Page 24 of Believe In Us

Once again he began to close the distance, before leaning away slightly.

I let out a sound of dismay, and he blinked. “Just tell me if you want to stop.”

“I don’t want you to stop.” There weren’t many things I was confident about, but this was one of them.

“Are you sure?”

When he hesitated again, my insecurity got louder in my thoughts. He must’ve seen it in my eyes, because he shook his head once, sharply, and lifted his hand to palm my cheek. “Don’t you have even a second of doubt about how much I want you, Chloe. Are we clear?”

I swallowed. “I think.”

“No. This is important. I want you. All of you. I want you to forget everything that’s making you sad tonight. Everyone who ever made you feel like you weren’t enough.” He rocked his hips slightly and I had to bite my lip against the sharp burst of pleasure that radiated outward. “Are we clear?” he asked again, and damn if his low, bossy tone didn’t turn me on while simultaneously making me want to push back against it.

I bit the corner of my lip. “We’re clear, Lincoln. Now, if you start to kiss me and then lean back again, we’re going to have a discussion about that.”

He chuckled, bringing his lips to mine, and my heart cracked wide open as I felt the vibration of his laughter against my mouth. He captured my own giggle in the beginning of our kiss, then leaned back just an inch, his lips still brushing mine.

“We’re going to have a discussion?” he teased.

“Kiss me,” I ordered.

Chapter Twelve

Lincoln

Gone

When I dove into the warm sweetness of Chloe’s mouth again, it was a good thing I had one hand braced on the counter, because just being here with her, kissing her, wanting her, feeling her, nearly brought me to my knees. Quite literally. She kissed with a sweet boldness that was like a spark to dry kindling making my pulse speed faster and faster, nudging me on to dive deeper.

I savored her taste, a little sweet, like cocoa. She smelled so good. I didn’t know what kind of soap she used, but it had a subtle, fresh, citrusy scent that I would forever associate with her.

Her curves were soft. Her robe had fallen open and I could feel the press of her nipples against my chest through both of our t-shirts. I wanted her naked and bare. I meant to take it slow, but hell, I couldn’t even think.

I meant what I said. This was not stupid. Chloe was everything that was good and sweet and beautiful, sexy and sensual. Fuck me. This woman brought me to my knees. I would do anything for her. I would hand my charred, blackened heart to her on a platter, because I knew she would take the very best care of it. And yet, all I wanted was to protect her. When I’d sensed her vulnerability and heard her crying when I walked into the kitchen, I would have slayed every single dragon that ever crossed her path. I would go into battle for her. I hated that someone had hurt her.

She arched against me, making that little sound in her throat. I could feel the heat of her arousal right where I was nestled at the apex of her thighs, and I was so fucking hard. Already close to release, and we were both fully clothed.

I broke away from her mouth, sucking in a deep breath. “We need to do something about these clothes.” My voice was rough and ragged.

“Excellent plan,” she said, her own voice breathy and raspy.

Before I could even make a move, she yanked at the hem of my t-shirt, shoving it up my chest, her hands mapping over the planes of it. “Well, well,” I teased, scrambling for some scrap of control. I gave in and helped her along by reaching behind my head and yanking the shirt up from the back of my neck, tossing it to the floor. I caught the hem of her t-shirt and paused. “May I?” I met her gaze, and she blinked with a nod.

Fuck me. I lifted her shirt up and she assisted by raising her arms. Her breasts were exposed and completely bare, and they were perfect. Of course they were, because Chloe was perfect. Round and plump, just a little more than a handful. Her nipples were drawn tight and deep pink. I didn’t even register where her shirt landed as I stared at her and whispered, “Oh, sweetheart.”

She slid an arm around my back, her palm pressing along the corded muscles of my spine as she pulled me closer. The feel of her breasts against my skin drew a growl rumbling in my throat.

“Fuck, Chloe.”

“Yes, please,” she said, her tone tart.

I chuckled, and the sound of her giggle was like another flash of that kindled fire blazing through me, driving all of this forward. My need for her sizzled like electricity through every cell, every one of them alive and firing.

Somewhere in there, I found a dash of sanity. “Okay, wait a second.”

I could feel her feet curled around my legs, her palm pressing on my spine.

“Wait?!” she yelped.