She moaned in response.
No games, no putting on a show. I loved her genuineness. I’d never known a woman like her.
I buried my nose in the crook of her neck and inhaled deeply. So good. The exotic coconut scent of her hair, my toothpaste on her breath, and the scent of our arousal in the air was an intoxicating blend.
I slid my hands to her upper arms and pushed her back just enough so I could see her beautiful face, her lower body still plastered to mine.
“So beautiful. I like you in my shirt, no makeup, hair pulled up. You look like sexy nights and lazy mornings in bed. I can’t wait to wake up with you in my arms.” I ran my fingers over her jaw as I talked. I couldn’t not touch her.
“I can’t wait to sleep with you.” Her cheeks turned pink. “Um, I mean, to sleep next to you. Not, uh, you know.”
“I know what you meant, baby. I can’t wait to sleep with you in my arms tonight. I can’t wait to do more with you too, but not today. When you’re ready.”
Fuck. She jerked like it was a physical blow.
“Baby.” I rocked my hips against her. “Do you feel how hard I am for you? You have no idea how much self-control it’s going to take to not let us go further tonight. I want you.”
I saw the hope flare in her eyes.
I repeated the words, seeking confirmation that it’s what she needed to hear.
“Juls, I want you so bad. I want to touch and taste every inch of you. I want to be inside you so deeply that our bodies meld into one.”
Yes, those were the right words. She melted into me, and with her head against my chest, she mewled the sweetest, sexiest sound. I hated that I’d caused her to doubt my feelings for her. Or, probably more accurately, to doubt herself.
“Be right back.” I left her sitting on the edge of my bed while I ran to the bathroom to get ready myself. I hurried back to find her sitting right where I’d left her. I pushed the blanket to the side and climbed into bed, pulling Juliette with me until we were lying down. I shifted her so we were on our sides, her back against my front, and I pulled her close and wrapped my arms around her, one hand on her hip, the other just under her breast. I could feel the weight of it on my fingers. I was itching to move my fingers the tiny bit needed to feel more of her, but I resisted. For now. She held tight to my forearm, holding me to her as she wiggled, fitting herself even closer to me. I freed one hand, pulled the blanket back over us, then resumed our position.
We were cocooned under the blanket, every inch of our bodies touching, head to toe. I’d never felt simultaneously so electrified and so at peace.
“I hope you’re comfortable, baby, because I’m never moving.”
She squeezed my arm and purred.
My girl was content in my bed. Thank fuck. I felt like I’d been walking a tightrope with her. After the extreme highs and lows of the day we met, I knew how important it was to find her comfort zone. But it jumped around like a bunny on speed. Just when I thought I was starting to figure her out, she was all over the place, on fire with passion one moment and fighting back tears the next. Sexiest thing I’d ever seen when she came on me. I almost exploded in my pants like a teenager. Seconds later,though, the doubt and embarrassment in her eyes had gutted me. I hated to see her like that at all, but after being intimate with me? It was unacceptable.
I wouldn’t have sex with her until I figured it out. I wouldn’t risk hurting her, and without knowing her triggers, I’d be helpless to avoid them. The thought of her associating intimacy with me with embarrassment or fear or sadness was deplorable. She was so nervous that her speech was affected every time we talked about sex. But anytime I tried to reassure her we’d move slowly, she’d looked so dejected.
Her vulnerability cried out to every protective instinct in me, and the way she battled through that vulnerability with her passion and strength was irresistible. Juliette was a mystery I couldn’t wait to solve.
Juliette stirred in my arms. I buried my face in her hair and inhaled deeply, clearing my mind and relaxing my body, molding myself against her curves. I’d figure it all out. I just wanted to enjoy our first night together. With that thought in my mind and Juliette warm in my embrace, I drifted off to sleep.
The first thingI was aware of, before I even opened my eyes, was that Juliette’s hair was everywhere, tickling my chest and teasing every single one of my senses. I loved the feeling of her in my arms, but I also couldn’t wait for her to sit up so I could see her wild curls. She’d probably immediately pull her hair back into a bun, and that made her wild morning curls a new craving of mine. Another little piece of her mystery, a glimpse of her true self just for me.
Juliette had turned during the night so that we were now face to face, her arm and leg thrown over me. She snuggled in closer, her arms tightening around me as she slowly woke up. When she was fully aware, would she stay here, or would she pull away?I kissed her gently on her forehead and on her closed eyelids, trying to entice her to stay exactly where she was.
“Good morning, baby,” I whispered into the side of her neck, just below her ear.
“Mmm,” she hummed back, stretching.
“So beautiful,” I said, running my hand over her hair and down her back. “This is my new favorite way to wake up.” I ran my hand down her back again, continuing until my pinky grazed the curve of her ass. She arched, pressing herself into me.
“Dylan,” she gasped. Yeah, there was no hiding my morning wood. Could I still call it morning wood when I was hard all night?
“That’s what you do to me, baby. I loved sleeping with you in my arms.”
“I loved it, too. I slept so well last night.”
Juliette wiggled to free her hands, and seconds later I felt her warm touch. The boxers I was wearing provided a wonderfully inadequate barrier. My heart beat heavy in my chest as my eyes sprang up to meet hers. My dick sprang up trying to meet her as well. She giggled as my dick jumped against her hand.