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As I suspected, her lips are soft, the bottom one plump, the top one bearing the curve of her Cupid’s bow. I give her a long, gentle kiss, holding my lips there for about ten seconds before lifting my head.
“All right?” I murmur.
“Mmm.”
“Don’t forget to breathe.”
“Mmm.”
“Want me to stop?”
She shakes her head.
So I kiss her again.
This time, I start in the left corner of her mouth and press light butterfly kisses all the way across her lips to the other side. Slowly, enjoying every touch, every second of being so close to her. When I reach the right corner, I don’t stop; I continue up her cheek, then trace her cheekbone up to her temple. Next I kiss over her eyebrows to the space between her brows, and I touch my tongue there, just the tip, but I feel her inhale.
I carry on over her left eyebrow, kiss her temple, then nuzzle her hair, enjoying the fresh smell of her shampoo and the light scent of her perfume… I breathe in, inhaling lavender and pear and… mmm… a sweet aroma, like whipped cream… I exhale with a light groan, my breath whispering over her ear, and she shudders.
“Fraser…” she whispers.
I move her hair back so I can kiss behind her ear, trace my lips down to the lobe, and touch my tongue to it.
“Ohhh…” She sucks her bottom lip.
Smiling, I kiss her temple, then slowly back down her jaw to her mouth. When I reach it, I pause, my lips a fraction of aninch from hers. She releases her bottom lip, studying my mouth, her chest rising and falling quickly with her fast breaths.
“Want me to kiss you again?” I ask.
The summer breeze plays with her hair, and she says, “Yes, please,” her tone filled with longing.
“So polite,” I tease, sliding my hand into her hair. Then I tilt my head to the right and press my lips to hers.
I could kiss Hallie Woodford all day and all night. I give her soft, light kisses to start with, not wanting to alarm her. Part of me wondered whether she’s so damaged that she might be reluctant to react and just sit there stiffly—that I’d have to coax a kiss out of her. But she lifts both arms around my neck and melts against me, which fills me with such joy that I almost laugh out loud.
I give an appreciative murmur, wanting to let her know that I love her reaction, and she sighs in response and gives a tiny shudder again. Encouraged, I touch my tongue to her bottom lip, and in response she opens her mouth, allowing me to slide my tongue inside.
Wrapping my arms around her, I kiss her slowly and sensually, enjoying every moment of this intimate, magical sharing of ourselves. Hallie gives a soft moan, which stirs my blood, and I deepen the kiss, ready to back off if she seems alarmed at any point. Instead, she tightens her arms around my neck and returns every thrust of my tongue with one of her own. When I nibble her bottom lip, she does the same to me, eager, I think, to show me how much she’s enjoying it.
Aaahhh… fire spreads through me, and my hand tightens in her hair, pulling her hard against me as I delve my tongue into her mouth. I want to lift her into my arms, carry her into the bedroom, and remove her clothes as I cover every inch of her skin with more kisses. I want to bury my mouth between her legs and taste her, and make her come with my tongue and fingers.
Did Ian give her an orgasm every time he made love to her? I don’t think he can have, because how would he have been able to stop if he’d had Hallie lying beneath him, crying out his name, her body tightening with every pulse of her climax?
Wrapping her long hair around my hand, I pull it as I tear my lips from hers, forcing her to look up at me. Her eyes widen. I’ve kissed all her lipstick off, and her cheeks are flushed. Her breasts heave with her rapid breaths.
I release her abruptly and move back.
“That was a huge m-mistake,” I say harshly. “I shouldn’t have done that.”
I’ve opened Pandora’s Box. And now all my feelings and desires are spilling out, and there’s no way I’m ever going to be able to get everything back in.
Chapter Eight
Hallie
As he lowers his hands, Fraser’s eyes are blazing. He looks angry. Not with me, surely?
My heart is thundering like a train rattling along the tracks, and I have no way of stopping it. I’ve never been kissed like that. I think my head is going to explode. Or my heart. Or some other area that’s tingling and throbbing that I won’t put a name to.