Totally, Sweetly, Irrevocably(43)

She’d woken up with men before, but not often. And never with one she had feelings for. Because yes, she had feelings for Rick. Huge, complicated, unexpected feelings. And she didn’t know what the hell to do with them.

She moved a fraction of an inch toward the edge of the bed, but Rick’s arm snaked out and captured her around the waist. He hauled her back against him.

“You weren’t planning on leaving me here all alone, were you?” he asked, his voice still gruff from sleep.

“Noooo,” she said, glad her face was turned away from him so he couldn’t see her smile.

“Good.” He took a deep breath, nuzzling her neck and breathing her in like she was his oxygen.

She stretched back against him. Molded herself to him. She loved the feel of him wrapped around her. All strong arms and hard body and stiff…

“Well, good morning there,” she said over her shoulder.

Rick chuckled. “Sorry. Apparently I didn’t get enough last night.”

“I don’t know how that is remotely possible. If I can walk today it’ll be a miracle.”

“Honey, if you can walk today, I didn’t do my job.”

Gina laughed huskily and stretched up to wrap an arm around his neck. Before her lips could meet his, a loud growl echoed through the room, emanating from the vicinity of her stomach.

They both broke out in laughter.

“I guess I worked up a bit of an appetite,” she said, rolling over to give him a quick kiss.

“Maybe we should go find something to eat.” He nipped at her ear.

“Hmm, maybe.” But instead of climbing out of bed, she flung a leg over his hip, bringing a very warm and willing part of her body flush with his more-than-ready counterpart. “In a few minutes.”

Rick’s laugh of sheer masculine smugness got lost as their lips sealed together. He rolled her beneath him. One hand blindly reached out for the stash of condoms she’d dropped on the nightstand the night before. After a few seconds of fumbling he found one and broke away from her long enough to roll it on before he was back. He eased into her with an exquisite slowness that ignited every nerve ending she had. She threw her head back in a long, slow gasp as he began to move.

All thoughts of breakfast were gone as they moved together, totally in sync. After the night before, Gina thought they’d be able to draw it out forever. But within minutes she squirmed beneath him, trying to draw him in deeper, faster. She opened her eyes and gazed up at him as he plunged into her. He was the only person she’d ever been with she’d wanted a deep connection with. With the others, it had only been sex. Really good sex sometimes. But just sex.

But Rick…he was different. This wasn’t simply about their bodies finding pleasure. He rocked against her again, and she gasped. Unbelievable pleasure. She bit her lip and watched him watching her. Oh no. He wasn’t just rocking her world. He was unmaking it one sliver at a time and rebuilding it into something different. Something new. Something that wouldn’t work without him.

The realization of that terrified her. And thrilled her all at once. Because if they could make it work, if they could find a middle ground, then her life had been opened to possibilities she’d never dared dream of before.

The exquisite pressure building in her reached its peak and overflowed in wave after rippling wave of ecstasy. Rick was a few strokes behind her. He kept his gaze locked with hers as he came, thrusting into her as deeply as she could take him. She held on as the aftershocks rocked them, reaching up to cup his cheek and guide him down for a kiss.

His lips worshipped hers, moving slowly, exploring every angle, leaving her breathless and devastated. If there’d been any doubt in her mind, that kiss had erased it. She was his. Heart and soul. Forever.

She could only hope he wanted her, because there was no going back for her. Heaven help her if they couldn’t make it work.

He rolled them over so she snuggled against his chest and they lay together a moment, listening to the other breathe. She put her hand over his heart, smiling that it beat nearly in time with her own.

This time the stomach rumble came from Rick, and they burst out laughing again.

“Okay,” she said, “it’s breakfast time. Come on.”

She climbed out of the bed, pulling him with her. They took a few moments to clean up and then headed for the kitchen.

“What do you feel like?” she asked him, opening the fridge to take a look at what supplies she had.

He wrapped his arms around her from behind and kissed her neck. “You,” he growled into her ear.

She tilted her head to give him better access. “You’ve had me. If we don’t eat something you won’t have the strength to have me again.”