tell you something.” Her drowsy eyes opened. “I don’t want to push you into anything, take your time about me, but you have to know—I feel pretty strongly about monogamy.”

Her eyes widened. “You can’t think I’d be with another man! I wasn’t even going to be with you! But there is one thing you have to do for me,” she said.

“Anything that makes you happy,” he promised.