After the Storm(111)
Donovan stood in the doorway, watching them a moment longer, taking pride in the sight of his family. His kids. Sure, this wasn’t the way a lot of men wanted to start a relationship. With a ready-made family. Taking on a four-year-old and a teenage boy wouldn’t be easy. But Donovan had fallen in love with them all and he looked forward to the day he could officially call them his and give them his name.
Cammie and Travis Kelly. He liked the sound of it. Tested it quietly on his lips.
Eve Kelly sounded even better. He was jumping the gun in a huge way. They had a long way to go before they could consider marriage. But it didn’t mean he wasn’t thinking about the day he made it official.
In his eyes they were already his. And in his family’s eyes, they were one of them. But he wanted the world to know it. And that couldn’t happen until any and all threat to them was eliminated.
He backed reluctantly through the door, closing it quietly behind him, and then he walked down the hall to where Eve was. Tonight he would make love to her. He’d make her his, and he was aching to make it happen. He ached to hold her in his arms while he made love to her. Watch her come apart underneath him, her eyes on him, them locked together in the most intimate way two people could be joined.
He wouldn’t push her if she wasn’t ready, but he hoped to hell she wanted him half as much as he wanted her. He’d wait forever if that was what it took, but every part of his soul prayed that she was ready.
When he reached her door, he knocked softly, listening for her summons. When he heard her call, he pushed in, his gaze automatically seeking her out.
She was perched on the bed, clad in a pair of pajamas one of his sisters-in-law had sent over with the rest of the clothing they’d gotten together for her. He’d thank them in person for their generosity and willingness to help out a total stranger, but right now his entire focus was on Eve and spending time with her alone, without outside distractions.
She found his gaze, and color flooded her cheeks. Was he that obvious? She looked adorable, sitting up against her pillows, knees drawn up and arms wrapped around her legs. But what he didn’t see was any evidence that told him she wasn’t open to what he planned.
He walked over to the bed and sat right next to her hip, scooting her over just enough that he could perch on the edge of the mattress. Then he reached for her hand, pulling it to his lips to press a kiss to each of her fingers.
“I want to make love to you, Eve,” he said bluntly.
There were probably better ways of seducing a woman, but he was a get-to-the-point, blunt kind of guy and that wasn’t ever going to change. Besides, she knew what he wanted. He’d certainly made himself clear enough, so there was no need for silly, coy games.
“Will you let me?” he asked softly.
Her pupils dilated and her color heightened further. She nervously licked her lips, and he almost groaned out loud.
“I don’t have much . . . experience,” she whispered. “I don’t want you to be disappointed.”
His heart lurched at the uncertainty written on her face.
“Honey, you disappointing me isn’t possible. I just need to know one thing and one thing only. Do you want me as much as I want you? Do you want to make love with me tonight?”
Slowly she nodded, an adorably shy expression blooming on her delicate features. She was, in a word, beautiful. And she was his. He had to quash the urge to haul her into his arms, put her on her back and plunge as deep as he could into her body. But he harnessed his inner caveman and forced himself to use restraint.
Carefully he unwrapped her arms from her legs and pulled her forward until she was in his arms, his arms wrapped around her body. They were face to face, their mouths only an inch apart. He could feel every puff of air that escaped with her breaths. They were short and jerky and her pulse was racing, fluttering like a butterfly at her neck. He was seized by the urge to kiss her right over that pulse point in her neck, and so he did just that.