Page 68

“I’m fine,” he promises, pressing a kiss to the top of my head.
He smells strongly of gunpowder and smoke along with the coppery hint of sweat—the intensely masculine scent I always associate with him. And I breathe him in, my heart pounding hard and steady as I listen to the healthy rhythm of his.
“Thank you for keeping your promise,” I murmur, tipping my chin up to meet his eyes.
“I’ll never break a promise to you if I can help it,” he assures me, combing a stray lock behind my ear.
Then he leans in to claim my lips, his mouth softly covering mine in a passionate kiss.
We stay like that for a long moment, wrapped in each other’s arms. And I feel bad for feeling so happy right now, in the midst of all this turmoil. But I’ve never been more grateful for the blessings in my life. And Lance is by far one of the best.
“I smell like battle,” he murmurs, wrinkling his nose.
“Is that what you call it?” I tease, lightly running my nose along his. “I don’t mind it so much. But I’d be more than happy to help clean you up.”
His groan of desire releases a smoldering heat in my belly, and suddenly, I can’t wait to take a shower.
“Come on,” I breathe, stepping back and taking his hand to guide him toward my room.
Once we’re safely behind closed doors, I help Lance strip his layers of clothes one by one. And while I’d like to savor just how beautiful he is, I also take the time to give him a thorough once-over. I know he said he was alright, but after everything that’s happened, I need to take the extra measure to put my mind at ease.
Finally satisfied that Lance is, in fact, all in one piece, I release him from my care as a nurse. And as he leans into the shower to turn the water on, I quickly strip my clothes to join him. I let him stand beneath the warmth taking a loofah and soap so I can help him scrub the day’s grime from his body.
And as I massage the suds over his rippling muscles, I take the time to enjoy every inch of him. Lance’s fingers pause in his hair, the shampoo running down his temples as his eyes sink closed. And I’d like to think he’s enjoying the attention as much as I enjoy giving it.
When he’s thoroughly scrubbed and rinsed, Lance pulls me into his arms, ushering me beneath the warm water. And as it sprays softly down on us, he leans down to kiss me tenderly. Today, there’s no rough desperation in his kiss. It’s all tender passion. And I wonder if that’s because he’s as grateful to have me safe in his arms as I am his.
Our tongues tangle in a slow, sensual dance, our breaths mingling as I slowly run my hands over his broad chest and muscular shoulders. His calloused fingers brush down my spine, raising tingling goose bumps despite the warmth of the water.
And the heat that blossomed for him in my infirmary comes swelling back to life in full force.
“Make love to me,” I murmur, my stomach quivering with the intimacy of those words.
“Always,” he rumbles, his hands sliding down my curves to grasp my thighs.
And he hoists me effortlessly up around his hips as he steps toward the shower wall.
The cool tile against my bare skin makes me gasp, and my nipples harden from the immediate chill. Then Lance’s chest is pressing against mine, his steady warmth seeping into my skin and chasing away the cold.
“I don’t have a condom,” he rasps.
“I don’t care.” I want him inside me so desperately, we can think about protection later. It’s worth the risk. Because life’s too short to pass up moments like this.
With an agonized groan, Lance concedes, guiding his swollen tip to my entrance.
I can feel how wet and ready I am for him already. And as he eases one silken inch inside of me, I nearly come undone with the sinful pleasure of having no barrier between us.
“Oh my God,” I moan, quivering with the need for him to fill me.
And as he presses into my aching core, it feels like I’ve died and gone to heaven.
“You feel so. Damn. Good,” he groans against my lips, and he kisses me with renewed zeal, his tongue stroking deep between my lips.
I whimper, clinging to him as I enjoy the ride. His thick length slides slowly in and out of me, taking his time so I can enjoy every glorious inch. And somehow, this feels even more erotic than when he’s pounding inside of me, possessing my body with his masculine strength.
This is so sweet and emotional, it’s sensual beyond reason. And it sets my skin on fire. The soft droplets of water that drumdown on us feel like gentle rain. And I imagine this is what it feels like to be in one of those romantic movies—where the hero and heroine reunite after years apart, only to get caught up in a storm.
Pleasure zings like crackling electricity up and down my spine. And every time Lance presses deep inside me, my hips find the shower wall with a dull thump. The sound of it is intensely erotic. And my pussy throbs, tightening around him as I climb rapidly toward my release.