Mack sucked in a breath, fighting off a surge of white-hot desire before his eyes rolled back in his head. "Your arm." Careful not to touch the actual wound beneath the bandage, he skimmed his hand down her right bicep.
"I think I've already proven I'm made of sterner stuff than that little scratch, don't you think?"
He grabbed her waist and pulled her against his erection, wanting her to feel exactly how serious he was. "Damn, you're beautiful. I want you. But I don't want to hurt you."
No matter how tough she claimed to be, no matter how tough he knew her to be, there was still a gentle fragility about her that he wanted to protect and possess. And he'd be damned if he had any part in anything that harmed her, even if it was just squeezing her a little too tight.
Marley moaned and arched, rubbing her tummy up and down the sleek, rough material of their clothes, abrading his sensitive cock.
"Stop being a pain in the ass. No more talking, just take me already."
Coarse words shocked him into action and he buried his tongue deeply in her mouth again, spearing his fingers through her thick, silky hair. He couldn't get enough of her-her taste, her touch, her smell-everything about her held him spellbound.
She wrapped herself against him, signaling just how much she liked his rough touch. Did she really need it like he did? This daylong exercise in adrenaline overload needed an explosion to ease the insane ache.
Maybe if he could let go, take her, and get her out of his system, he'd be able to focus on his mission-
Marley reached down and cupped his cock in her hand through his pants, and all thoughts of his mission disappeared. He ripped his mouth off hers, fumbled with the zipper on her flight suit and yanked; the material parted instantly, as if invisible fingers were pulling the edges back and presenting him with the most beautiful Christmas present he'd ever had the pleasure to open. The skin-tight black tank she had on beneath it was practically painted on, accentuating curves even lusher than he'd imagined. Careful not to hurt her arm, he slipped the material over her shoulders and down so that it hung from her hips, showing off a trim waist. Mesmerized, he wrapped his fingers around her waist until they nearly touched. He'd known she was tiny, but this-
As if sensing his hesitation, Marley shoved the flight suit the rest of the way down and his mouth went bone dry. Her tank top made his mouth water, but when she shoved her pants down with the suit, he lost his mind.
A pale green lacy thong was the only scrap of material between him and heaven. Lowering to his knees, Mack buried his face against her tummy, drawing in a deep breath. Marley gasped and threaded her fingers through his hair as he placed a gentle, reverent kiss just above the line of those lacy panties.
He helped her toe off her boots, but it wasn't nearly enough. He wanted her to strip the rest of the way down. No, needed it. "Take your top off."
Marley complied and brushed her hand down his face, not even wincing from the rough five o'clock shadow that had grown during the day. She wore a barely there bra, a see-through lace confection that was delicate, feminine, and pretty. Marley reached back and pulled her hair loose from the few places the ponytail holder had managed to keep in. The long, silken strands fanned down around her shoulders, teasing the tops of her nipples. Oh, my fucking God. Rembrandt didn't have shit on her.
"Mack? Touch me."
"You don't have to ask twice, baby."
Staying on his knees, his eyes level with her belly button, Mack lifted his hands and covered her breasts, testing the weight. Her hard nipples poked into his palms. Unable to help himself, he hooked a finger in the cups and pulled the material down. It made her breasts jet up and out as if begging for his mouth. "Christ, you're gorgeous."
A hot flush spread across her upper chest and neck, staining her cheeks a sexy rosy hue that matched the deep red of her nipples. Nipples he intended to suck into his mouth right now. Mack lifted up, putting one booted foot on the floor of the cave so that his mouth was lined up with his target. He drew her into his mouth, all lips and tongue so he wouldn't graze her with his teeth. Marley moaned out loud and her fingers dug into his scalp. He sucked harder, loving the intensity of her response when she moaned again. She certainly was expressive. He couldn't help reflecting, for just the briefest moment, on how timid and closed off his wife had been. There was nothing timid about Marley Mitchell.
"Was that too hard?"
She looked down at him with a mixture of lust and annoyance. "Did you hear me complaining?"