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“Yeah, I took a bullet.”

“Oh, Graham.” I laid a gentle kiss against it. He stiffened, then relaxed, his hand tracing through my hair.

“It was a long time ago.”

“But scars never really fade, do they? Not really.”

“Honey, let’s save this for another time, okay? I’ll let you kiss me all over, and we’ll delve into the deep and dark then, but tonight is for us. It’s for everything I feel for you. I want to hold you… take care of you… and show you a little bit of heaven.”

With those words, it felt like my heart cracked open. I’d been trying to keep myself together for the last couple of years, and here was Graham offering to be strong for me. The relief almost overwhelmed me.

I couldn’t speak, or I would cry, so I nodded. Somehow, I even managed to smile.

“Off with your pants,” I teased.

“You’re sure?”

“I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life,” I whispered.

Chapter Thirteen

Having Joy tell me she wanted me to take off my pants was hot. Wasn’t it every man’s fantasy not to have to try to read their lover’s mind?

But behind her mischievous grin, I saw a hint of vulnerability, and I wanted to make sure that not only did she have the fun she said she wanted tonight, I wanted her to feel cherished.

“Okay, Doll, I took off my pants. Now what?”

She swiped her bottom lip with her tongue. That nervous tic of hers got to me every time she did it. She seemed at a loss. I leaned over the side of the bed and brushed back a strand of her silky hair, then kissed her temple. “How about it be my turn?”

She opened her blue eyes, shining with trust. Her gaze about knocked me over. “Okay,” she whispered.

I stood back up, wearing only my boxer briefs and socks. “I took off my shirt and pants. How about you lower the top of your dress? It seems only fair.” And just like that, I had my sexy Joy back with me.

She crossed her arms, each hand going to a shoulder strap, and eased it down until they were past her elbows, past her wrists, then finally free from her hands. I lifted my eyebrow, and she licked her lip. Apparently, the little minx was aware it drove me insane.

Out on the deck, I hadn’t gotten to see the color of her nipples, but now I saw they were a pretty pink. Pink, aroused, and tipped up, as if calling out to me. I couldn’t wait to get my mouth on them again.

“Graham. Are you listening to me?” Her voice was husky and just a little bit sharp.

“How could I possibly be listening to you when I’m actually seeing your naked breasts for the first time? You’re fucking gorgeous.”

Her soft laughter made me shiver.

“Take off your briefs,” she breathed.

She was looking at me like I was a dish of chocolate mousse, and I’d never been harder. I shook my head. Time for our little game to end. I got on the bed and knelt in front of her. I grabbed her stretchy dress and slowly pulled it down past her hips, her thighs, and then all the way off. I concentrated on that, ignoring the froth of pink lace that covered nothing. If I looked at it, I would lose my mind.

Her dress flew over my shoulder, and she shuddered. “That’s not fair. Your underwear was supposed to come off.”

“All’s fair in love and war. Remember, baby?”

Now I looked.

Holy fuck.

I’d seen panties before. More than my share of panties. But these had little flowers on either side, connected by lace that reached down to where a flower was covering her mound.

Jesus Christ.