"I'm sorry, I don't know..."
"Don't apologize." He caught her face, kissed her hard and deep. "Never apologize for touching me. I just..." He broke off with a rough laugh. "I'm trying very hard to go slow and you're making it impossible."
"I don't need you to go slow."
"Yes, you do." His eyes held hers, intense and certain. "Trust me on this."
He lifted her then, easily, like she weighed nothing, and she gasped, wrapping her arms around his neck instinctively.
He carried her the few steps to the bed, laying her down with a care that contrasted the hunger in his eyes. The cool sheets against her heated skin made her shiver.
He followed her down, covering her body with his, and the weight of him pressed her into the mattress. The heat of his bare chest against her bare skin.
She moaned at the overwhelming sensation of it.
"Okay?" He pulled back to look at her, concern flickering through the desire.
"Yes. I'm okay. It's just... it's a lot."
"I know." He pressed a kiss to her forehead. Her temple. The corner of her mouth. "We'll take it slow. I promise."
His lips traced down her neck. Her collarbone. The valley between her breasts. Lower.
Her hands found his hair, fingers sliding through it, not knowing what else to do with them, needing something to hold onto as sensation overwhelmed her senses.
"That's good," he murmured against her skin. "Touch me. However you want."
His hands explored her, the dip of her waist, the curve of her hip, the length of her thigh. Learning the shape of her through touch.
When his fingers found the waistband of her pajama pants, he paused. Looked up at her.
"Can I take these off?"
She hesitated. This was it. The last barrier. Once these came off, there would be nothing between them.
"Divya?" His voice was gentle. "We don't have to do anything you're not ready for."
"I'm ready." And she was. Scared, yes. But ready. "I want this. I want you."
"You're sure?"
"I'm sure."
He slid the fabric down slowly, watching her face the entire time, giving her every opportunity to change her mind.
The pajamas joined the pile.
And then there was nothing between them except his trousers.
His gaze traveled over her, reverent, hungry, possessive, and she fought the urge to cover herself.
"Don't hide from me," he said softly, catching her hands when they moved to cover herself. "Don't ever hide from me. You're beautiful, Divya. Every part of you."
He kissed her then, deep and consuming, and his hands began their exploration again. Every curve. Every dip. Every inch of newly bared skin.
She trembled beneath his touch, overwhelmed by sensation, by the intimacy of it, by the vulnerability of being completely exposed.
"You're shivering," he said against her mouth.