Page 60 of Craig

She started to say no, but stopped. “I see what you’re doing,” she whispered.

“What is that?”

“Making me see reason. His actions did not kill the love. It was still there.”

She shrugged. “Now it’s not.”

“It died a natural death.” He was stroking her back slowly, up, down, lulling her, soothing her.

“It did.”

“But you’re still hurting.” His tone was so understanding, so comforting, that she couldn’t help but draw even closer.

“Yes.” Her voice was a whisper.

It slid over his skin like silk.

And he just had to kiss her, to touch his mouth to hers, to taste, to try and take away the hurt and the pain. He wanted to do that for her, to ease the way for her so that she would never hurt again.

He wanted to protect her. The need to do so was fierce.

Regina sank into the kiss. All around them, nature had slowed down; the wind whistled quietly through the trees; the river rolled along gently, as if respecting their privacy.

Her hands came up to circle his neck, her body turning into his naturally. He felt her yielding and sighed softly, mouth brushing hers.

She wanted softness, and he was going to give it to her, as a reassurance that he was here, and that he was staying.

His hands drifted up to massage the back of her neck. His tongue teased her lips open and sipped quietly from her.

He was hungry, craving her with a violence he had to leash. Not yet.

Not yet. He could wait.

He could give her the time she needed.

When she moaned and stirred against him, he deepened the kiss just a little more, his tongue touching hers gently, slowly, tasting, savoring, teasing, until she was moaning, until she wanted more.

“Soon,” he whispered the promise as he took her for another dizzying spin that had her clutching his shoulders, then wrapping her hands around his neck.

When she started to demand, her body brushing his, he knew his time to be gentle, to be slow, was at an end. He wanted to speak words to her, to tell her how he felt, what he wanted from her, but now was not the time.

He told her with his body. The kiss became torrid, his hands moving down to grip her bottom, urging her against him, allowing her to feel how much he was craving her.

He swallowed her gasp, his mouth moving on hers with a hunger that was too intense.

Regina was lost. She wanted him, more than she had ever wanted anyone in her life.

She had felt it earlier, and the intensity had frightened her. Now she was embracing it, and she wanted more.

When his mouth left hers, she felt adrift, lost. But he was already kissing her cheek, sliding his lips across to her lobe, teasing it, using his tongue to explore her ear.

Her body felt light, weightless. Heat trembled and blossomed, making her want even more.

Her breasts were full and heavy, the nipples painful. She wanted his mouth on them.

As if sensing the need, he rolled her over and slid his hand under her top, touching her bare skin. A groan escaped him when he felt the smooth skin.

Lifting his head, he stared at her, eyes darkened, face flushed with passion. Without a word, she lifted a hand to touch his face.