“Please touch me,” she whispers, and I’m done holding back.
My hands cup her face before sliding down to her shoulders and collarbone until finally reaching the soft swell of her breasts. She sighs when my thumbs brush over her nipples, and I lower my head to replace my fingers with my mouth.
She arches into me, a soft moan escaping her lips as I circle one nipple with my tongue, then the other. Her hands grip my shoulders, nails digging in just enough to drive me crazy.
I guide her backward until her legs hit the bed, my hands working at the button of her jeans. She shivers beneath my touch as I begin to tug the denim down her hips.
Her hands thread through my hair, tugging gently. “Rowan, wait.”
I freeze immediately. “What’s wrong?”
She shakes her head. “Nothing. But we do need to talk later, okay? I don’t want to stop this, but I also don’t want to forget that the last few weeks haven’t been easy.”
“I know,” I admit. “Five weeks was too long.”
She exhales, her relief visible. My lips find hers, and she answers me without hesitation, hands still tangled in my hair as she falls onto the mattress, pulling me with her.
I move to tug her jeans down the rest of the way, watching her eyes as I do. She lifts her hips to help me, the fabric sliding along her thighs until I can pull them free completely. Her panties match her bra—that same pale blue lace that’s been driving me mad since I first caught a glimpse.
My hands trail up her legs slowly. She shivers beneath the touch, and it goes straight through me.
I dip my head, pressing a kiss just above her knee. Then another, but higher this time. Her fingers tighten in my hair as I work my way up, my mouth brushing over warm skin, savoring the way her breathing changes with every inch I take.
When I reach the edge of that pale blue lace, I breathe her in and press my lips to the damp fabric between her thighs. She squirms, hips bucking. I smile, tracing one finger along the elastic edge. A shaky exhale comes from above me before she moans my name.
Fucking hell. Violet Larkin moaning my name will never get old. I finally hook my fingers beneath the delicate waistband, dragging them down with agonizing slowness and appreciating every inch of skin revealed.
“You’re staring,” she whispers, a flush creeping up her neck.
“Damn right I am.”
Once she’s completely bare, I take a step back to drink her in. She’s spread out on the bed in front of me, all soft curves and smooth skin, her blonde hair fanned out like she’s some kind of angel.
“I swear to god, Violet…” My voice comes out in a rasp as I unbuckle my belt. “You have no idea how many times I’ve thought about you, spread out for me like this.”
The sound of leather sliding through denim loops fills the silence between us. I pop the button on my jeans and lower the zipper, pushing them down my hips along with my boxers in one fluid motion.
When I straighten, I notice her body tensing. “You okay?”
She nods quickly. “Yes. Just…nervous.”
“We can go slow. We’ve got all night.”
She swallows hard, her gaze flickering between my face and my body. “I just…” Her voice catches, and she looks away. “I’ve never actually done this before.”
“Never?” The word barely makes it past my suddenly dry throat.
She shakes her head, her fingers twisting nervously in the sheets.
This doesn’t change how badly I ache to be inside her, but…damn it. She’s a virgin. I’m about to take something I can’t give back.
This isViolet, and she’s here. Naked. Willing. Trustingmewith her first time.
My chest tightens with guilt, and my stomach drops all at once.Fuck. The first time she’s ever given herself to someone, and it’s me.
Me.
I’m not gentle enough. I’m not patient enough. What if I hurt her? What if she regrets it?