Vale listened to each question and watched me carefully. His nose flared several times, making me wonder if he was scenting me, which was more than a little odd. He didn’t take his eyes off my lips as they moved, and he didn’t seem to care that I was pretty much cursing him out, which made me even more upset. If he told me I looked beautiful when I was angry, I would punch him!
Instead, he leaned forward and grasped my hands within his and opened his mouth to speak. Touching me was the last move he should have made. A zap of electricity flew between us, and I knew he felt it too when he gasped.
My attraction to him instantly magnified as though touching had been the catalyst to amp up my desire. In the next moment, I felt the rush of his emotions and knew he was barely containing himself, his need for me was so intense. His pupils dilated, only a sliver of the blue in his irises visible as his desire flowed over my body, making me shiver.
“Vale?” I whispered as I stared at his face. I didn’t understand what was happening, but I wasn’t sure I really cared.
He closed the distance between us and kissed me, nibbling, tasting and sucking at my lips. His tongue plunged into my mouth, and I opened up to him, seeking his sweetness and warmth, never wanting to part. God help me, if this was what a kiss did to me, what would happen if this went further? He moaned, and I drank in the sound, accepting him and responding with such passion I felt as though I’d explode. His hands tangled in my thick red locks, and he pulled me against his bare chest.
A teeny tiny voice inside me protested, and I couldn’t explain it, but I just
knew
if we made love it would mean so much more than sex. It would be an unspoken bond, a vow that meant neither of us could be apart from the other or with anyone else. Ever.
All of my doubts about Vale instantly disappeared the moment he kissed my lips. I’d not had time to properly shield myself, and my Sensitive abilities were on high alert. He was an open book to me; his intentions, his emotions and his heart were right there for me to read. Although it sounded naïve and ridiculous to think I could trust him, I was absolutely positive he would never betray me. Everything about kissing him, touching him and being close to him was just…
right
. I felt the heat radiating off of his body and his masculine scent was so damn provocative, I wanted to strip naked without a second thought. My arms wrapped around his neck as I pressed against his chest, needing to be as close to him as possible.
I’d never craved anything so much in my life, and that very thought snapped my mind from the situation. This had to be too good to be true. What if my abilities were incorrect? What if my emotions were manipulating my Senses? I wasn’t certain I could trust my magic because I’d been so “off” recently—I should have been able to detect that there was something different about him but I’d missed his inner-beast entirely.
“Vale,” I said between kisses. “Vale, wait,” I repeated. “I
can’t.
”
I sobbed as I shoved him away.
He looked a little hurt but willingly let me go. “What’s wrong?” he asked, confused.
I paced back and forth, unable to meet his eyes. Why had I stopped? Was I insane? I’d been making out with a man who was absolutely gorgeous, but it was going so fast. Too fast, and he still hadn’t answered my questions. It wasn’t as if I had a line of men waiting to be with me. I wasn’t like that, but maybe just once, I should say to hell with my conservative self.
“Eve, talk to me. Please,” he nearly begged as he watched me struggle with my emotions. It was obvious I was torn and I could sense he could tell the moment was pivotal. “Look, whatever you decide, I will completely support you.” He laughed. “Even if I have to take the coldest shower on the planet.”
It wasn’t until he stood in my path and I ran into his broad chest that he was able to tilt my chin up to look at him.
“It’s okay. This is new for both of us,” he soothed as he stared into my eyes. Hesitantly, wrapping his arms around my upper body, he held me then reached up and gently caressed my cheek with the back of his fingers.
Minutes passed, and neither of us said a word, simply enjoying each other’s touch. My hands ran up and down Vale’s back, and I couldn’t get over how right it felt for us to be this close. I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply. His skin was so warm, and he smelled so
good
. Why should I deny that I wanted him? Would it be so terrible if we had sex? He was obviously interested or he would have bolted from the room when I’d given him such an easy out only seconds ago.
Without really thinking about what I was doing, I turned my face against his chest and kissed his skin, nibbling and tasting as I moved to his left nipple. His chest was perfectly smooth, without a stitch of hair, and he was cut to perfection. My desire for him went off the charts when his breath caught and I knew he ached for me as much as I did for him.
