Page 59 of Armed ’N’ Ready

Reluctantly she did, and was surprised at the seriousness on his face. “Those condoms have been collecting dust in my wallet for a long time. If it makes you feel any better, seeing that photo of you and Myer on the wall in the café every day made me want to smash it into a thousand pieces. Knowing your ex had it in his bedroom makes me crazy just thinking about it.”

“You always know what to say.” She lifted a finger to his stubbled jaw. “Don’t you?”

“I do have my moments. So, relax.” His voice had turned husky. “And let me love you.”

He nudged her thighs apart and guided himself inside her. She heard the growl of desire deep in her throat as she arched against him. Her nipples grazed his chest, tingling from the abrasion. It had been a long time since she’d had sex, and she dug her nails into his back as he stretched her tight walls.

She moaned at the delicious sensations as he rocked in and out. He cupped her face, kissing her while he hiked her leg higher over his buttocks. He drove deeper, sending her closer and closer to the edge.

“Baby, you’re so tight and wet. Like hot silk sliding all around me.”

“Don’t stop. Whatever you do, don’t stop.” She dug her fingers into his buttocks then dragged her nails up his back. Thick muscles rippled and bunched as he pumped faster.

Her breath came in short little gasps. Her inner muscles clenched again and again. When the orgasm hit, it was hard and fast, and she cried out. A feeling so intense and wonderful surrounded her that she wished the moment would never end.

He pushed inside her once more then groaned, letting his head fall back. She pressed her mouth to his neck, sucking at his hot skin, loving the salty taste of him. His body stilled, yet she felt the spurt of his semen against the protective condom.

Incredible. Mind-blowing. Earth-shattering. All words flitting through her head, and those she’d never used to describe making love with any other man. Not that there’d been that many, but none before Nick had ever left her body so sated. Her mind so at peace.

Her heart so frightfully open.

Another second passed, and he rolled to his side, taking her with him. They remained that way, with him still buried inside her. He kissed the top of her head, clasping her hand to his chest. Within minutes, his breathing evened out, and she realized he’d dozed off. No wonder, given that he’d been without sleep for nearly forty-eight hours.

Snuggling against him, she closed her eyes, but her mind was spinning. Moving carefully, so she didn’t wake Nick, she shifted to watch him sleep. He was out cold, and yet in his arms, she felt more protected than if there’d been an army battalion parked outside. She’d also experienced more fulfillment of her body and soul’s desires than at any other time in her life. The realization was overwhelming.

His words came back in a rush. Let me love you. She wasn’t foolish enough to be misled into thinking that had been a confession of love. She’d understood it for precisely what it was—a romanticized description of sex. It had been a sweet gesture on his part to ease her concerns that he slept around a lot.

She pressed her head to his chest, inhaling the remnants of his masculine aftershave and the musky scent of their lovemaking into her lungs.

There was no denying that she could easily fall for him. But would he ever feel the same? More specifically, could he ever feel that way about her? No matter what had just happened between them, there was something holding him in check—a barrier still in place. Whether it was the memory of his wife, or that she was still officially a suspect, or something else, she didn’t know.

Regardless, she was determined not to have any regrets. If this turned out to be a one-time thing with no strings attached, she would always remember this as a spectacularly beautiful moment during a time of chaos in her life.

Liar.

She took a deep breath, choking down the truth.

It would always be more. Much more.

Chapter Fourteen

Nick woke slowly, inhaling the smell of freesia. Earlier, when he’d woken to ditch the condom, Andi had been curled on her side, fast asleep.

Moonlight no longer bathed the bedroom in ethereal light, and the room was dark. He hadn’t meant to fall asleep, but after being up for two days straight and then having the most amazing sex with the woman he—

The woman I what?

He wasn’t sure how to answer his own question. He did know it hadn’t been just sex.

After getting over the numbness Tanya’s death had left in his heart, he’d had plenty of sex, but this was different. It went far beyond a casual hookup.

No matter how hard he’d been fighting it, he had to face facts. He might be falling for her, and it scared the hell out of him.

If the woman he loved died…if he couldn’t protect her…he’d never be able to handle it again. There was still a mission to complete, and he wouldn’t stop until it was done. But that didn’t keep him from wanting Andi or worrying for her safety every waking moment.

She probably hadn’t gotten much sleep, either, but the need to touch her again was overwhelming. Turning on his side, he reached for her. Her side of the bed was empty. And cold.

He bolted upright, searching the darkness.