Dare to Love (Maxwell #3)

He opened the door wider. “Hey.” His lopsided grin made me squeeze my thighs together. As he held onto the door, his left bicep flexed, causing his serpent tat to move as if it was slithering up his arm.

Then again, I was probably dizzy. I grabbed onto my necklace as I padded deeper into the room. Waiting for Kelton to close the door, I took in the scene. Candles peppered the desk, dresser, and nightstands. The city lights spilled in through the floor-to-ceiling windows. A faint, flowery fragrance hung in the air, and the bed—or should I say the elephant in the room—was inviting with its comforter folded down and the pillows fluffed to perfection.

Kelton came up behind me and pressed his body into mine, gently helping me out of my jacket before he swept my hair to one side. Then his lips touched the spot of skin just below my ear. I jumped as tingles exploded from head to toe.

“Easy, baby doll.”

He smelled clean like fresh air, sparking memories of our summers together in my backyard as we’d lain on the grass in the rain. I sank back against him, tilted my neck, then reached up to cup his smooth-shaven face. He turned into my hand, his tongue snaking out to trace circles on my palm. My body instantly erupted in another wave of tingles, and this time I didn’t jump. Instead, I dropped my head against his chest as he grasped my hips then trailed his hands up under my sweater. He brushed my breasts as he continued his slow ascent until he whispered in a husky tone, “Raise your arms.”

I obeyed. He removed my sweater then tossed it aside. I shuddered at the coolness in the room but was quickly rewarded with warmth when his strong hands found their way to my waist and he guided me around to face him. His blue eyes appeared darker, like sapphires in an expensive ring, as he lowered his head then stroked my lips with his thumb.

I closed my eyes, my limbs languid as he moved to caress my neck, working his way down to my breasts. Moaning, I gripped the waist of his jeans before reaching for the button.

“Not yet. Slow is the key word tonight.”

I pouted as I opened my eyes, meeting the most insanely blue and intense gaze. His black hair was messy. The scar on his chin—a reminder of our past. I went to feel the ridges of his six pack, but he grasped my hand.

“This way.”

We bypassed the bed, heading to the bathroom. My pulse was erratic as I tried to control my breathing. He pushed open the door. Curls of steam floated out as he tugged me inside. Before I could do anything, he lifted me up by the waist and set me down on the long counter opposite a bathtub surrounded in candlelight. In quick moves he removed my boots. Then he raised my legs so my feet were planted on his chest. I held onto the counter. He glanced at me then at my toe socks and grinned, a little amused, a little feral. He hadn’t told me to wear them that time.

“What is it with my toe socks?” I wasn’t complaining, but his fetish was kind of weird.

He gripped my right foot between his hands, pressed his thumbs into my heel, then massaged. “They look sexy on you.”

I purred my approval as I closed my eyes, feeling the relaxing sensation of his magical hands.

“They’ll look even sexier with your jeans off.” He lowered my legs.

I planted my hands on the tiled counter as he worked to unbutton and unzip my jeans. As he pulled them down, I raised my hips. He sucked in a sharp breath when I sat in only my pink lace bra and thong and my socks. He sized me up slowly, smoothing his rough hands over my thighs and stomach before settling on my breasts.

“So fucking stunning.” He traced the outline of my cleavage, his hand slightly shaking. He appeared to be using every ounce of energy not to rip off my bra.

I poked out my chest, hoping he would replace his hands with his mouth. Instead he took off my socks, gripped my waist, and set me on my feet. Then he had me face the mirror as he positioned our bodies in front of the un-fogged spot in the middle. We peered at each other as his hands roamed freely over my body, his eyes heavy. The image of us heated me and made me want to cry. Never in a million years would I have thought I’d be standing in Kelton’s arms.

“You’re everything I imagined, everything I dreamed of.” He nibbled on my ear.

I rested against him, soft to hard, before I snaked my hands between us, feeling his arousal straining through his jeans.

He flattened a hand on my stomach then dipped his fingers inside my thong. He growled, pushing his hips into my hand. When his fingers landed on my bundle of nerves, I let out a soft moan, squeezing him tightly. He flipped me around and unhooked my bra, practically tearing it off. My breasts fell free. He hedged back, drinking me in. I wasn’t going to last if he didn’t do something soon. Nor was he, with that large bulge in his jeans. As desperate as I was to move things along, I also wanted to enjoy every second, every touch, every kiss, every noise, and every look between us.

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