Page 8 of The Fractured

“I think, maybe, it might help. Just throw caution to the wind, type of thing. Remind me of what I’m missing.” She offered me a faint smile and a raise of her shoulder.

“Should we have a safe word? In case it gets too much for you and you need to…” She slowly peeled the shirt off, and my train of thought went out the window. “…stop.”

In the cool air of the bedroom, her breasts peaked as she took a steadying breath beneath my gaze. The scars were there, but were nothing compared to everything else. Her shape, her soft, petite curves, and the way her chest rose and fell with every breath.

My blood rushed south. “Yep. Still desirable.”

She huffed a bashful laugh, blushing in the warm lamplight. Her smile alone caused my heart to hammer against my ribs.

“I think stop will be fine.” She loosened the braid in her hair until the silken, gold-brown waves hung just below her shoulders.

I raised a brow, slowly lifting my gaze from her body.

“Touch me, Dean.”

Goosebumps rose along the back of my neck at the gentle command. My hand drifted to and up her thigh as I rose to kiss her. Every inch of me burned to move faster, but I kept it steady for her, laying her back gently, my lips on hers. Not quite on top of her, I brought a hand to the side of her throat, where her pulse fluttered beneath my palm, and caressed her jaw with my thumb.

She tentatively curled her fingers into the back of my hair and welcomed me deeper, parting her lips and nudging her hips closer.

I guided my mouth to the other side of her throat, where her soft skin burned, and skimmed my hand down her body, just missing the scar. She arched into my hand until I reached her pants.

“Is this okay?” I asked against her skin.

When she didn’t respond right away, I pulled back to see her face.

Her gaze was heated, but her lips trembled slightly as she offered me the faintest of smiles. And then shook her head slightly, blinking as her eyes flicked down to where my hand was.

I brought it to her face, trying to meet her eyes again. “Slower?”

“I don’t know why I’m so nervous,” she said quietly. “My mind is all over the place.”

“We can stop.”

She watched me a little longer and then inhaled like she was trying to settle herself.

“We could cuddle?” I shrugged.

Lily laughed softly.

I smiled. “What?”

“I don’t know why hearing you say cuddle sounds so out of place.” Her eyes shone with amusement.

I traced my fingertips along her jaw to her chin. “Voglio tenerti tra le mie braccia, amore mio.”

As my thumb caressed her bottom lip, her lashes fluttered. “And what does that mean?”

“Do you trust me?”

“Of course.”

“Turn your back to me.”

She was a little confused but turned on her side, facing away from me.

“Now scoot back.”

It dawned on her what was happening, and she smiled broadly as she backed herself into me. I wrapped my arms around her. She wasn’t as hesitant this time and snuggled against me to get comfortable. Soft and warm with her head on my bicep.