He reached around her, brushing her arm as he patted Bear’s head. “Please.” His warm breath blew on her neck.
The tenderness in his voice tore at her and her eyes grew wet. She took a couple of breaths, calming herself before she spoke. “I get it. I’m a job for you, and you felt sorry for me.” She stroked Bear’s fur. “I’ll be fine.”
She took another deep breath, placed Bear on the floor, and took a pillow off the bed. She couldn’t stay in the same room with him. It was too much. She liked him better when he was being a smartass—that she could handle. She needed to get back to the bathroom to be alone. Maybe she could sleep in there. The bathtub didn’t look too bad in spite of the dark ring around it and the questionable green stuff on the walls.
Lash grasped her hand, and she bit down on her lip, fighting back the strong feeling that bubbled up inside her. She felt herself weaken as she sank back down on the bed, keeping her head down. Don’t make me look at you. I’ll break if I do.
Gently, he placed a hand under her chin and lifted her face to his. His eyes swam with tenderness. She couldn’t hold back anymore, and she closed her eyes.
“My beautiful Naomi. Please don’t cry.”
Soft lips pressed against her forehead and lingered, her breath catching at the heat of his touch. The roughness of his chin grazed her skin as he kissed one eyelid, then the other. Her chest rose and fell as his lips slid down to her cheek, her nose, and then the other side of her face, chasing away the tears.
His nose glided along her cheek and paused over her mouth, hovering, his frantic breath lingering with hers. She was afraid to open her eyes. Afraid of what she’d see when she looked at him. Then his voice, so soft, as if he was speaking from inside her mind, whispered, “Naomi.”
She opened her eyes and her breath hitched at the raw emotion on his face. The wall he kept around his soul, his true self, disappeared. This was the real Lash—vulnerable, sweet and passionate. She couldn’t deny the truth that was sitting in front of her, tugging at her, consuming her. She loved him.
“Fight me.” His voice rasped as a hand swept over her hair. “I shouldn’t be doing this. I don’t want to hurt you.”
His words warred with the longing on his face. He wanted her as much as she wanted him. Then she realized what he was asking of her. He was an angel. He was on his way home. After tonight, she would never see him again. The thought crushed her. In the back of her mind, she knew there would be an end. He couldn’t be with her forever. The end was soon, and this may be their last time together. Tonight, she’d follow her heart, even if it meant her heart, her soul, would be left bleeding in the end. If all they had was one night, one moment—she’d take it.
“You won’t.” She leaned in, her mouth brushing lightly over his lips.
He quivered. “I can’t stop myself anymore.”
He slowly pressed his lips to hers, and a flood of euphoria rushed to her heart. She weaved her fingers into his hair, surprised by how soft it was, and pulled his head closer, deepening the kiss. His hands slid down her shoulders to her back and she felt herself falling back onto the bed. When he pressed himself against her, heat surged through her body.
His kisses were soft and deep as if they were his last. Her hands went beneath his shirt while her fingers skimmed over his back, feeling every muscle, so smooth and hard. Closer. Tighter. She held on to him, never wanting to let go, knowing in the back of her mind that she would soon have to.
His lips trailed inch by inch down her throat. Tasting. Savoring. Each kiss whispered the words she longed to hear—I love you. She floated, helpless, on a tidal wave of emotions. Bliss. Despair. Both, one and the same in the knowledge that she couldn’t hold on to him no matter how hard she tried.
Desperate to feel his skin against hers, she took hold of the edge of his shirt. Taking her lead, he pulled the shirt over his head and hovered over her for a moment, darkened eyes holding hers. Longing. Yearning. She was breathless. She reached out, brushing a thumb over his unshaven cheek, drinking him in, committing his handsome face to memory.
She reached out to her dream, drawing it close. Lash. Lash. Her kisses grew hungry, fervent. She couldn’t get enough. As if hearing her needs, he lifted her up and helped her take off her clothes. He stopped, awestruck, as he took in the sight of her. His finger traced the outline of her collarbone from shoulder to shoulder, trailing in a “Z” down between her breasts. Trembling. Quivering. She reached out to pull him to her again.
“Wait. Let me look at you.” Darkened eyes drank her in. “So beautiful.”
Hot wet lips moved down her throat, and she moaned as they continued to move down. Fevered hands caressed her breasts. Pulsing. Throbbing. She needed him.
She tugged at his jeans zipper, when his hand stopped hers. “Are you sure?”