Too soon, they turned in to the gate and made their way through a tunnel of trees. They stopped in front of her porch under a sprinkle of sunlight, the sudden shade after the sun bringing chills to her skin. Stephen cut the motor, flipped the kickstand, and got off the bike. So large and capable. Skilled and in command.
She was about to ask him if they could do this again, but before she opened her mouth, he lifted the helmet from her head and dropped it on the ground, not once taking his eyes from hers. Like he couldn’t see anything else. Like there was nothing and no one else. Then he got on the bike again, facing her.
Her legs were spread on the hot leather seat, open to him as he was to her. It felt wicked, and dangerous. Big hands came down on her thighs, hot and heavy. He ran his palms over the fabric of her jeans, starting at her knees and moving upward. Then down, and up again, slowly from her knees to where her thigh met hip. And still his eyes held hers.
In a sudden move he gripped her legs just above the knee and pulled, sliding her along the seat until not even a breath separated them. So close she could barely breathe.
“Hannah.”
He spoke her name on a breath, making her insides dip and dive. Then, with their gazes still locked, he speared his fingers roughly into her hair and covered her mouth with his. It was a kiss so hot, so fierce, there was no room for anything else. No fear. No second thoughts. Without hesitation, her arms circled his neck, his back. Her fingers slid up and into his damp hair and she kissed him back with everything she had.
With one hand still tangled in her hair, the other moved seductively down her side, and an unfamiliar need rose inside her. Keeping her dazed with his kiss, his palm teased lower, stopping just short of the apex between her legs. Her body tightened and buzzed, warmed and melted.
He kept her guessing as to what he would do next, where he would touch her, how he would kiss her. Fast or slow. Gentle nips or deep strokes. He covered her bottom with both hands and brought their bodies fully together and held. Between two layers of denim, she felt him hard between her legs. Arousal crawled along every nerve ending and spread. He rubbed against her, rocked her against him. Trailed hot, openmouthed kisses down her neck until she was coming apart.
On a rumbled curse his mouth left hers and in two quick moves he had her off the bike. He carried her easily, her legs wrapped tightly around his waist, his boots knocking on the three wooden steps.
Hannah kissed her way over the salty skin of his neck and smiled at his muttered oaths while he fought to unlock the door. A second after he kicked it closed behind them, her back was against the solid wood. His hot mouth crushed down over hers.
Her fingers pulled at his hair. Their tongues mated and her greedy fingers found the edge of his T-shirt and slid under. Her skin was on fire under his lips and a liquid heat curled in her belly and lower as she ran her hands over his bare stomach and chest.
With a groan, he spun her away from the wall and in seconds she landed with a soft bounce on the couch. He stripped off his shirt and his mouth came back to hers in a scorching kiss.
Long fingers, hot and slightly rough, slipped under her shirt. Up and over her rib cage until he covered her through the thin satin of her bra. He stroked his thumb over her nipple as his lips traveled across her shoulder. She’d never felt anything like this. It felt so good, so…she didn’t know what, but she wanted more. She spread her fingers over the expanse of his chest and arms. Pulled at his shoulders and raised her hips.
“Slow down,” he whispered against her lips and took his time, cruising his mouth over her cheek, down her throat.
Her body was on fire, everything in her hot and alive. She was panting as he worked the buttons of her shirt, kissing each newly exposed inch as he went. Cool air brushed her skin damp from his mouth as he made his way down.
And then, even in her desire-induced haze, she remembered. “Wait.”
But she was too late. His task complete, he sat back and spread the fabric open, eyes locked on what he’d revealed.
And the hot blood pounding through her veins turned cold.
Chapter 20
“Jesus.” It was all he could say, and even that came out as a shocked whisper as he stared at Hannah’s body. Scars, too many to count. Some angry and purple, others white and thin. Just below the breasts he’d touched, across her stomach he’d revealed. Patterns and groupings, vicious and savage.
An accident? An animal attack? His mind struggled to make sense of it. Had she been in the car with her parents?
Hannah just lay there, her breath coming hard and fast. A part of his brain was telling him what he didn’t want to accept. That they were deliberate. That this had been no accident.
When he finally met her eyes, they were filled with so much fear and hurt, his stomach turned. Her fingers shook as she drew the shirt together and eased out from under him. Too shocked to stop her, he watched her as if in slow motion while his mind still struggled to catch up.