Chapter 36

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

He nudged the door closed with his foot, then carried her to the bed and lay her in the center of the mattress. He stroked one finger along her cheekbone. “I’ll never hurt you.”

“I know.” Her voice was barely more than a whisper, the faint trembling of her body belying her confident words.

Moonlight spilled in through the window, lending its dim glow to the room as he stretched out next to her. This thing had been building between them for the past couple of weeks, and tonight he was going to show her how it felt to be loved the way she deserved.

Propped on one elbow, he coasted his fingers down her arm from shoulder to wrist, then back up again. Across her collarbone, up her neck, his fingers blazed a trail over her skin, slowly acclimating her to his touch.

Goosebumps broke out over her skin as he coasted downward, his fingertips gliding over each rib, the dip of her waist, and across her hip. Inching her shirt up, he teased the silky skin of her stomach before slowly making his way up to her breast. A little shudder rocked her body and her head dropped back as he circled her nipple.

“If you want to stop, sweetheart, just tell me.”

She shook her head and opened her mouth to speak. Instead of words, a soft moan escaped. Dare bit back a smile. Smoothing his hand over her waist he grasped the hem of her oversized t-shirt, then pulled it upward.

He gently drew the material over her head and off, exposing her exquisite body. His gaze trailed over her torso, examining the indent of her waist where it flared out at her softly rounded hips, then up to the swells of her breasts. He leaned in and dropped a kiss on the arc of one. “Beautiful.”

She turned her face away in embarrassment. Cupping her face in one hand, he turned her back to him. Her bright blue gaze met his and held. He wanted her to understand that he meant every single word.

Dipping his head, he took her mouth again. Her lips were full and soft, and they parted slightly to let him in. He swept his tongue over hers, tasting the minty sweetness of her toothpaste and he delved deeper, the kiss nearly sweeping him away with its intensity.

Remembering his vow to take things slow, he gentled the kiss and trailed his lips over her jaw, down her throat, between the valley of her breasts. He resisted the urge to take a gorgeous peak in mouth and moved downward instead. He still needed to earn her trust.

He felt her flinch when he kissed the first bruise. He lifted his head and found her eyes clenched tightly closed, her hands curled into fists by her sides. He dropped another feather-light kiss on the next bruise, and her teeth cut into her bottom lip.

He continued the sensual assault, lightly tracing each rib with the tips of his fingers, his mouth following suit. He tenderly kissed every bruise, wishing he could take away her pain and free her from the tethers of the past.

He kissed his way across the flat plane of her stomach, her muscles contracting under the light touch. Her lungs hitched, and her muscles trembled as he ever so slowly worked his way upward.

From the corner of his eye, he watched her hands fist in the covers. He coasted toward her breast, and she sucked in a breath as he brushed the tip with his nose. Her hand closest to him released the comforter and reached for him. Almost immediately she slapped her hand back down, digging her fingers into the fabric.

Acutely aware of every tiny twitch of her body, he took her nipple in his mouth. Her hands clenched as she writhed beneath him, but she refused to let go. Because she was holding herself back? Or... because it was expected of her? He suspected the latter.

He kissed his way up her throat until his mouth hovered next to her ear. His breath stirred her hair when he spoke. “Touch me.”

She went utterly still, barely even breathing. Dare kissed the shell of her ear. “I want to feel your hands on me.”

She dragged in a sharp breath. By increments, her hands lifted, hovering over his skin before finally landing on his back. Her touch was light as she ghosted her fingertips over the broad muscles.

Dare dipped his head and kissed her throat. “Good girl.”

She grew bolder, her touch becoming increasingly firm as she skimmed over his shoulders and down his back, touching every part of his body that she could reach.

Her explorations drove him nearly mindless with need, and he quickly stripped both of them and rolled on a condom before settling over her.

Sliding one hand up her back, he cradled her head with his large palm. He pulled her closer, their bodies melded together from hip to chest, and slanted his mouth over hers.

Her legs parted wider, and Dare accepted the silent invitation. He slid deep inside her, eliciting a throaty moan from Ainsley. Her arms curled around his shoulders as she gave herself over to him.

Dare clamped down on his control as he took her slowly at first, then more rapidly as he lost himself to the sensation of her wrapped around him. Everything about her made him crazy.

He loved the feel of her next to him, their bodies entwined together. Nothing had ever felt more right.