Thorn's Challenge - Brenda Jackson [61]
He had never been the first with a woman before, and in the past that fact hadn’t mattered. But with Tara it did matter. She didn’t know it yet, but she was the woman he planned to marry. The woman who would have his children. The woman who would always be there for him. The woman he planned to grow old with and love until the last breath was exhaled from his body.
Moments later he was deeply embedded inside her as far as it was humanly possible for him to go. It was tight, a snug fit, and the thought that he was joined to her this way sent a shudder racing up his spine. For a long moment he didn’t move; he just wanted to savor their joining. Their union. Neither of them spoke, but each recognized this as a very profound and meaningful moment.
“You okay?” he whispered just seconds before dipping his head and kissing her gently on the lips.
She nodded. “Yeah, what about you?”
He smiled. “I’m fine. I wish I could stay locked to you, stay inside you, forever.” He removed his hands from her hips, clasped their hands together and whispered. “Now, I take things slow.”
And he did.
With slow, gentle precision, he began withdrawing then reentering her body, over and over again, thrusting gently, firmly, deeply, establishing a rhythm that she immediately followed.
Tara closed her eyes, savoring their lovemaking, wanting Thorn never to stop what he was doing to her, how he was making her feel. Every time he reentered her, the sensations were heightened and shivers of pleasure raced all through her.
Overwhelmed, feeling herself losing control, she reached up and brought his mouth to hers when she felt him increase their rhythm in a beat so timeless it intensified the passion between them. Explosive, flashing heat surrounded them, making her dig her fingertips into his shoulders and whisper his name over and over, revelling in the feel of flesh against flesh.
And then Tara felt herself go. Her body shook beneath the force of his firm hips locking her body to his as sensations poured through her.
“Look at me, baby.”
She opened her eyes and did as Thorn requested. She met his gaze when she felt her body come apart and watched as his own body stiffened while waves of pleasure washed through him. He increased the pace of their rhythm and whispered, “mine,” at the exact moment he threw his head back and spilled inside her, his release flooding her insides.
“Thorn!”
Her body responded yet again as another climax tore into her, this one more volatile, eruptive and explosive than all others, triggering him into another orgasm as well. He tightened his hold on her as his body devoured her, mated with hers, and loved her.
In Tara’s mind and heart this was more than sex. It was the most beautiful and profound joining, and she knew in her heart that for the rest of her life she would love Thorn Westmoreland.
Eleven
H is woman was asleep.
After they had made love twice, he had cuddled her into his arms and watched as her eyes had drifted closed. And he had been watching her since.
She was lying facing him, her front to his, her face just a breath away from his. She was a silent sleeper, barely making a sound as she inhaled and exhaled.
Damn, she looked and smelled good.
His arousal stirred and the need to have her again sent tremors through his body. This would be the third time, but he couldn’t ride her hard the way he had planned. She was sore, and he knew that only a selfish person would put her through a vigorous round of lovemaking after what they’d just shared.
He would go slow and gentle. Reaching out, he slid his hand up and down her body, his caresses lingering on her breasts, the curves of her waist before moving lower to her belly. He pushed aside the sheet that covered her, and, moving his hand even lower, he gently touched her feminine folds, inhaling the sensuous scent, a combination of sex and Tara.
His heartbeat raced, knowing that this part of her, whether she realized it or not, was now his, lock, stock and