I glanced up, in awe that this gorgeous man was not only letting me undress him, but was staring at me as though I were the most beautiful woman alive. He stood there patiently, and unguarded, in his open dress shirt and his white boxer briefs, his erection straining against the fabric, ceding all control to me.
“I know I told you that you’re in charge,” he said in a tight voice, “but can I make requests?”
“I’m not in charge,” I said, placing another kiss at the tip of his erection over his underwear. “We both are. What do you want, Jed?”
“I want so much, Neely Kate,” he growled, sinking his hand into the side of my hair, being careful not to mess up my updo. “So fucking much.”
I placed another kiss over his underwear. “Then show me what you want.”
He reached under my armpits and hauled me to my feet, his mouth covering mine as his tongue and lips devoured my own.
I clung to him, overcome with emotion and lust, and before I even realized what he’d done, he had the back of my dress unzipped. His hands landed on my shoulders, pushing me back slightly so he could see down the length of me. His fingers barely brushed the skin of my collarbone, sending a shiver up my spine as he slid the dress over my shoulders and down my arms until the fabric hung on my hips.
I started to push it down, but he grabbed my hands and brought them to his lips, kissing the knuckles of each hand. “No. Let me unwrap my gift.”
I smiled at him as he dropped my hands and then rested his on my hips. From there he slowly slid his palms down, tugging my dress until it puddled on the floor at my feet.
“Heels on or off?” I asked.
“What makes you feel sexier?” he asked, his mouth dropping to the base of my neck.
“I want you to like what you see,” I said, another shiver running down my back as he kissed, then licked a sensitive spot.
He chuckled against my skin. “Oh, Neely Kate, I would love lookin’ at you even if you were wearin’ a paper bag.” Looking up, he held the side of my face as he searched my eyes. “I love seein’ your sexy legs in heels, but I also know they aren’t the most comfortable things to wear. Besides, I got plenty of opportunities to peek at them during dinner.” His gaze turned serious. “But this is about making you feel empowered. If you feel sexier in four-inch stiletto heels, I’ll run out and find you a pair. If wearing heels in our bedroom reminds you of times you were hurt or mistreated, I’ll take them off your feet and burn them in the fireplace.”
“You make me feel sexy, Jed. Not the shoes.”
A sultry grin spread across his face. “Then take ’em off.” He dropped to his knees and bent my right leg and then my left, taking off my heels and tossing them by his shoes. His gaze drifted up, over my lacy panties and bra and up to my face. “You are the most beautiful sight I have ever seen.”
I flushed, and he nudged me backward until my legs were pressed against the foot of the bed, then eased me back so that I was sitting on the edge.
“Before we start this,” he said in a solemn tone, his face a foot from mine, “we need to discuss protection.”
“I’m not on the pill, Jed,” I said, glancing down. “And I don’t have an IUD or anything. I can’t get pregnant.”
“Those things don’t protect against STIs,” he said.
Shame washed through me and I looked away as my eyes filled with tears.
“Why are you upset?” he asked. Then he cursed. “Oh fuck. I’m not talkin’ about you, Neely Kate. God, not you.” He knelt in front of me, pulling me to him and wrapping me up tight in his arms. “I was talking about me. I’m sure I don’t have any, but…” He paused. “This is all about you bein’ in control, even if I’m doin’ a piss-poor job of makin’ that happen. I don’t want to make love to you and have you worried that I’m going to give you a disease or infection.”
I kept my gaze on the bed. “I trust you, Jed.”
He brushed a stray hari from my eyes, letting his fingers trail down my cheek. “I’ve hurt you.”
“No. I’m just…”
“Ashamed?” he asked quietly, his dark brown eyes holding mine.
I nodded, looking away again.
He grasped both sides of my face in his hands and gently tipped my chin up until my gaze met his. “Neely Kate, I plan to make it my lifelong goal to help you banish that shame. I know it’s not gonna happen overnight, but I’m a patient man.” He grinned. “Look how long I waited for you.”
I couldn’t help laughing. “A couple of months isn’t that long.”
“It’s been longer than that.”
Before I could ask how long, he kissed me, soft and gentle, as though we were starting over again. He laid me down on the bed and scooted me up so my head was on the pillows. He took his time, exploring my mouth with his tongue while his hands roamed my body, a lazy pace that had me writhing from his touch.
He pushed up on his elbow. “I love you.”
I smiled up at him. “I love you too.”
He pulled me to a sitting position and unhooked my bra. After he slowly tugged it off and tossed it to the side, he quickly dispensed with my panties.
Jed was still wearing his unbuttoned shirt, so I nudged it over his shoulders, letting it fall on the bed behind him. My gaze fell on his underwear, then lifted to his face.
“I love you, Neely Kate, but if you’ve changed your mind, we can wait.”
“I don’t want to wait.” I pushed him down on the bed so that he was lying on his back. He stared up at me with hooded eyes as I knelt next to him and started to pull down his underwear. His erection sprang free and I grinned at him. “Not crooked.”
He laughed.
I wrapped my hand around him and began to stroke.
He sucked in a breath. “I’m not gonna last long.”
I leaned over and kissed his tip, and he grabbed my arms and pulled me up, rolling me onto my back, and kissed me.
I laughed against his mouth and he rolled to his side, groaning playfully.
“You like driving me crazy,” he said.
I gave him a mischievous grin. “I like knowing I can.”
His hand slipped between my legs and I arched my back, drawing in a breath. His dark eyes watched me closely. “I like knowin’ I drive you crazy too.”
I rolled on top of him, straddling his upper thighs, then took him in my hand again. “I want to be on top.”
His chest rose and fell. “You’re in charge.”
Lifting up on my knees, I straddled him and slowly took him in. His hands rested on my hips, and he slowed me down as he filled me so completely. I leaned back my head, reveling in the fact that this man was mine.
“God, you’re beautiful,” he groaned. “I can’t believe you’re finally in my bed.”
I rose again and lowered. He moaned, his fingers dug into my flesh unwittingly, and sat up. Sliding an arm around my back, he captured my mouth with his while I continued to ride him.
Then he held me still and lowered his mouth to my breast, his tongue and teeth setting my body on fire, my core tightening in response.
I needed more. So much more. I pulled his mouth to mine and kissed him hard, taking him even deeper inside me.
Jed groaned, his hands returning to my hips as he quickened the pace, until I was breathless and begging for him to give me what I needed. I could feel myself climbing higher and higher until the air was so thin I was dizzy, and for one long second, I felt suspended in time before I fell apart, calling out his name.
I was vaguely aware of his own release as he gave one last plunge. Then he held me close as we waited for our breathing to return to normal.
I rested my forehead on his shoulder, and because all of that skin was begging for my mouth, I kissed his collarbone up to his neck.
He shifted, placing his finger under my chin so he could study my face. “Neely Kate…” The awe and love in his eyes took my breath away all over again. “I love you so much.”
“I love you too.”
I knew I couldn’t have happily ever after. But I could revel in my happy for now.
Chapter 23
We made love again, and then I fell asleep in Jed’s arms, feeling more loved than I’d ever felt in my life.
When I woke, the room was dark, and Jed was gone. Panicked, I sat up as my imagination ran wild. “Jed!”
I heard footsteps on the stairs.
“Jed?”