The Playboy's Baby(39)

She moaned with the exquisite pleasure rocketing through her, and white-hot need exploded between them. His hands slid up her sides and began tearing at the buttons of her blouse, hers already sliding under his T-shirt, pushing it up. He paused, stepping away long enough to yank the garment off over his head. It barely hit the floor before his hands were on her again, moving to the button on her pants.

When his hands shifted down, reaching for the button of her slacks, an awful memory flashed like lightning in her mind’s eye. In the span of a heartbeat, she was back in that darkened car, her arms pinned above her head, helpless while her attacker tried to pull off her pants.

Shaking, acid rose up the back of her throat. She caught Dillon’s wrists and wrenched her mouth from his, fighting a near-overwhelming urge to shove away from him altogether and run like hell. This was Dillon. He’d never hurt her. Knowing that, didn’t stop the panic from seizing her chest in a vice grip that refused to let go.

“Not so fast.” She sucked in a deep breath. Her breathless voice trembled. “Please.”

Dillon’s hands paused and he pulled back, confusion and concern puckering his brow. “You okay?”

She shook her head, her voice already starting to wobble. “I had a bad experience once.” She felt like a fool, a child, but prayed he’d understand. Fear stuck in her chest, refused to let her breathe, and she couldn’t stop shaking.

He studied her, his dark eyes moving over her face, and then his jaw tightened. “Somebody hurt you once.”

When she nodded, embarrassment heated her face.

Regret and torment filled his eyes and he stroked her cheek with the back of his fingers. “God, I hate that thought. Do you want to stop?”

“No. No. I want this. I want you.” She wanted fear to stop dictating her life, to experience passion. She wanted it with him. “I trust you. I feel safe with you. I just…I need to go slow.”

Understanding dawned in his eyes. His expression softened. “I’m going too fast and it scares you.”

She hated admitting it. Hated it still had that effect on her, but nodded nonetheless. “I’m nervous.”

“Come on.” He took her hand, pulling her behind him into the living room. Once there, he took a seat on the sofa and patted his lap. “Sit with me.”

She climbed onto his lap, sitting sideways on his knees, and he wrapped his arms loosely around her waist. His arousal pressed into her bottom, hard against his zipper, but he didn’t otherwise move, didn’t demand anything more. Rather, he stared into her eyes, for so deep and so long she lost herself in the infinite depths.

Finally, he lifted a hand and cupped her cheek. “You’re in control of this. When you’re comfortable with me again and you want more, you let me know. If you don’t…” He shrugged a shoulder. “We’ll just sit here and I’ll get to hold you for awhile. Okay?”

She could only stare at him. The gesture quickly overwhelmed her and tears sprang up before she could blink them back. More grateful than she had words, she pressed a soft kiss to his mouth. “Thank you.”

“Better?” His arms tightened around her, drawing her closer.

“Yes.” She nodded and kissed him again. She was nervous, but he was just Dillon again and she was safe in his arms.

He leaned in and slanted his mouth over hers, his kiss gentle and unhurried. His lips explored hers slowly, like he had all the time in the world to do only that. Never once did he push or ask for more.

He kissed her until a quiet yearning pooled deep in the pit of her stomach, making her ache. Until she felt brave enough to show him how much she wanted him. Bracing her hands on his shoulders, she shifted to straddle his thighs and pressed her breasts into his chest.

A low groan rumbled out of him, and his lips left hers, leaving a shivery path of fire as they trailed across her jaw and down her neck. He stroked his hands down her back to cup her bottom and pull her tighter against the hard ridge of his erection.

She moaned, pleasure sliding through her.

Wanting to pleasure him the way he did her, she slid her hands over his chest, flicking her fingers over his tight nipples. A long, low growl rolled off his tongue and his body trembled beneath her hands, sending a delicious little thrill zipping along her spine. Knowing she could affect him to such a degree made her feel powerful. The heady sensation went to her head in a rush, increased her desire, and made her ache and tremble with overwhelming need.

“I want to feel all of you.” She whispered against his mouth and reached for the buttons on his jeans.

He pulled back, his heavy-lidded eyes so hot she feared she was going up in flames. “You sure?”