“And you wanted to be like everyone else.”
She stared at him. “Excuse me?”
“You were taller than all your classmates, two years older. You didn’t fit in. You couldn’t fix that, but you could stop being a virgin. At least there you could be just like everyone else.”
She had a bad feeling she was still staring, but she couldn’t stop. “I honestly don’t know what to say.”
“Then I’ll tell you that I think you’re pretty amazing. Strong and determined. Sexy as hell, but you already knew that.”
Knew that she was sexy as hell? Um, no. She hadn’t received that particular memo. Was there a way to get him to say it again? Or embroider it on a pillow?
Quinn stood, undid a couple of buttons on his shirt, then pulled it over his head. He let it fall to the ground before drawing her to her feet.
“I’m making my move,” he murmured right before he kissed her.
She’d felt his mouth on hers before, the arousing combination of strength and confidence with just an edge of determination was so arousing. He kissed her purposefully, taking rather than offering, but not in a scary way.
He cupped her face in his large hands. She pressed her palms to his bare chest and felt the warmth of his skin and the muscles beneath. They met as equals—at least physically. She had a feeling that on the experience front, he was miles ahead.
He deepened the kiss and she welcomed the heat of his tongue against hers. She moved her hands to his shoulders and leaned into him, letting herself get lost in his deep kisses.
Need washed over her. Hunger and a desire to be closer. To know all of him. She wanted him touching her everywhere and she wanted to explore all his secrets. Patience, she told herself. The joining would be better for the waiting.
His hands slid along her upper arms, then down to her wrists and lower to her hips. His fingers toyed with the hem of her T-shirt. He tugged it up and over her head, then tossed it away.
He leaned in to kiss her again, but this time he pressed his mouth to her cheek, then her jaw. He moved slowly, drawing his lips across her skin, nibbling as he went. When he nipped right behind her ear, she felt her skin erupt in goose bumps. Then he straightened and took her hand in his.
He tugged slightly, urging her across the living room. They went into the bedroom. No lamps burned, but light filtered in from the living room. She saw the big bed and then Quinn turned her so she looked into his eyes.
“Second thoughts?” he asked.
“What? No. I want this.” You, she thought. She should have said “I want you,” but she wasn’t quite there yet. That would require just a little more courage than she had at the moment.
“Good.”
He unfastened his jeans and pushed them to the floor. He wasn’t wearing any underwear and he was already aroused. She allowed herself a moment of admiration at the size of him, then watched as he crossed to the nightstand and clicked on a light.
“Let’s see those wings.”
She laughed and turned her back to him. “Don’t judge.”
“I won’t.” He moved behind her and lightly traced the tattoo across her back. “It’s beautiful. Do you feel free?”
“Sometimes.”
He unfastened her bra. She let it slide off her arms. He reached around and undid her jeans, then pushed them past her hips along with her bikini panties. She stepped out of her clothes and started to turn to face him. He put a hand on her hip and held her in place.
“Not yet,” he breathed, his mouth inches from her shoulder.
So she stood naked in the center of his bedroom. He was right behind her—she could sense his nearness. But he didn’t touch her anywhere other than the hand on her hip. Not at first. Then he placed his fingertips on her shoulder blades and drew them down. Just the lightest of touches. The stroke made her shiver and her nipples tighten. He traced the words on the small of her back—words he’d written.
He put his hands on her hips and eased her around to face him. His eyes locked with hers and he cupped her small breasts in his hands. He touched them gently, smoothing the pads of his fingers over her nipples. Pleasure shot through her, taking a direct path to her groin. Excitement grew as he bent down and took one of her nipples in his mouth.
He sucked deeply, circling the tight tip with his tongue. Her breath caught and she had to hang on to him to steady herself. He repeated his actions on her other breast. Need hummed, pulsing in time with her heartbeat. She wanted what he offered. She wanted all of him.
He urged her to step back until she bumped into the bed. “Sit down,” he told her.
She sat. He dropped to his knees in front of her. When he guided her to lie back, she did. He parted her legs before dipping his head to press his mouth against the most intimate part of her.