Surviving Broken(88)

Tears flowed freely.

Tugging gently, he pulled her closer between his thighs. His big hands trailed down the length of her arms. “How come you’re cryin’? Are thinking about your daddy again?”

She shook her head and leaned in, resting her cheek on his chest. They stood under the strawberry moon, holding each other, stroking one another. Reed waited patiently for the words to come. Tears soaked his shirt. He lifted it overhead and tenderly dabbed her damp face.

“Now, what is it you need to say?” he asked apprehensively.

Shadows of dancing leaves played against his naked chest. A rush of sensation flowed through her core, causing an ache between her thighs. His enticing scent played havoc on her senses. Her mouth watered merely looking at him.

JC wanted to show him how much she loved him. She reached for the buttons on his jeans, wanting to taste him, devour every inch of the man she loved.

Reed clasped her face in his hands, lifting her face, bringing her eye to eye. “No way.” He gave an adamant no with raised brow. “Not gonna happen until you say what’s on our mind.”

“Maybe you should put your shirt back on.” She set the shirt on his lap and paced back and forth, crunching the gravel beneath her feet. She came to an abrupt halt, staring at the moonlight glimmering on the stream.

Being the second love of his life is better than not being loved by him at all.

He stood behind her, crossing his arms beneath her breast from behind. The warmth of his breath on her neck set her flesh on fire. “It’s okay, darlin’. Just tell me,” he whispered with a kiss.

She shifted in his arms twisting to face him. Just say it.

Circling her wrists over his shoulder, JC’s gaze fell to his chest. “Reed Rider,”—finding the courage, her gaze bore into his ice blue eyes turned stormy under the night sky—“I love you.”

He wretched back in surprise, shocked by the revelation. Reed blinked repeatedly. “Oh.”

The aching rasp of his voice curled through her on a wave of uncertainty. JC’s belly burned and she frowned at his reply. The air around her turned deafeningly silent, muting to the sound of her thrashing heartbeat hammering in her ears. Anxiety swelled. Her knees bobbled waiting for his response.

The entire world seemed to stop as she searched his eyes, the window to his soul, for a reaction. She fidgeted with the locks of hair curled at his nape. Say something! Please say you can love me. Her chest heaved against his. JC’s chin crumpled as disillusionment mounted to the surface.

“Oh hell.” Pulling her closer to his frame, he clamped his mouth over hers. She twisted away from his kiss. Reed clasped the sides of her jaw, lifting her face to the moonlight. “It is about damn time, woman.”

Her shoulders slumped as she exhaled. A sweet smile of relief floated across her lips. “Have you been waiting for me to say that?”

“Well hell yes! And patiently I might add. I’ve loved you from the first moment I laid eyes on you.”

“I’m sorry.” She nipped his chin. “What did you say?”

“JC Mathews,” he mocked her playfully, “I love you too.”

Abandoning her defenses, she crushed her lips to his, molding herself to his solid form. He licked into the depths of her mouth, their kiss almost bruising in force. The ravenous kiss carried on and on, binding them as they moved and breathed together as one.

“Easy darlin’.” He slowed her down, swaying to the soft music, stroking and caressing her face, allowing her to take in every nuance of the moment. Ever so patiently, he traced the contours of her neck and shoulders with the pad of his finger. “Just let me love you tonight.”

She knew he wanted control. “No way.”

The warm scent of his skin danced erotically around her senses. The moon’s glow cast across the masculine features of his face would stay forever etched in JC’s memory like a charcoal drawing.

“I’ve waited all my life to fall in love with you. If you had a hat on your head, you’d need to hold onto it tonight, darlin’.” Her lip twitched with the sensual promise.

An understanding grin broadened across his face. Reed clutched her hips, hinging at the waist. JC’s head dropped back. Her long hair swung freely in a light gust of wind as he dipped her. “You can do whatever you’d like to me. I’m all yours.”

Heightened senses of adoration lit her heart on fire. He clasped her face, demanding the heat of her mouth again. The kiss was soft and slow, filled with passionate and erotic cravings. Reed eased his fingers beneath the straps of her summer dress, pausing to lift the dress above her head, freeing her aching breasts with a bounce. He tossed the dress to the grass and cupped the supple weight in his palm. Turning his undivided attention to her breasts, he gently twisted the tight pink nub between his thumb and finger.