Page 237 of Duty and Desire

He was here because of me. What did you do with a man who always put you first? It was honestly kind of a new experience.

Slowly, I stepped forward. One step, two, three, until we were almost touching. He smelled good. Cologne and heat and him. I could have gotten high off the smell. “Can I kiss you?”

“Sweetness, you can do whatever you want with me.”

Good enough for me. I raised up on tippy toes and he leaned down and we met in the middle. My hands fisted in his shirt as his mouth met mine. Warm, firm lips. Very nice. At first, I was hesitant. Or I guess we both were. The kiss was soft, exploratory. His breath against my mouth and his lips pressing against mine over and over. It was a sweet, chaste, and pure kind of thing and I could have done it with him for days. Though, to be honest, there were also better things we could have been doing. So I was the dirty girl who had to bring tongue into it. His lips automatically opened and oh yes. I moaned and his hands clasped my waist, holding me close. Like I’d been trying to escape. Get real.

Our tongues entwined and his fingers dug into my back, then my butt. Also, something was definitely making its presence feltagainst my hip. And it was a sizeable appendage by the feel of things. Or at least one very intent on getting my attention.

“Sorry,” he muttered, eyes hazy with lust. “Adrenaline from the fight.”

I drew back from him another inch or two, catching my breath, trying to still my dizzy head. That kind of thing. Except when I looked down between us at the lump in his pants, my excitement levels skyrocketed all over again. If I didn’t get to see it, I would not go to bed happy. So that decided that.

“We don’t have to go any further than you’re comfortable with,” he said, licking his lips. “I’m still okay with sleeping on that chair. Or I can leave if you want some space.”

“I don’t think I need space right now and I definitely don’t want you sleeping in the chair. You got hurt today.”

His smile was all sorts of soft and gentle. “I’m fine. You don’t need to worry about that. You just kissed me all better.”

“Hmm. That’s sweet. But you’re missing the point. The thing is, if we’re going to be sharing a bed, I’m pretty certain things are going to happen.”

“After that kiss, you’re probably right.”

“So do you have a condom?”

He swallowed. “Yes.”

“Next question. Are you the kind of guy who judges girls for wanting to have sex on the first date? Not that we’ve even actually been on a date yet. But you get my meaning.”

“Fuck no. I try not to be a hypocritical douchebag whenever possible.”

“Good answer. Follow me.”

I turned and headed down the hallway. First off came my old tee. Next went my oh so glamorous sweatpants. Handy thing about having your own lingerie line, you tend to have a lot of nice underwear. Tonight’s set was black hipster panties and a matching bra with delicate embroidery and lace cups. By themuttered profanity behind me, he liked them a lot. There was much to be said for boldness. Screw my foibles and insecurities. Ziggy wanted me and I wanted him and then some. Time to enjoy the moment and worry about the rest later.

I looked back over my shoulder at the bedroom door. My man was busy hopping along, pulling off a sneaker and sock. The other sneaker and sock were already littering the hallway. Sometimes it was fun to make a mess. Then he tore his T-shirt off over his head, exposing his gorgeous body to me. All of that skin I wanted to touch and taste. My fingers itched, my mouth started to water. If it weren’t for the bandage, so white against his tanned skin, everything would have been perfect.

“Don’t worry about it.” He cupped my face, gently kissing my lips. “I’m fine and I’m feeling better by the moment. Must have been that Chanel scarf of yours.”

I smiled. “Are you mocking my designer accessories?”

“Never.”

My hand slipped behind his neck, bringing his mouth back to mine. We kissed deep and hard and wet for a good long time. Who even needed oxygen or coherent thoughts? So overrated. His lips travelled over my jaw and down my neck, seeking out all of my sensitive spots. Some tickled. Some turned me on. All of it was good. Only when he gripped my waist and went to lift me did I crash back to Earth.

“Ziggy, no,” I said in a rush. “You’ll bust your stitches.”

He growled and rested his forehead against mine. “Sweetness, not to be crass or anything, but I’d dearly love to fuck you against this door.”

“That’s a nice idea. But neither of us wants to spend the night back in emergency.”

“True,” he grumped. “But I would like your legs wrapped around me. Mind if we head for the bed?”

“Actually, I’ve got a better and slightly safer idea that still involves the nice soft bed.” I tore open the top button of his jeans, lowered the zipper. Nice and careful-like I inched his jeans down over his hips and ass. “What if you lie down on your back and I climb on top of you? That way you won’t be holding yourself up or anything and there won’t be any pressure on your wound.”

“Okay.” He sighed. “I’m sorry this isn’t more spontaneous and wild.”

“Eh. We can do crazy monkey sex another time when you’re not hurt.”