Page 217 of When Love Takes Root

That woman had spent weeks learning how to receive love without running from it, and now she was on her knees, giving it back with her hands, her mouth, her eyes, and a confidence so sweetly dangerous my soul started looking for a safe place to sit down.

My foot flexed against the floor.

My hips lifted once before I forced them still.

She noticed.

Of course she did.

Her eyes darkened, and she did it again.

A rough groan tore out of me.

I looked down at her, breath ragged, vision blurred around the edges, and saw my Red glowing in the power of being wanted, trusted, and free.

“Come here,” I managed.

She gave me one last slow pull that made my whole body lock.

I caught her chin with a trembling hand and guided her up before she had me repenting to Big G and apologizing to the furniture.

“Come here, baby.”

She rose with a smile that said she knew exactly what she’d done.

I kissed her with all that heat still on her mouth, and when she moaned into me, the last bit of restraint I’d been holding slipped clean out of my hands.

“Bedroom.”

“No.” My brow lifted. She reached into my pocket and pulled out protection. “Here.” I stared. She smiled. “You said bring the truth.”

“Red, keep this up, and I’ll need a praise break and an ice bath.”

“Later.”

I stood with her in my arms. She wrapped her legs around my waist, laughing as I carried her down the hall. By the time we reached the bedroom, she had my shirt halfway off, hands everywhere like she was reclaiming lost time.

I set her on the bed.

She tore the packet open, hands trembling, eyes steady. She rolled it on slow enough to make me grip the headboard and breathe like I was training for ministry.

“You’re dangerous tonight.”

She looked up. “I trust you.”

That hit deeper than anything else.

Trust.

I moved over her, but she pressed her palm to my chest.

“On your back.”

I held her gaze.

Then I obeyed.

She climbed over me, took me in her hand. Had us both breathing hard. She lowered slowly, inch by inch, choosing it.