By the time the pizzas arrived, Gemma had showered and changed into slacks and a knit top, and Nathan was asleep in his crib.
She and Tate ate opposite each other at the breakfast bar in the kitchen. There was no playfulness between them, but there was a definite heat that had been building all evening. This time was too serious, too important, to be messing around about it all. She didn’t offer to hand-feed Tate any of her slice, and he didn’t offer to lick her fingers clean, but oh, my, she could see he was thinking it, and remembering.
She had just finished washing down her second slice with a soda when she heard a rumble in Tate’s chest. “Enough,” he said in a strangled tone, dropping his pizza back in the box and surging to his feet. He came around the breakfast bar and pulled her to her feet. “Come on. We’re going to bed.”
Anticipation thumped inside her. “But I haven’t finished,” she said inanely.
“Neither have I.” He didn’t smile. He didn’t stop. He led her out of the room and kept right on going until they were upstairs in his bedroom, where he quietly closed the door behind them and flicked on the light.
A hush fell.
His eyes took on an intensity that surprised her. “Now…what was that about taking our time…” He moved slowly closer, standing right in front of her, cupping her shoulders.
Time slowed.
Bending his head forward, he covered her mouth with his and kissed her gently. She’d expected a hungry kiss, but it was none the less potent for its gentleness. She closed her eyes and let herself feel him, feel the moment between them.
After a while he drew back. She missed his lips already and made a sound, but she forgave him when he brought her fingers to his lips. One by one, he kissed her fingertips, then the inside of her palm, next the tender skin of her wrist. He moved up her arm, to the curve of her shoulder.
“I remember that,” he murmured, slipping his hand around her nape, looking into her eyes.
Her breath quivered. “What?”#p#分页标题#e#
“The little hitching sound you make in your throat when I touch you.”
“I can’t help it.”
“I know.” He dipped his lips to her throat, stealing her breath away.
Soon he leaned back and unhurriedly peeled off her clothes—her knit top, her bra…then her slacks and panties—exposing her until she was fully naked.
“Oh, yeah, I remember it all,” he said huskily.
Sensations raced along her nerves, making her ache with wanting him. He stroked her breast then bowed his head to it. He circled her nipple with his tongue, then caught it between his lips and sucked.
She heard the hitch in her throat then.
And heard it again when he moved to her other breast.
His fingers started down her belly, heading for the apex of curls, and the hitch turned to a longing moan. She wanted him to touch her there. Oh, how she wanted him to touch her and touch her and keep right on touching her.
And then she wanted to touch him.
She put her hand against his chest and when she pushed him away she saw his surprise. “Let me.” She brushed her lips over his as she pressed her palms against him, steadying herself and soaking up the feel of muscle beneath his shirt.
She undid his buttons slowly, starting at the lowest.
“You used to be much faster than this,” he muttered in bemusement. “Not that I’m complaining.”
“I was always in a hurry before.” She’d been in love with him and she’d instinctively tried to grab all she could before it disappeared like the wind, which it had. Tonight she would take it slower and make memories. She would keep their future alive as long as possible.
Finally she undid the last button and slid his shirt off, loving the way his heartbeat thumped in his chest. She placed her lips to that beating heart and he groaned.
“You are a beautiful, beautiful man,” she whispered. She moved her lips over his skin, swirling her tongue through the wisps of hair, the heat rising off him like a sultry day.
Her tongue prowled down toward his trousers.
All at once she was lifted, thrown over his shoulder. He carried her to the large bed, where he let her down on the duvet. She flopped back against it, her legs dangling over the edge, her naked body his to view.
She rose on her elbows, slightly embarrassed by the way she was positioned, slightly confused by the speed with which he’d changed everything. “I thought you said slow?”
“I didn’t say torture,” he muttered. He went down on his knees, parting her legs to lick through the dark vault already pre-moistened by her desire for him. She bucked at the touch of him. He began stroking his tongue up and down and soon put his hands on her hips to hold her still, allowing her to rise and fall but not escape. Not that she wanted to.