A sound caught in his throat when my teeth grazed the skin of his chest.
“Eve,” he whispered as he put both hands on my face and eased my head from his chest so he could look at me. “Are you okay? I mean, honestly okay?”
At first, I worried I was being too forward then I realized he was truly concerned.
“I’m scared,” I said but didn’t pull away. I searched his face as I tried to read his emotions. I sensed his attraction to me, but there was something else, more complex, beneath the surface.
“Would it make you feel better to know I’m a little nervous myself?” he asked, almost bashfully.
I smiled. “Maybe.” Still inches from each other, I whispered, “I don’t just have sex with any good-looking man who passes through Bluff Springs, just to be clear.”
Only certain ones who work on the roof, right, Eve?
“I know, Eve Dubois,” he whispered back. “I know this is unusual for you.” He smiled warmly at me. “Just to be clear,” he parroted with a sweet smirk, “were-cougars don’t have casual sex either.”
Good God, was that ever the right thing to say! Even if it was a line, I wasn’t sure I cared.
It’s now or never, Eve.
Taking his hand in mine, I led him to the bedroom and eased him onto the bed until he was sitting. Feeling braver and definitely bolder than I’d ever been in my life, I stepped back to look at Vale. Though I could have used my abilities to sense his emotions, I wanted to watch him, to see his reactions. I felt safer now that I cheated a bit and used my abilities to confirm his attraction for me.
With a confidence normally foreign to me, I leisurely removed my pretty floral skirt, leaving my body covered only by my coral blouse, bra and panties. Vale’s face darkened with desire and his lips parted slightly, his tongue darting out to moisten his mouth.
Shakily, I removed my blouse, which sent my thick locks tumbling around my shoulders. I unhooked the clasp on the back of my bra then had a sudden burst of panic. What if he didn’t like what he saw? What if I turned him off when I fully revealed that I had more curves than most women? Maybe, he hadn’t really gotten a good look at me yet. I crossed one arm across my stomach and the other in front of my breasts, holding the bra in place.
Right on cue, Vale stood. “Don’t stop,” he whispered in my ear and kissed his way down my neck.
I shuddered in response, but I still trembled with fear, terrified he would run screaming from the room at any second.
He touched my shoulders. “Hey,” he said as he cupped my face in his hands, “you are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen, Eve Dubois. Don’t ever doubt that.”
He took my left hand and placed it on his chest. “You’ve already got me here.”
My eyes widened when he placed my hand on his heart, and I nearly cried at his words. I opened myself up once again so I could sense his emotions. He was being honest. This was the complex feeling I’d detected earlier but had been unable to identify, in part, because I couldn’t believe it was correct. How could he already cared for me so deeply? It was beyond my understanding, but there was no way he could possibly hide it from me or skew it in any way. His heart was an open book, as though he’d revealed it only for me and given it to me completely.
His eyes were nearly black, his arousal clear as he slowly placed my hand on his hardness. “Can’t you feel how much I desire you?”
I gasped when I touched the firmness of his erection. A fleeting thought of him only wanting to be with me for a quickie was chased out of my mind when he said, “Cougars don’t give themselves freely, Eve. I feel it in my bones, in my very being, we are supposed to be together. I knew that from the moment we met.”
“I knew it, too,” I admitted, realizing the notion didn’t sound quite as crazy as I’d first thought. I’d never been a believer in love at first sight, but with Vale, that was exactly what had happened, and it shocked me.
Vale kissed the top of my shoulder as my hands rested on his sides. Easing the straps of my bra off my shoulders, he guided them down my arms then removed the cups from my breasts and let the garment fall onto the floor. He looked at me unhurriedly, taking his time, drinking in the sight of my body.
“You’re perfect, Eve,” he murmured as he bent down to kiss my lips.
It began tenderly, a soft caress that quickly became more earnest the moment our bodies touched skin to skin. Vale crushed me against his chest, moaning into my mouth, making sure I heard how he much longed for me. He took control of the kiss, plunging his tongue into my mouth, caressing and tasting me, revealing the depth of his desire.
