She laughs, and Solomon’s chest tightens. He wants to make her laugh for the rest of her life if it’ll take that sad look off her gorgeous face.
He heaves himself off the floor and helps her stand. She does so with a wobble and a quiet groan. Then she’s in front of him, half-naked. Solomon tries not to stare, but it’s impossible. Even stuck in a dress, Tessie looks beautiful. The top half of the bodice droops down her belly, exposing a lace bra. Her breasts high swells of creamy, lush flesh.
He slides a finger between the fabric and her belly. It’s tight, cutting off circulation and making him frown. It’s hurting her. His hands go to the small of her back, grazing her smooth skin, searching for a zipper, only to find none.
He clears his throat. “I’ll have to rip it.”
She pouts dramatically. “Oh God.”
He cocks a brow. “Worth more than my life?”
She quirks a smile. “Something like that.” Then she closes her eyes and inhales a tenacious breath. “Do it, Solomon.”
He steps close, looping his arms around her small frame. For a second, they sway, holding one another, her body so warm against his. Then, getting a careful grip on the slinky fabric, he gathers it in his hands.
Then, muscles bulging, he tears.
Tessie squeals. Her hands grip his shoulders as she doubles over. Her entire body racks. But she’s not crying. She’s laughing. One of the most beautiful sounds Solomon’s ever heard.
The dress splits down the back, relinquishing its tight hold on her stomach. He lets it drop to the floor, where the fabric puddles at her feet.
“There,” he rasps, pulling back. “You’re free.”
She lifts her face, her full lips pulled into a wobbly smile. “Please never tell anyone about this. Ever.”
“Your secret’s safe with me.”
She takes in the limp pile of fabric on the floor. Only Solomon stares at Tessie. Nearly naked. Pouty lips. Wild hair. Mouthwatering. In black lace panties and a sheer black bra, she’s one goddamn stunning pregnant woman. Not like he’s seen many near-naked pregnant women, but on Tessie, it fits. It’s mesmerizing. The same lithe body he touched six months ago, with just a bump of a beautiful belly.
She holds her hands to her chest, something raw and vulnerable moving across her features. “Thank you, Solomon.”
He evaluates her tear-stained face. “What else do you need?” he asks thickly.
Anything. Anything she wants, he’ll give it.
She hesitates. “A hug?”
“I can do a hug.” He hates the gruffness in his voice, a tight constriction that betrays nothing, when really, it’s all he’s wanted to do since he saw her in that lobby. Hug her. For a long damn time.
Her face shy and soft, she lifts a toned leg to step out of the dress, then shuffles toward him. He opens his arms, and she melts into his embrace with a content sigh.
Solomon’s breath catches at the feel of her. Petite. Perfect. She fits perfectly in his arms. The curve of her cheek pressed up against the center of his chest. The soft swell of her stomach warm and heavy against him.
They sway, and it’s like the night they danced under the stars at the Bear’s Ear bar. Nothing existed except them. Nothing mattered. Only the girl in his arms and her heartbeat syncing with his.
Tessie shifts her hips, sinking deeper into the hug. He hides a smile when she inhales and buries her face in his shirt. Every fragile, vulnerable ounce of her is pressed into his large frame.
Instantly, he’s hard.
Gritting his teeth, Solomon closes his eyes, willing away the steel rod in his pants. This girl needs an embrace, not a damn erection poking her in the stomach.
“Mmm.” Tessie’s voice comes muffled against his chest. “You give good hugs.”
He grunts. Makes a note. “Good.”
She pulls back and looks up at him.
Unable to help it, he cups her cheek, stroking a thumb across the high arch of her cheekbone. “What else do you need?”
She swallows. Then says, “I need sex.”
His brain short-circuits into a what-the-fuck scramble, then comes back online.
“Christ.”
“I know. I’m awful for asking.” Two tears slip down Tessie’s cheeks. Misunderstanding his ragged swear, she flattens her small hand against his chest. “Please. We did it once. We can do it again.” She bites her lip. “I just. I need to get off.”
God, does he want to. Take her to bed, fuck her quick and hard, and then long and soft. Feel every fucking inch of her gorgeous, glowing body against his.
“I’m so horny. I haven’t had sex since. . .well, us.”
There it is. In her eyes.
Wild desire.
She needs gentle and she needs hard and she needs someone. And damn if that isn’t him. Fuck. It has to be him. The thought of her having sex with anyone else is like a bucket of ice water dousing his erection.
He takes her face in his hands, the curve of her cheek fitting like a key in a lock. “You need this?”
“I do.” She presses up on tiptoes, her small palm on his beard. “I really, really do.”
Her eyes, big, brown, beseeching. The way she’s looking at him—he’s got no damn chance.
And then he’s seizing her by the elbows, hauling her to his chest, kissing her like she’s man’s last breath. Not tentative or timid. Needy. Desperate.
Her kiss ignites him. Every male urge long buried is lit up with lust.
He liked her kiss six months ago, and hell if he doesn’t love it now.
A groan rips out of him, and he tightens his grip. She slips her tongue into his mouth, winding her slender arms around his neck. Flames dance around them, the sunset outside casting slanted rays through the windows.
“Solomon.” Tessie gasps, whipping back. “Oh God, oh thank you,” she says, her eyes wide and wet, her smile dazed and ecstatic.
Then she squeals and goes back in for round two. She’s hungry. Desperate hands all over him, up his shirt, skimming his waistband. Pressing herself, her full breasts, against him like she can mold to his body. Sucking his lower lip into her mouth like some gorgeous feral creature.
He’s ready for it.
He kisses her deeper, roughly, his hands roaming her ribs, the soft swell of her stomach, her slender neck. He shakes as he inhales her delicious scent. Coconut and sunshine. Like he’s holding heaven in his arms. Gold. Stardust.
Tessie.
Bad idea? Maybe. But he wants her to have this. Wants to give her something that will make her feel better, and if that’s him, he won’t complain.
Because the truth is, he wants this as much as she does. It’s all he’s thought about since Bear’s Ear. Her memory wrecked him, had him taking his hand to himself in the shower more times than he can count. And now she’s here, asking him to pleasure her, and hell if that’s not what he’s going to do.
Strike that.
Worship her.
Because she needs this. He can feel the crave in the arch of her slender, naked body writhing against him. All kinds of hungry. Starved.
“Tessie, baby, hold up,” he growls, using all the willpower in the world to pull back from her sweet mouth. “If we’re doing this, we’re doing it right. We’re doing it for you.”
He wants to show her she’s the most gorgeous woman he’s ever seen. Even pregnant. Especially pregnant. Because her body is like nothing else. Feminine and wild and lush.
Dazed brown eyes meet his, her lips plump and wet from kissing. She takes a step forward. “Then let’s do it,” she murmurs, reaching behind her to tug off her bra in one smooth move, leaving her breasts bare.
His throat closes up on him, shattered at the sight of her near-naked body.
Her breasts. They’re fucking perfect. Dark nipples. Full and pink, like sweet peaches in June.
He takes two fast strides to her, letting out a growl that’s both primal and protective.
He gets on his knees. In front of her where he belongs. With greedy hands, he grips her lithe thighs. She makes a little moan at the contact. Dipping forward, he sweeps his mouth against her skin, pressing a kiss against the swell of her stomach. Tessie shivers, giving a broken whimper.
“That feels good.” Her hands go to his hair, fisting the dark strands. “So good.”