One is a Promise(78)

Chin angled down, he raises a brow. “Get in the shower, Danni.”

I move my feet, and he follows me in. Then he takes over, lathering his hands and massaging my neck, my toes, and everywhere in between. He’s thorough, gentle, and sinfully seductive.

He cleans my hair and turns me toward the wall, gliding soapy fingers over my breasts and between my legs. I drop my head back on his shoulder, not even trying to muffle my moans.

“You’re making it impossible to keep my word.” He slides his lips down my neck, his breaths hot and hungry. “You and your tight little body.” He slams a palm against my ass then rubs the hurt with wicked pressure. “I want to do things to you. Things that should be illegal.”

I spin in the circle of his arms and grip his face. His lips part, and his eyes search mine. Then he kisses me—a deep breathless kiss, full of fire and need. Tongues tangling, hands grasping, we fall against the shower wall, locked in a frenzy of desire.

His swollen cock presses against my belly, and I curl my fingers around it, stroking up and down and wrenching a choked groan from his throat.

“I said I was just going to wash you.” His hands plunge through my hair, and he rocks his hips, sliding his length in my grip.

“You washed me. Now you need to put your massive cock inside me.”

“Danni.” His hand covers mine around his girth, halting my movements. “I want more than sex with you.”

I slide my free hand through his hair, marveling at how the thick wet strands fall perfectly tousled over my fingers. “We’re spending the next four days together?”

“If I don’t make anymore mistakes,” he says, brushing a kiss against my wrist, “we’re spending the rest of our lives together.”

My heart hiccups. “If you’re staying here, we’re going to have sex. Does it matter if it’s now or a week from now?”

“I can’t believe I’m saying this, but yes, it matters.” He steps back and grabs the shampoo. “I know what I want, and your heart isn’t there…yet.” His biceps contract as he lathers his hair. “I will not trade long-term desires for short-term impulses.”

His voice is rough, his scowl formidable. It’s obvious how difficult it is for him to refuse me. His short-term impulse looks painfully engorged between his legs.

I back off, keeping my caresses chaste as I help him soap up. Ten minutes later, we lie in bed, naked, legs entangled. His body wraps around my back, spooning me from behind, with his thigh wedged between mine. He’s still hard, but he doesn’t grind against me. He seems content to just hold me. In the bed I shared with Cole.

The thought is unwanted, but I can’t block it out. Cole bought this bed for me when he moved in—the wrought iron headboard, foam mattress, gray linen bedding. His scent lingered in this room for months after he left.

“Tell me about him,” Trace says quietly.

Can he read my thoughts? I crane my neck and find his gaze on the picture frames across the room.

“I should probably put those away.” My hand fists in the sheets.

“Don’t do it for me.” He pries my fingers from the bedding and entwines them with his. “I intend to make myself at home in the house you shared with him. I’m going to make love to you in the bed I assume he once slept in. If I can’t handle seeing a picture of him, our relationship is doomed.”

My ribcage stretches with cautious happiness, and I tighten my hand around his. “You really want to hear about him?”

“Please.”

I start with how we met then share highlights of the ten months we spent together. His design and construction of the dance studio, the road trips on his motorcycle, his hatred for Nikolai. Trace doesn’t speak or tense up, and his arms stay around me, cradling, comforting.

My voice chafes my throat as I explain Cole’s job, the reason he left, and the explosion that took his life.

“You sound angry,” Trace says. “You can’t blame him for—”

“He chose his job.”

“Sounds like he didn’t have a choice, Danni.”

“You’re right.” With a sigh, I shift in his arms to face him. “I hold onto the anger like a crutch. It’s just…it’s easier. So let me have it, okay?”

“I’m finding that I’ll let you have whatever you want.” He kisses my lips.

“Is that right?” I reach down and wrap my fingers around his thick erection.

“Except that.” Groaning, he moves my hand from his cock to his back. “Tell me about your family.”

“You want me to talk about my parents while you have a hard-on?”