“All clean, Tender Heart?”
Roan’s voice was liquid smoke and had my toes curling into the carpet as I forced my eyes to his face. “Yes.”
He moved toward me like an animal stalking its prey.
“I like this.” Roan’s fingers twisted in the fabric of my silk robe.
“It’s soft,” I explained, something he already knew.
“Not as soft as this.” Roan’s hand slipped beneath the fabric to tease the skin of my chest.
My breath hitched.
“Softer than silk. Like a flower petal.” His head dipped, and he ran his lips along the opening of my robe.
My fingers hooked into the waistband of his pants, needing something to keep me steady.
Roan’s hands moved to the tie at my waist. Slowly, he tugged it free, and my robe fell open. “So damn beautiful. More beautiful than I ever could’ve imagined.”
Heat pooled low. My nipples pebbled under his stare in the cool air.
Roan traced one peak with his finger. It tightened, seeking, searching for more of Roan’s touch.
“Do you trust me, Tender Heart?”
What a loaded question for someone like me. Someone who had been through battle after battle. Who had lost it all time and again.
But I breathed deeply and told him the truth. “Yes.”
Maybe that made me a fool. Maybe it made me the bravest woman in the world. But all I knew was that Roan had me, body and soul.
His eyes flared with blue heat, and his fingers found the tie. He pulled it free from the loops, draping it over his broad shoulder.
My brows scrunched, but not for long because then Roan was ridding me of the robe altogether. It fell to the floor, and he sucked in a breath. “I could stare at you forever.”
His finger trailed over my core, his eyes becoming hooded. “Already aching?”
“Yes.” It was as if Roan had me in some kind of truth haze.
“Let’s see what we can do about that.” His eyes flashed again. “On the bed.”
His voice took on a snap—a demand for control.
There was a rush of wetness between my legs.
I moved slowly toward the bed and lowered myself to sit.
Roan watched me as if I were the most riveting thing he’d ever seen. “Lie back.”
I bit my lip and did as instructed.
“Hands above your head.”
My breaths came quicker as the pressure between my thighs built. I lifted my arms.
Roan moved to one side of the bed, his eyes locking with mine. “You sure you trust me?”
“Always.”
The blue in his eyes swirled and changed. Turned heated, desperately needy, and maybe just a little bit in love.
Roan pulled the robe tie from his shoulder and secured my hands to the iron headboard. As he tugged the silk taut, my heart hammered against my ribs. Everything felt heightened.
He stared down at me. “Look how beautiful. Your back arched.” His finger traced the curve. “Your breasts on display for me to taste.” His lips closed around one bud, and he sucked hard.
A whimper left my lips. A zing of sensation shot from nipple to clit, and I pressed my thighs together.
“Need me?” he cooed.
“Yes,” I breathed.
Roan straightened in a flash and strode to the end of the bed, unbuttoning his fly. “I had plans to tease you. To make you wait. But I need to be inside you.”
There was a God in heaven.
He shucked his pants and prowled toward the bed. His hand ghosted up my thigh. “Ready for me?”
I opened my mouth to answer, but then Roan’s fingers slid inside me, and all that came out of my mouth was a mewl.
He grinned. “That’s my girl.”
My core clamped down at the words.
Roan cursed and slid his fingers free. “You’re playing with fire.”
A smile stretched my lips. “Not afraid to get burned.”
Roan’s eyes flashed, and he hooked my legs around his waist. A second later, he thrust inside. No warning, just taking. And, God, it was everything.
My eyes fluttered closed as I tried to absorb every sensation.
“Uh, uh, uh,” Roan chastised. “Don’t close your eyes. I want to see every ounce of pleasure you’re drowning in.”
I forced my lids open as Roan thrust deeper. My hands tugged at the bindings, wanting freedom to get to Roan. To feel him. But not being able to move made the rest of my body only feel more.
Roan angled his hips, taking me deeper. I whimpered but didn’t let my eyes close.
Roan’s hand slipped between us, his finger circling that bundle of nerves.
My hands held tightly to the belt, gripping it with all I had as he arched impossibly deeper. Then his finger pressed down.
There was no warning, no easing into things. I came with lights dancing across my vision and muscles jerking to attention.
Roan cursed as he emptied himself into me, and I took it all. Wave after wave of pleasure rolled through me until I simply collapsed, Roan on top of me.
I struggled to catch my breath. “I think you just gave me a stroke.”
Roan pulled back a fraction, a smile playing on his lips. “I’m taking that as a compliment.”
“Cocky,” I muttered.
“No.” He nuzzled my neck. “Just obsessed with your body. Going to make it my mission to learn every inch.”
37
ASPEN
I took a sip of my coffee and watched my favorite presentation: the Roan breakfast show. The corded muscles of his forearms bunched and flexed as he expertly flipped an omelet. Then he grabbed the second pan and did it all over again.
It was my favorite way to spend the morning, watching Roan and listening to Cady talk about all her various plans for the day. One week had slid into two, and we were all just…holding.
There hadn’t been another murder, and most of the reporters had left. Everyone except Oren and the two podcasters, Steven and Tyson. The normal news media had realized there wasn’t a story here. At least not one they’d have access to. And the locals had mostly stopped staring, too. They were curious but not rude, giving me space.
Yet still, Roan stayed.
He hadn’t mentioned going back up to his cabin at all. And he was no longer sleeping on the couch. Cady hadn’t batted an eyelash at the change. She just liked having her best pal in close proximity.
“Whatcha starin’ at, Mama?” Cady asked around bites of her eggs.
My cheeks heated. “I like watching Roan make omelets.”
She bobbed her head in a nod. “Me, too. He does the flip thing, and they’re the yummiest.”
Roan sent a smirk in my direction as he plated our food.
“It’s not nice to be cocky,” I called.
“What’s cocky?” Cady asked.
“It means you’ve got a big head,” I explained.
Her nose scrunched. “Mr. Grizz’s head looks normal to me.”
Roan chuckled as he set my plate in front of me and kissed my temple. “See? I’m perfect.”
I grunted.
Cady giggled. “You sound like Mr. Grizz!”
Roan just laughed harder.
I’d never get tired of the sound. It was deep, raw, and real, and it wrapped around me like the warmest embrace.
Those laughs were coming easier these days, too. More often. But I didn’t take a single one for granted.