Page 61 of Her Devoted HERO

His head went quiet. The world stopped spinning. “Why do you wear Navy T-shirts to bed?”

“My dad was in the Navy. He wore dress whites when he married my mom. I wear Navy T-shirts to bed.”

“Is that why you responded to my e-mail? The dress whites?”

“That, and you’re a big brother to a boy who needs you and your eyes. You have beautiful eyes. I thought maybe you could be someone I could trust with a piece of my heart.”

“Ahhh God, you kill me.” He pressed a kiss against her temple, then feathered his lips down the line of her jaw until he could capture her lips. So good, she tasted so good. He laid her down on the duvet, strands of strawberry blonde hair fanned across the blue pillows. Her hazel eyes looked mostly gray as they stared up at him.

“What are you thinking?” he asked.

“I want this,” she whispered.

“I’m glad.” Her fingers went to the buttons on her blouse, he brushed them away. “I want to undress you. I’ve dreamt of taking it slow, savoring every moment.”

Her voice was hushed. “Really?”

“Truly,” he whispered the word against her lips. His fingers slowly slipped first one, then another and then another button from their holes until he was able to part her shirt and look at the sensible white bra that encased her generous breasts.

It broke his heart when he saw her waiting for his judgement like there was a possibility that he would find her lacking. “Lady, you take my breath away.”

A smile, like the sun cresting the ocean at dawn, broke over her face. He dipped down for another kiss and was soon lost. The woman was as potent as Kentucky bourbon. He felt her hands under his T-shirt, her nails scraping up his back, and the caress was going to make this moment go a whole lot faster than he wanted.

“Off,” she whispered.

“What?”

“Your shirt off. Now!” Her nails bit deep, and he liked it. He pulled it over his head and was gratified when he heard her sigh of satisfaction.

“Now you.” He eased her up, so he could pull off her blouse and unfasten her bra. Thank God, he was lying down. Otherwise, she’d bring him to his knees.

“Fuck. You’re gorgeous,” he rasped.

She stilled. Her eyes got wide. Then she threw back her head and laughed.

***

“Woman, there better be a damn good reason you’re laughing.”

Kenna wound her arms around his neck and tried to pull him down for a kiss. He was having none of it. “You really think I’m beautiful,” she said grinning.

“No. Get it right, I think you’re beyond beautiful. I said you’re gorgeous.”

She laughed harder. “Now kiss me.”

He looked put out. She grabbed his ears and pulled. His lips met her smile, and it was a glorious, beautiful, gorgeous kiss. It was the best kiss of her entire life. Each one of his kisses just kept getting better. She felt his hands move up her ribcage, up and up, then he was cupping her breasts. She closed her eyes even tighter so she could relish the sensation. Tendrils of heat coiled outwards, her legs started moving of their own volition. Her thighs squeezing together, trying to assuage the fire that Dex had started.

She didn’t know when her hands had moved, but once again she felt the strength of Dex’s strong back under fingers. She pressed deep into his flesh, savoring the resiliency of his muscles. Dex moved his mouth, she felt the rasp of his beard against her cheek, then he moved lower, and...

Gods, Yes!

His tongue circled her nipple. Hot, wet, sublime.

“Dex,” she gasped. “I need...I need.”

His eyes shot up and caught hers. “I have you. I’ll take care of you. Always.”

He bent back to taste her and she couldn’t think, she could only feel. His flesh against hers, his arms beneath her back, she was wrapped up in the heat and scent of Dex, and she gloried in it.