Moving away for a moment, Vale removed my panties then placed my hands on the button of his jeans while he fished a condom from his pocket. Returning his lips to mine, he helped to unbutton his pants and hurriedly kicked off the annoying barrier between us. Fully erect, he was thick and long, making me briefly wonder how I’d take all of him into my body. He was perfect and beautiful, and my mouth watered at the thought of tasting him.
Spinning around, we laughed as we fell onto the bed, and he took another moment to look at my body. His erection throbbed in time with the beat of his heart, practically begging him to hurry things along. Instead, he leisurely caressed my arms and legs.
“There is something about you that’s special beyond words.” He shook his head and cupped my face with his hand. “I know how ridiculous that sounds, but it’s how I feel.” Making sure to look me in the eye, he said earnestly, “I don’t want to screw you. I want to make love to you.”
I Sensed the sincerity of his words in his emotions and I could feel so much more. He cared for me absolutely, desired me with aching passion, and had we not met such a short time ago, I would have been certain he fiercely loved me. Surely, that wasn’t possible already. Was it? His touch, along with the sight of his gorgeously naked body, brought my mind back to reality.
Putting his knees between my legs, he caressed my left breast with his fingers, softly drawing invisible circles around my areola until the nipple hardened. He took the fleshy nub into his mouth and sucked, making me cry out in pleasure. Giving my right breast the same attention, he laved the flesh until I cried out once again.
I found Vale’s cock and squeezed his erection and stroked, making his entire body tense. He hissed and ground his teeth together as he hovered above my breasts, trying to regain control of himself. After taking a moment to slip on the condom, he positioned himself between my legs and paused. Covering my hand with his, he guided his erection to my opening and waited. Vale met my eyes as though asking if I wanted this, giving me one more chance to stop everything if I wanted.
To answer his unasked question, I pushed my body onto him. The crown of his cock slipped just inside of me. I gasped loudly, and he stopped immediately.
“Eve, I’m so sorry! Did I hurt you?” His face was a mask of worry and fear. I could tell he was almost ill with concern over my wellbeing.
I shook my head. “No, you feel incredible. Don’t stop,” I urged him.
He smiled with relief but was still extremely careful. Watching my face like a hawk tracking a mouse, he eased into me inch by inch, stretching me slowly. Though I had seen his erection only a moment before, I was still amazed by the sensation.
He filled me completely, and though I knew he wasn’t entirely seated inside of me, I shuddered at the feeling.
“Vale,” I breathed in pleasure when he finally bumped the end of me. He took my speaking his name as a warning, stopping once again to make sure I was okay.
“You’re not going to hurt me,” I assured him.
Shaking his head, he countered, “You don’t know that.” He looked away from me as though lost in a thought from another time.
I felt him start to soften while he was still inside of me which made me wonder what the hell had happened to him in the past. What horrible bitch had made him feel he was a bad lover? How dare she? If I ever met her, I’d make her wish she’d been much more kind to my cougar. That’s right,
my
cougar. The ferocity of the thought made me nearly snarl, but I had to hold it together. Make love now, revenge later.
“You’re so beautiful, Eve,” he murmured as he pushed into me once again but slightly faster.
Putting one of his hands on my breast, I said, “I can handle you, Vale. Whoever made you think so little of yourself doesn’t know shit. You’re gentle and sweet, kind and tender.” What I’d said or his hands on me worked, and I felt his cock regain its thickness. I squeezed my inner muscles, making his breath catch, and gave him a look with such heat, I hoped his head spun.
He looked surprised at my words, but clearly he was touched when he said, “You have no idea how much that means to me.”
He eased in and out of me again, and I encouraged him with every thrust, telling him how good he felt and how I wanted him. Within seconds, it was obvious by his breathing that he was struggling to keep from thrusting into me like a madman, but with impressive control, he continued his slow, gentle pace.
My inner muscles adapted to his size, and he felt absolutely incredible. I was so slick for him, I knew I could take whatever he gave, and I was completely turned on. How could I not be? How could any woman not want him?