Long Road Home(36)

“Oh.”

She looked panicked, as if she had no idea how to respond.

He reached a hand out, feathering over her cheek, feeling the smoothness of her skin. His fingers curled around her chin, his thumb swirling close to her ear.

“Is that all you can say? Oh?”

Her eyes found his, so full of pain, questions and something that looked remarkably like hope.

“I just never imagined…” Her voice trailed off, and she looked away.

Her shoulders shook silently, each twitch shooting an arrow directly into his soul.

He leaned forward and pulled her into his arms, turning her back around to face him. Her gaze found his, and there was so much vulnerability in her eyes. So much that he wanted to wipe away. He lowered his lips to her forehead.

A breathy sigh escaped her as he blazed a path to her lips.

“I wanted nothing more than for you to come home from France and spend the rest of your life with me,” he said as he brought both of his hands up to cup her face.

She leaned into him, burrowing into his embrace. His hands fell away as she pressed her face into his chest. He held her as tightly as he dared, not wanting to hurt her ribs.

Her face nuzzled in his chest, then her soft mouth turned upward, finding his neck. She kissed it softly, sending a shockwave down his spine.

He slid his hand around her neck, running his fingers through her hair. She felt so right in his arms, as if she had always belonged there. He had waited so long, and now that she was here, he was having a hard time grappling with his control.

After what had happened to her, she deserved tenderness, and he’d be damned if he gave her anything but.

“Let’s sleep in here,” she murmured. “By the fire.”

“If that’s what you want.” He reluctantly pulled away. “I’ll get some blankets and pillows.”

Jules watched him walk toward the bedroom, and she stood up from the couch, moving closer to the fire. She wasn’t cold. Far from it. The heat from Manny’s body had scorched her.

She wasn’t afraid. She knew he would never hurt her. No, she knew just the opposite was true. She’d hurt him. But she wanted this night. Wanted it more than anything in the world. Wanted to erase the awful events of that long-ago day when her entire world had been turned upside-down.

Manny returned carrying a bedspread and several pillows. She gestured to the floor in front of the fire. The carpet was soft, plush. They could make do with just the blanket for padding.

He knelt down and spread out the covers then arranged the pillows so their bodies would parallel the fire. He stretched out on his side and propped his elbow on the floor. Then he patted the space beside him.

She went to him without hesitation, nestling her back to his chest so she could face the fire. His hand rested on the curve of her shoulder, and he bent to kiss her neck as she had done to him earlier.

Goose bumps spread out over her arms and neck as desire warmed places of her heart long left cold.

She closed her eyes as his hand moved to her waist and over her hip. His lips followed. He was achingly gentle, each touch feather light, yet she felt each one to her core.

She rotated around until she faced him, sure uncertainty was carved on her face. With a shaking hand, she reached out to touch his cheek. He captured her fingers in his much larger hand and pressed the tips to his mouth, kissing them one by one.

“Do you have any idea how long I’ve dreamed of this moment?” he asked. “Holding you in my arms, knowing you were mine to love.”

“Don’t let me go,” she whispered.

“Never.”

He rolled her over, his hand going behind her head to cushion her. He held himself over her, staring down at her. “I won’t hurt you, Jules. I’ll never hurt you.”

“I know.”

And she did know.

He tugged at her shirt, loosening it from her jeans. His palm slid over her abdomen, pushing the shirt upwards, over her br**sts. He bent and pressed his mouth to the bruises on her ribcage, kissing the hurt with such exquisite tenderness her throat swelled and ached with unspent emotion.

She closed her eyes as he worked the shirt over her head and tugged it free of her arms. Slow heat worked its way over her body when his fingers drifted down to her pants.

He rose up, his hand falling away from her waist. He pulled his shirt over his head and tossed it to the side. Lord, he was so big, his chest broad, showcasing muscular arms. He was every inch the warrior. The protector of the innocent.

Only she wasn’t innocent.

A shadow hovered over her as the unwanted thought drifted through her mind. Manny must have sensed her dismay and lowered himself, collecting her in his arms.

Flesh met flesh. She delighted in the feel of their naked bodies melting together. He was hard to her softness, strength to her weakness. For the space of a few minutes, she felt so incredibly safe. Cherished.

She didn’t want to let go of this moment. She might never have this again, and she wanted it to go on and on.

She raised her lips to meet his, fusing their mouths like molten liquid. She released all the pent-up longing, all her childlike fantasies and her womanly desires.

He returned her frantic kisses, swallowing her sighs of pleasure. His hand gripped her hip, cupping her to the hardness still trapped by his jeans. She felt the scratch of denim as her legs moved with restless abandon.

“Take them off,” she whispered.