Need You for Keeps (Heroes of St. Helena, #1)(68)

“Especially then.”

She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. And just like that, everything felt like it fell into place. With a sexy little sigh, she deepened the kiss and all of the weight from the day, from the past few weeks, even the past few years collided in his chest, and he knew that she was so deep under his skin he wasn’t sure how much farther he could invite her in. Wasn’t sure that he could breathe without her.

One minute his hands were right there, next to that damn bow, and the next they were lifting her. He carried her into the house, kicking the door closed with his foot, his mouth never leaving hers as he walked her down the hallway and into his bedroom.

Once there he didn’t waste any time, setting her on her feet and breaking away long enough to find the bow. With an easy tug, the dress fell off her shoulders and to the floor in one amazing swoop, leaving Shay in mile-high heels, cream-colored panties that had her cheeks playing a game of peekaboo, silky skin—and no f*cking bra.

“Christ, Shay.” She was beautiful. His mind was telling him that she was his.

“My turn,” she said, walking toward him, her heels clicking on the hardwood floor. Again she held his gaze while her clever fingers went to work on his shirt, his belt, his pants, then—hello.

Her hand wrapped around the length of him, gentle but sure. The heat from her touch shot through his body as she slowly stroked him, base to tip, base to tip, base to f*cking tip until he was sure he was going to pass out. His breathing was already nonexistent, then she dipped even lower on the return, delivering a gentle squeeze. Then a not-so-gentle squeeze.

“Christ, Shay,” he groaned, his head falling back.

“You already said that, Sheriff,” she teased. “Let’s try for something more original.”

He was down for original. He was down for anything that included Shay’s hands on him. And he was especially down with what happened next.

Shay sat on the edge of the bed. He stood between her legs, although he had no recollection of moving, and her mouth—God, that mouth—took him in. And he bucked into her, he couldn’t help it. She was looking up at him, pulling him deep into her mouth, and his hips went for it and she didn’t even flinch, seemed turned on actually, and then before he knew it his hands were fisted in her hair and he couldn’t seem to look away or stop moving.

“Fuck.” He didn’t want to stop moving. He didn’t want to stop her. What man would? But he wanted this to be about them and he knew that if he didn’t pull back, this would be over before they got to more.

And he wanted more.

“Fuck,” he said again, forcing himself to step back.

She released him with a smile. “Is that an order, Sheriff, or your way of making small talk? Because the first time I thought it was conversational in nature, but now I’m not so sure.”

“The name is Jonah,” he said. “And that was me telling you just how crazy you make me.”

Her smile faded. “In a good way?”

“In the best way.” With his hand still in her hair, he crushed his mouth to hers. Reaching down, he palmed the globes of her ass, which were straining to be free of the lace confinement. Being a gentleman and always willing to do his part, he divested her of them quickly.

She groaned, locking her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist, then leaned back. All the way back. So that she was lying on the bed and he had no choice but to follow. Crazy thing was—he was pretty sure he’d follow her anywhere.

No questions asked.

He settled over her, a hand sliding up to the small of her back so she was arched off the bed. Taking a moment to enjoy the view, a long, appreciative moment, he dropped an openmouthed kiss to the valley between her breasts and, to cover all bases, he explored the entire region, teasing her until she was panting his name.

Her legs tightened around his middle, pressing his erection against her core. Using their position for leverage, she lifted her hips and rubbed herself deliciously down his length, then back up. Her breathing picked up and he could feel her body straining to create the right friction, friction that had his lungs struggling to take in air.

“More,” she moaned. “I need more.”

No further explanation needed, Jonah blindly reached for a condom out of his nightstand drawer. He had it located, unwrapped, and in place in record time and finally slid home. That was what it felt like, what she felt like. Coming home.

Being here with Shay, with her looking up at him as if he was everything she could hope for and more, he felt his whole world come into focus. Like he was on the edge of the biggest moment of his life and with the next breath everything would be forgiven, everything would be right.

Jonah slowly started moving as he took a breath. Then another, and by the third he felt like he was floating, but not freely. It was like spiraling out of control.

“Jonah,” Shay whispered, framing his face with her hands. That was all it took, that one simple reminder that she was there, and he exhaled. Long and hard, it came from his soul. “I’ve got you.”

“I know,” was all he said, and then he was kissing her, touching her, holding on with everything he was because she had him. In the most unexpected way, Shay had him. In every sense of the word.

Jonah moved faster, feeling her body clench around his, but no matter how fast he moved everything seemed to slow and fall into place. Even when Shay’s body coiled and they both let go together, she never once looked away, and Jonah realized he was finally breathing and she was his oxygen. He also realized he didn’t just want more.