Page 87 of Perfect Assumption

Slowly, I put pressure against the back of his head until our lips meet. I don’t close my eyes. I want Ward to know that I see him, feel him, even as his lips graze against mine. A glimmer of alarm tries to rise inside of me, but I set it aside. I want to know what’s beyond the fear.

I know Ward’s the man who will safely lead me there. I trust him to take me there. I have no doubt in the rightness of this, of him.

And with that, our mouths collide.

I thought I knew what passion was in the few interludes I experienced before my life crashed down around me. Deep down, I somehow thought I understood. I knew nothing, not even from the times Ward swept my mind away with his kisses. His lips part mine. I eagerly meet the thrust of his tongue with mine, stroking and stoking the fire between us.

But it’s not just his tongue working magic on me. His fingers dance over mine. He lifts our joined hands, pulling them down between us so I can feel the turgid length of my nipple. So I cup the full weight of my own breast. So I don’t fear his touch because it’s part of my own. “Ward,” I moan. I’ve never felt so cherished.

He bends his knees slightly so our gazes lock as the back of his hand lays against my heart. I know he can feel the way it’s pounding out of control. His voice is rough when he asks, “Are you ready for more, Angel?”

The “Yes” is barely out of my mouth when his mouth crashes down on mine. This time, it’s his fingers plucking at my nipples without mine. He rolls them between his thumb and forefinger.

My body arches back. “I’ve never felt anything like this.”

“Tell me.” Ward tears his mouth from mine and drops it to the skin exposed by my sweater. His lips are like a brand. Every place he touches sets my skin aflame.

And he wants me to put this into words?

I decide to show him.

I reach up and push his coat off his shoulders. It falls with an almost silent swoosh to the floor. His head snaps up as I begin to tug at the button-down shirt he’s wearing. “I can’t put this into words.”

He hesitates before he unbuttons the top few buttons. Then, he reaches behind him and tugs the shirt over his head. The second it does, an intense arousal suffocates me. It’s so profound, I know I have to try to find the words.

“It’s like…” I shake my head as I try to gather my thoughts.

Ward’s arm bands low and tight around my hips, pulling me close to his hardness. I gasp. His eyes flare. “Does this scare you?”

“Yes. No. Not in the way you mean.”

His arm starts to loosen. Hastily, I explain, “I’m not frightened by you. But I’m scared of what you make me feel—this burning ache. I’ve never felt this way.” I drag in a breath while I hope he understands what I’m trying to say.

He closes his eyes, his chest moving up and down rapidly. His lips move silently. “What are you doing?” I whisper.

“Saying a prayer of thanks that someone thought I was worthy of this gift.” Ward’s eyes open, and the next thing I know, I’m being lifted and laid on our bed by the fire.

Taking both of my hands in one of his, he raises them above my head. Soon my sweater starts to edge up above my waist before it follows the same path. My bra is swiftly divested from my body. I lie unresistingly as Ward begins to drag his fingertips over my arms, worshiping every inch of skin visible to him.

But I can’t remain motionless when his seeking mouth drops to my nipple. I moan, frantically twisting beneath him—not out of fear but out of searing pleasure. My hand plunges into his thick dark hair, holding him to my breast. When he switches breasts, I spy the glistening wetness in the firelight.

I feel pride.

I feel passion

This is my choice.

I roll into Ward and tug his face up. Our eyes connect, saying a million words before his mouth comes down hard on mine. His big hands squeeze my breasts as I score my nails down his back.

I want him like I’ve never dreamed I could want.

His lips continue to tease and taste as his fingers slip to the band of my leggings. Edging in and out, the light touch makes me both comfortable and distinctly agitated before his thumbs hook in and slide my leggings inch by excruciating inch down my legs.

I squirm beneath him. His head snaps up to check on me, his features taut. I sit up and grab his face. “I’m okay.”

His face relaxes as he finishes smoothing the tight black material off me. His hand skims up my thigh on his way to lie next to me. “I want this to be everything you ever hoped for.”

“It already is,” I assure him.