Among the Heather (The Highlands, #2)

Summoning what thread of bravery I had in me, I admitted, “I want to try again.”

North swallowed hard, the crest of his cheeks flushing with arousal. It was kind of adorable. I suddenly was fully aware of the sensation of my breasts pressing against his chest and I knew North was, too, because I felt him harden against my belly. Tingles reawakened in full force between my thighs.

“Let’s start slowly, then,” he suggested gruffly, before taking my hand and leading me toward the bed.

My nerves played skip rope in my stomach again, but I forced myself to follow him.

Then North surprised me by sitting on the edge of the bed. His erection bulged against the zipper of his jeans. That didn’t look comfortable. But he ignored it, staring boldly up at me as he leaned back on his hands. “Just take your hair down first.”

My hair.

Yes, okay, I could do that.

Hands shaking a little, I reached up and tugged out the plain black hair tie. My hair was one of the few things I genuinely liked about myself. That and my eyes. Thick and dark, it spilled down around my shoulders as I released it. North seemed fascinated for a few seconds before his gaze returned to mine. “Now your shirt.”

I found myself in a strange state of arousal and fear at his instructions. Pushing past the fear and leaning into the arousal, I tried to be courageous and held North’s gaze as I slowly unbuttoned my shirt. He broke first, his eyes dipping to follow my hands. When I got to the last visible button, I tugged the hem out of my skirt and released the last few. Taking a deep breath, I shrugged out of it, letting the silk drop to the floor.

“Fuck me,” North breathed as he took me in, eyes lingering on my full breasts cupped by my dark purple bra.

I wanted to slide my arms around my belly to hide the little of it that was exposed by my high-waist skirt, but I urged myself to refrain.

North’s fingers clenched into the duvet behind him and his breathing seemed a little shallower. “How can you not know how fucking sexy you are?”

Wait until the skirt comes off … Or not. “Maybe we could just do it like this?”

He looked into my eyes, understanding in them. “I want all of you.”

It was almost a question. Taking in a shuddering breath and releasing it slowly, I nodded in agreement.

I could do this.

“Take off your bra,” he commanded, voice thick with sex.

My nipples peaked under the satin before I reached behind to unclasp it. Before I could talk myself out of it, I pulled down the straps and let the bra fall to the floor on top of my shirt. Cool air prickled my skin, tightening my nipples into hard points. North’s hungry stare made my breasts swell with anticipation.

Then his hands were on my hips as if he couldn’t stop himself, drawing me between his thighs as his ferocious eyes drank me in. He smoothed his hands up my waist, goose bumps chasing his touch … then he cupped my heavy breasts in his hands and gave them a gentle squeeze.

I moaned while he groaned and kneaded me.

“Fuck me, fuck me,” North muttered, staring like he wanted to eat me alive. “You’re so sexy it might actually kill me.”

My skin flushed at the compliment.

Suddenly, he was on his feet and hauling me into his arms. “I need to kiss you.”

It was only then that I realized we hadn’t.

Kissed, that was.

Before I could respond, his mouth was on mine.

It wasn’t a soft, sweet, gentle, coaxing kiss.

North’s kiss was devouring.

I gasped into it as he kissed me like he wanted to fuck me. And it was exactly what I needed at that moment. Heat and desire exploded through me, sweeping my doubts and overthinking from my head until there was nothing but the feel of his hands on my body, the scent of him all around me, his lips bruising mine.

North broke away, panting, staring at me, a little stunned. “Jesus,” he murmured, his hands on my hips, squeezing gently. “I knew it would be like this between us.”

Relief eased through me. I wanted this with him, and maybe I could do it without overanalyzing his every word and touch.

But then he demanded, “Skirt off. Now.” And all that sexy fire filling my belly flickered out, doused by the very thought of being fully naked in front of him.





Fourteen


ARIA





“Talk to me.”

North was back on the bed, a wrinkle of concern between his brow.

I covered my naked breasts with my arms, feeling vulnerable and irritated. “Can’t you just take your pants off?”

He gave me that gorgeous, lopsided grin. “Eventually, aye.” Then he was serious again. “But first I want to know why the very mention of taking your skirt off turned you off?”

A memory seared through me, a painful flash that made me wince in remembrance. I hated that memory had power over me. I hated it was the reason I couldn’t bear to look at myself for more than a few seconds in the mirror.

God, I didn’t think I could do this. And didn’t that make me the worst fucking tease in the world? I covered my face with my hands, ashamed and furious all at once. “I’m so sorry, but I don’t think I can do this after all,” I apologized hoarsely between the gap in my fingers.

“You were with me until I asked you to take your skirt off … Christ, Aria, did … did someone hurt you?”

At the horror in his tone, I dropped my hands. The look on his face verged on devastated and realizing why, I hurried to assure him, “No, God, no, nothing like that.”

North seemed to slump with relief.

A pang of affection cut through the vulnerability. Covering my chest again, I looked down at my feet and admitted, “Not long before we broke up, Lucas and I got into a fight because he … oh, hell.” I felt a little sick. “We were in bed. We’d just had sex, and he put his hand on my stomach and told me I’d be sexier if I did some sit-ups and lost some weight. That he liked a flat, toned stomach on his woman.” I remember how hurt I was … how repulsive I’d suddenly felt lying naked in bed with him. How I’d wanted to hide from him and the world. Instead, I’d told him to go fuck himself. Then I dressed and stormed out. He sent me flowers to apologize and begged me to forgive him. But I didn’t want him to touch me after that and only two weeks later, Caitlyn sent me the video of the two of them together.