Page 22 of Smut Lovers

Chapter Nine

Cal

L ike hell would he rush. He wanted to savor every second. When he ran down to the bodega and back he probably broke every existing icy land speed running record, but that was the last rushing he’d do tonight.

He worked his way up her body again, slowly unbuttoning her blouse from the bottom up and kissing every inch of flesh he bared. He loved the feel of her nails lightly raking across his skin as she urged him to do more, go faster.

Fuck, the reason he hadn’t shed his jeans yet was he worried he might explode when he did.

He lifted his head to stare into her eyes. “Don’t let me hurt you.”

Her smile glowed in the dim light. “I might hurt you if you don’t make me come soon.”

Laughing with her felt…easy. Right.

Perfect.

He hated that word because it was usually bullshit, but perfect described this, and her.

He caged her body with his arms and stared down into her eyes. “Think you can handle me full-time?”

She hooked her fingers through his belt loops and tried to grind up against him. “I think you have that the wrong way around. Doctor appointments, pain days—I’m the one who’s hard to live with.”

He shook his head. “You’re never hard to live with. Anyone who’s ever said that about you is a moron.”

She reached up and palmed his cheek. “I want to give this a chance, but I don’t want you to feel obliga—”

He kissed her, silencing her except for soft, gentle moans. Her hand slipped around his head, gripping him by the hair but she wasn’t trying to pull him off her.

He’d kiss her until every other thought fled, until all she was left with was the knowledge that he wanted her.

Loved her.

Hell. I love her.

He broke their kiss and before he could stop himself he blurted out, “I love you, Vi. I mean it.”

She froze long enough that he wondered if he’d fucked up.

“I love you, too,” she whispered, restarting his heart. “And that terrifies me.”

“Why?”

“Because I don’t want to screw this up.”

“Then we won’t screw it up.” He traced her lips with the tip of his tongue and hers flicked out to tease him. “I’m moving you in here with me, and I’m going to treat you like a princess, the way you deserve.”

She nodded. “How will I ever get my exercise from climbing fewer stairs?”

He grinned. “I have a bunch of ideas. At least on how to get your cardio in.” This time he crushed his lips over hers. She wrapped both arms around his neck and her legs around his waist.

He sat up, bringing her with him, holding her without breaking their kiss. Reaching up under the back of her shirt, he found her bra clasp and quickly unfastened it so he could cup his hands around her breasts and gently knead them.

She ground against him and thankfully she wasn’t rubbing against his cock in this position or he would have exploded by now. Still without breaking their kiss he worked her shirt and bra off her, splaying his hands against her back once she was down to only her panties.