Page 48 of Crash and Burn

And wasn't that an arousing thought?

His tongue prodded for entrance and I opened to him. We moaned into each other's mouths as our combined tastes filled our senses. His hand gripped my hair and tugged me closer, as if the slightest distance between our lips was unbearable.

Pinch yourself,came an unbidden thought.What if you're still sitting on the bed staring off into space like an idiot?

It wasn't unlikely. I'd had daydreams even more vivid than this one. What if none of this was really happening? The thought made me want to howl with grief.

"Ah!" I gasped out loud as Grant's teeth nipped at my bottom lip.

Yes, this was definitely real. And much better than a pinch.

He licked a line across my lip to soothe the wound, then drew it into his mouth to suckle on it lightly.

The heat that had pooled between my legs was now a raging inferno. Every nerve ending was on fire. Grant's legs tangled with mine, his knee settling between my thighs, hiking under my skirt to press against my throbbing core. The only thing separating us was my thin cotton panties and his dark denim jeans.

He moved to undo the first button on my blouse. My hand flew to his, stopping him without thinking.

"Wait," I panted.

He immediately backed off, even though an equally intense heat raged in his eyes.

"What is it?" he asked breathlessly.

"Are we—" I started, then tried again. "Are you—?"

His eyes turned soft, the fire cooling somewhat. He placed a soft kiss on my lips as his fingers combed through my hair.

"I'm sure if you're sure," he said.

"I'm absolutely sure," I replied.

"Then it's okay if I do this?" He popped the first button open.

My breath hitched.

"And this?" He popped the second one. The swell of my breasts was exposed, the tops of my lace bra just peeking through. "And this?" He ducked down to plant kisses between the valley of my breasts.

I let out a whimper.

"Tell me if this is okay?" he murmured, his hot breath washing over the damp patch on my skin left by his kisses.

"More than okay," I managed to say. I ran my hands under his t-shirt, enjoying the firm torso under my fingertips. I ran my nails down his chest and he let out a soft moan, the muscles under his skin twitching. So he was sensitive there. Good to know. I tugged at the hem of his shirt.

"Off," I demanded.

He chuckled and knelt up to pull the shirt over his head, tossing it to the floor. The sight of his naked chest while still wearing his jeans did something to my insides, my belly quivering and my core pulsing.

I reached out for him with grabby hands, pulling on his belt loops to bring him back to me. He obliged, returning his lips to my chest and continuing to unbutton my blouse until it, too, was on the floor. He deftly unclasped my bra, freeing my breasts to the cool air. He cupped them in his hands gently, brushing his thumbs over my sensitive nipples as he gazed down reverently, as if I were a masterpiece of artwork.

My cheeks flushed at the attention. No one had ever looked at me with such worship in their eyes before. I almost wanted to shy away, to cover myself, but this was Grant. Grant, the gorgeous, caring, and thoughtful man I'd known for years. The man I'd hidden a crush from for what seemed like forever.

I never wanted to hide anything from him ever again.

I wanted to show him every part of me, inside and out.

With trembling hands, I fumbled with his belt buckle. He placed a hand on mine, stilling it, and swiftly finished the job I'd been doing so poorly. He stood long enough to remove his jeans and I took the moment to shimmy out of my skirt and panties.

When I looked up, Grant was naked, looming over me, the light from the window streaming down onto his body, making him glow as if he were a god descended from heaven.