Understood (Unspoken #1)(10)

She stiffened for a moment, a tendril of panic squeezing her chest.

“Relax, sweetheart. We’re going to take this nice and easy.”

He propped himself up slightly with one knee and framed her face with his hands. He stared down at her, his expression so gentle, devoid of the hard-ass persona he exuded ninety-nine percent of the time.

He held her as he fitted his mouth to hers once more. This time, she sucked at his tongue, coaxing it inward. His taste was different from before, and she realized the sexy, musk was her, the evidence of her pleasure.

One of his hands left her face and reached between them. He reared back and rubbed his c**k over the sensitive layers of her pu**y. Now coated with her moisture, the head slid easily inside as he pushed forward.

“Ahhh,” she exhaled as he gained more depth.

Slowly, methodically, he worked his way deeper. She stretched to accommodate him. Ripple upon ripple of joy coursed through her system.

Finally his hips pressed tight to hers. Her eyes flashed wide in astonishment. Above her Jake smiled, his eyes gleaming predatorily.

“Told you I’d fit.”

“Smug bastard,” she muttered.

He laughed and worked his hips, flexing his c**k against her vaginal walls. “You were made for me, Ellie. Only me.”

She reached for him, wanting to hold him as he’d held her. He gave in to her need, lowering his body once more until he lay flush against her.

He placed his forearms on either side of her head as she raised her legs to circle his waist.

“That’s it,” he whispered against her cheek. “Hold on tight, sweetheart. Ride with me.”

She loved the contrast in their skin—his dark brown, work-roughened skin to her softer, paler sheen. She relaxed her legs and let her ankles slip until they hooked underneath his ass. Then she slid her palms down his back and over his firm bu**ocks. They tightened with every powerful thrust, the muscles contracting underneath her fingertips.

The tension in her pelvis grew. His movements became more forceful, and he increased his speed. Their ragged breathing spilled into the quiet room.

She closed her eyes, holding on to him for dear life. She felt as though she were a balloon being inflated impossibly large. Every muscle strained to near bursting. Soon she’d pop, and yet the pressure continued to build.

“Jake!”

“I’m here, sweetheart,” he rasped in her ear. “Come for me, Ellie. I’m so close.”

Her cry was lost as he captured her mouth in a passionate brand of ownership. She convulsed wildly, bucking upward to meet his pumping thighs.

The room grew dim. Blackness edged in her vision. The slap of flesh on flesh ricocheted. Then she broke apart. She simply exploded, unable to bear the mounting frenzy any longer.

Exquisite bursts of pleasure overwhelmed her until she truly feared passing out. She tried to catch her breath but found she couldn’t force air into her lungs.

Jake crushed her against him, slipping his arms underneath her body and holding tight. He grunted next to her ear then collapsed onto her, driving her further into the bed.

He lay there for a long moment, his chest heaving as he sucked in great mouthfuls of air. Then he propped his body up with his arms and looked down at her.

“Are you all right?”

She smiled and traced a pattern on his face with her fingers. “What do you think?”

“I think you nearly killed me, wench.”

She laughed, astonished at how relaxed and joyful she sounded.

He rolled to her side and stared up at the ceiling. “We didn’t use protection, Ellie.”

She turned on her side so she could better look at him. “It’s okay. I’m on the pill.”

He cocked one eye at her. “Still, I had no business not using a condom. I didn’t even think beyond getting between your legs. You make me as crazy as a horny teenager.”

She smiled and placed her hand on his chest. He put his hand over hers and brought her palm to his mouth.

“I’ll take care of you, Ellie. I promise.”

An odd rush hit her square in the chest. “I know you will, Jake.”

Silence descended between them for a few seconds. He tucked his arm around her and pulled her down until her head pillowed in the crook of his arm.

“Why are you on the pill?” he asked. “I know there hasn’t been anyone since Ray.”

He said it with such confidence, but then Jake was nothing if not self-assured. And he knew her well. Better than anyone else ever had.

Oddly enough she didn’t flinch at the mention of her ex-husband’s name. Most people who knew her beyond a general acquaintance tactfully avoided mention of him or her marriage. She liked that Jake was so blunt with her. It proved he wasn’t treating her like half a person. One damaged and scarred beyond repair.

“I started taking them when Ray and I were still married,” she said quietly. “I was desperate not to get pregnant.”

Jake’s arm tightened around her then he turned until they were nearly nose to nose.

“Ellie…that night. Was it the first time he hurt you like that?”

She swallowed, unsure of whether she should admit the truth. Jake looked intently at her, so much feeling in his eyes, she had difficulty sorting out the various emotions she saw reflected.

“No,” she finally said. “It’s why I started taking birth control pills on the sly. I would never have willingly gone to bed with him, and I would have died rather than bring a baby into our marriage.”