Page 69

“You know, it’s not nice to laugh at someone who’s suffering.”

“What are you talking about? I’m the one who’s suffering,” she said as she looked up at him. “Here I was minding my own business, just making a mug of chocolate sludge, and you come in half naked. I’d say I’m the one who has the right to protest.”

Brax liked the way her sass came out in a husky tone. Yep, she was just as caught up in the molten moment as he was.

“Be quiet and drink your chocolate sludge,” he whispered.

She took a sip of her hot chocolate and let out a satisfied sigh that had his cock twitching with excitement. For fuck’s sake, he was thirty-two years old, why in the hell couldn’t he get his body under control?

Jenny continued to sip, and he continued to twitch. At least she wasn’t rubbing her face against his chest anymore. But then she moved. He knew it was just to get more comfortable because of her ribs, but it put her hip right against his thigh. Her hip that wasn’t covered by the blanket. He could see her silky-smooth skin and it was killing him. He took another sip of bourbon. Why hadn’t he poured himself a bigger drink?

“What are you drinking?”

“Bourbon.”

“Oh. I think I like that. Can I try?”

Brax held out his left hand to take her mug, then handed her his glass of bourbon. He watched as she took a small sip. She wrinkled her nose as she held the alcohol in her mouth, then swallowed.

Once again, she gave him a satisfied sigh. “I like the burn.”

That was it. He was done. Brax snatched the glass from her and slammed that and the mug on the coffee table, then turned to her. “Second gear. Tonight, we’re going for second gear. Tell me if I do anything that hurts your ribs.”

She gave him a radiant smile. “You could never hurt me.” She reached out for him and the blanket slipped to the floor. Brax hauled her up into his lap. Her cute ponytail had to go. He slipped off the hair scrunchie, then he carefully splayed the fingers of one hand through the silky strands as he moved her head so that her mouth was at the perfect angle for the perfect kiss.

Dipping his head, he pressed his lips against her barely parted lips. Brax took his time, sipping, stroking, and coaxing her lips to part for him. Enticing her to play was part of the fun, and he wasn’t going to skimp on any part of his time with Jenny Rivers.

When her lips parted and he felt her fingernails dig into his nape, he slicked his tongue along her lower lip. Chocolate had never tasted so good as it did on Jenny’s lips. When he felt her tongue touch his, he shivered. He pulled her closer, careful of her ribs, he cradled her in his arms and deepened the kiss.

Jenny let out a soft mew like a kitten would make and she trembled. Her response ratcheted up Brax’s level of need, but he tried to hold it back. He’d promised her slow. She’d just gotten out of the hospital.

Jenny snaked her hand around to his front and was soon spearing her fingers through his chest hair until she scraped the nub of his nipple with her fingernail. He thrust his tongue deep inside her mouth, and she pulled his head down harder.

God, she’s going to burn me up.

Their tongues tangled for long moments, and Brax felt lost. Every thought of how he wanted things to go flew out of his head; instead, he was swept up in a world of glorious sensation. He didn’t know when his hand had moved, but he was stroking the soft skin of her back underneath her tank top. How could someone who felt so delicate have survived so much?

Jenny yanked her mouth away from his. Before he could protest the loss, she was at his chest, her greedy tongue sweeping circles around his nipple. His head fell back against the couch.

“Christ!”

She stopped and he felt Jenny’s smile against his chest. Then she continued with her torture, and he let her. It was too good to stop, but finally his befuddled mind kicked in and wanted to join the game.

Second gear.

As Jenny played, he tugged at her tank top and pushed it up so that it rested above her breasts. He couldn’t get a good view with her pressed against his chest, but that didn’t matter. Now he could feel. Following up on a favorite fantasy, he cupped both of her breasts in his hands, and lightly brushed his thumbs over her distended nipples.

“Ahhhh,” Jenny moaned.

Yep, two could play at this game. He continued with his torture, but soon realized that Jenny wouldn’t be stopped. She was soon grazing her teeth along his pebbled flesh, trying to make him lose his mind. But dammit, he was a SEAL, and he was trained to withstand torture.

Brax gently kneaded her plump breasts as he continued to skim his thumbs against her nipples, but soon it was too much. He had to see her. He had to.

He was easily able to twist and then Jenny was lying on the sofa, looking up at him.

“How’d you do that?”

“Superior upper body strength.”