Worth the Fall (The McKinney Brothers, #1)(58)

She sighed again in satisfaction. “Oh my gosh, you are so good at that. This could be your new career.”

He leaned down and brought her calf to his lips, needing a taste. What did she think of the career he had? She was everything gentle and good, compared to his deadly skills. He’d never cared what a woman thought. Never wanted a woman to ask him about it. Until Abby.

“You never ask about my job,” he said, his eyes intent on her face. “Is it because it bothers you?” She opened her eyes to look at him, and he held his breath.

“No, it doesn’t bother me,” she said, bringing his hand to her cheek. “Do you want to tell me? Or do you think I need to know? Because I don’t.” She pressed a kiss into his palm. “I know without a doubt that whatever choices you have to make, you make the right ones.”

Matt looked into eyes so green they reminded him of the bottles that lined his grandmother’s windowsill. Green as glass. She didn’t ask specifics. Didn’t care about missions or medals or rank. Abby believed in him. Not the job, just him.

It was a kind of absolution from his very own angel, only she didn’t know what she was absolving him from.

He leaned down to kiss her, then sat back, feeling lighter than he had in years. He combed his fingers through her hair, the dark strands contrasting with the light of her eyes. Her lids grew heavy and fell closed as they always did when he caressed her head.

And she was so hot. He continued working her feet and legs, her thighs, sliding his hand up a little farther each time in slow degrees—back to her feet, behind her knee, the inside of her thigh. Her breathing changed along with his. No longer completely relaxed, her chest rose and fell. Her lips parted.

After several passes, his fingers slipped under her shorts. He teased them both, taking his time. He played there a while, tracing around the edge of her panties, making her squirm. Then finally he brushed across her center with his thumb. Soft and wet.

Before he knew what she was doing, Abby grabbed his arm for leverage and swung her feet to the floor.

“That’s it.”

She clicked off the TV and headed toward the bedroom, moving surprisingly fast for her condition. He happily followed.

—

Abby flipped off the light to the adjoining bathroom and stepped out, wearing only Matt’s giant shirt. A small table lamp in the corner threw a soft, pale light over the room—enough to see, but not enough to make her self-conscious, though she was feeling unusually bold and hot with desire. Both Matt’s doing.

Good Lord, he was beautiful. Completely take-your-breath-away, man-hot beautiful. He’d stripped to his boxers. His long legs extended over the end of the bed, his big feet planted on the floor. Arms, thick with muscle, stretched over his head, laying his mouthwatering body out before her.

“You going to stare at me all night or come over here?”

Just the sound of his voice kicked her need up another notch. She moved to the bed, her eyes glued to his rippling torso. She took a slow, hesitant step. And another as he rid himself of his boxers. She wanted him.

He hissed out a sharp breath when she straddled him and realized there was nothing between them where their bodies met.

“Abby.” His eyes burned with a sexual heat.

She wanted to touch him the way he touched her. Make him feel the way he made her feel. Important and wanted and happier than she’d ever been.

Starting at the cut of his abs, she slid her palms upward, following the shape and contour of his body. Her fingertips explored the swirling hair of his chest and she paused to spend some time around his nipples. All the while he lay silently, but she felt his breaths increase. She knew his body now, every strong, sleek line of it, and it amazed her still that he was here.

Her hands fanned out over defined pecs and smoothed along the backs of his arms. Strength and power vibrated from him. A soldier, a fighter, yet so gentle and controlled he could brush tangles from a three-year-old’s hair. She made her way back down, over his ribs and then his abs. So warm and soft.

When she brought her eyes up to his, she found him intently watching her. The look.

Moving her hands to the bottom edge of her shirt and holding his hot gaze, she peeled it over her head inch by inch.

“You’re killing me.” His eyes licked over her body like flames. Down her neck, over her breasts, stopping at the heat between her legs.

He groaned and sat up, pressing his hips against her core, then dragged his chocolate-brown eyes back to hers, never wavering. Like now he was looking past her body, seeing deeper.

Her hands went naturally around his shoulders and their lips met and held. A million sensations ran through her.

Matt’s fingers splayed hot against her lower back. His other hand sliding up her back to her neck, bringing them even closer as he went. She made a small sound of distress and still his mouth didn’t move.

Finally he traced her lips with his tongue, gently at first, then forced them apart. Their mouths met and melded with a blinding hunger, loving and tasting for what could have been hours. Overcome with hunger and need.

They parted, breathless, eyes locked. Abby forced air into her lungs, unable to look away.

“What is it, baby?”

She couldn’t move. Could barely breathe, his face so close to hers, then even closer when he speared his fingers into the hair at either side of her face. She was captured by him. Lost in him.