It may be stupid and reckless. She may lie in bed after regretting the decision to give herself to this man. But it was a risk she was more than willing to take.
To hell with the stalker or scars of the past. To hell with bombs and hospitals and the rest of the world.
She wanted him, and Ivan wanted her. And right now, in this very moment, nothing else mattered.
Cera reached for his zipper once more. Moving at a torturously slow pace, she slowly lowered it all the way down. The denim flaps fell open, revealing an impressive, boxer-brief-covered bulge she couldn’t wait to feel inside her.
She started to slide her hand between the open flap, but Ivan stopped her just shy of reaching her goal.
“I should warn you; it’s been a long damn time for me. You touch me now, and this moment is likely to end before it even begins.”
A twinge of disappointment struck, but then she lifted her mouth into a sly grin. “Well, we don’t want that now, do we?”
In a bold move that surprised even her, Cera reached for the hem of her hoodie and pulled up over her head. Careful of her wound, she stretched the collar enough to avoid a collision and tossed the garment aside. Her white lacy bra was the next thing to go.
“There.” She dropped it onto the floor near the bed. “Now, we’re even.”
The look of pure male appreciation he wore made every insecure cell in her body stand up and cheer. His hot, needy gaze igniting a fire in her she knew could only be extinguished by him.
By Ivan. A man she hardly knew.
And yet, as Ivan removed his jeans and lowered himself down beside her, Cera innately knew this man possessed those qualities to which she held sacred. Intelligence, honesty, integrity, and most importantly, a caring heart.
Didn’t hurt that all those things—and more—came wrapped in the most delectable package she’d ever seen. Speaking of packages…
Ivan moved in closer. Pulled her in tighter. And when he did, she could feel the steely bulge she’d caught sight of earlier.
A low moan fluttered deep inside her throat, the anticipation of what was to come already sending a powerful wave of arousal straight to her needy core.
Ivan lowered himself down beside her, their bodies fitting together as if they’d been molded specifically for each other. He leaned in close, the warmth of his whispered breaths sending a trail of goosebumps racing down her spine.
“Ivan…”
Whatever else she was going to say—and for the life of her, she couldn’t remember—became lost when he took her mouth in his. She parted her lips, inviting him inside.
Ivan wasted no time accepting the offer.
The longer they laid there, the more urgent his kisses became. Harder. Faster. More demanding as he explored her mouth with a hunger that matched her own.
The world outside seemed to fade away as they lost themselves in each other. Cera’s hands moved over his broad shoulders and down his sculpted back. She felt the hard strength of his body beneath her fingertips and his hardlengthagainst her lower belly.
Her body pressed against his in response, the deep rumble vibrating from his chest the very best kind of reward. She wanted to touch every part of this man, to take her time savoring every inch of his skin. And yet…
“Ivan…” Her lips moved against his as she begged him once more.
Picking up on the urgency of her tone, he began to take them further into their passionate abyss. His hands roamed lower, his fingers deftly sliding into the snug waistband of the leggings he’d been kind enough to provide.
Cera lifted her pelvis from the mattress, her hands going to her hips. She started to remove the stretchy pants herself to help out, but before she could, Ivan’s hand had slipped beneath both the waist of her leggings and the laced edge of her delicate new panties.
She hissed in a breath of anticipation. It had been a long,longtime since she’d felt a man’s touch. There’d been less than a handful in total, and none had ever made her feel the way Ivan did.
And we’ve only just begun.
Cera moaned when Ivan dipped his delectable fingers lower. Thankful she’d taken the time to shave this morning, she lifted her pelvis from the mattress, pressing her body against his hand in search of the release she so desperately needed.
With slow, deliberate motion, he teased her with his fingertips. She gasped, her thighs spreading wider on reflex. And then...
He froze.