Page 75 of Before Eve

I grab at his sweater—to take it off, to hold on—I’m not sure, but he lifts up and asks, “Do you want me to take it off?”

CHAPTER 36

“Yes,”I admit without hesitation. Yes, I want him to take it off.

With one hand, he grabs it between his shoulders and slips it forward over his head. He tosses it to the side and stays kneeling above me. “Touch me,” he invites.

Propping up on one elbow, I tentatively place my fingers on his lightly hairy chest. His muscles twitch in response.

I trail my fingers across his pecs, down over his warm, ridged abs, around his navel, back up and over to trail the tattoo on his arm. West comes toward me to settle between my thighs. This time our kiss is slower, more sensual, and seems to last forever.

His hand travels down my leg, squeezing at intervals, and I’m reminded of when he did that on the beach. I pull my inner thighs in, and he presses hard, shooting vibrations through me. Driven by instinct, I dig my fingers into his hips and pull him closer.

He tears his lips from mine and slides down to push my shirt up. He nibbles a hot trail up one side of my stomach and down the other. His fingers dip into the gap of my jeans, and he traces the waistband of my underwear.

I’m insanely aware of my heavy, shaky breaths.

He unsnaps my jeans…

There’s nothing special about you.

He unzips them…

You look like a slut.

He traces his finger around my belly button…

Go away!I tell Grayson’s voice.

I focus on West. Just West. But now that the other stuff is in my brain, I can’t redirect my thoughts. Breathe, Eve, breathe.

But…West isn’t doing anything. Why isn’t he doing anything?

“Eve?”

I open my eyes. He’s got his chin propped on my stomach, looking at me. “Are you okay?”

“Yes.” I clear my throat. “Why?”

“Because you looked like you were in pain, and you stopped breathing.”

“Oh.”

Outside the hotel, the sound of an ambulance pierces the air.

“Did I do something wrong?” he asks.

“No, it’s not you.” A sigh pushes out of me. “I’m sorry.” I can’t believe I just freaked on him. Again!

He crawls up beside me and rolls to his back to stare at the ceiling.

“I’m sor—”

“You know I’d never make you do anything you don’t want to do, right?”

“Yes.”

Silence stretches as he works things through in his brain. I wish I knew what he was thinking. He reaches out then to take my hand and gives me a little tug until we’re rolled and spooned together.