Category: WriteWed

Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears, but a shadow of a smile drifted across her lips. She reached up and raked her fingers through his hair, then trailed her hand down tenderly across his bruised cheek. Wincing slightly, she said, “Does it still hurt?”

“Only when I smile,” he said, then grinned and faked a grimace.

She chuckled and shook her head, but then her almost electric blue gaze darkened. She rose slightly on her knees, until she was eye to eye, lip to lip, with him.

“Selene?” he asked, wanting to be sure of what she wanted.

She answered by leaning in and skimming a kiss across his lips, the touch a hesitant exploration as she returned to kiss him over and over.

He cradled her back, offering comfort and support as the kiss deepened.

Her breath soughed against his lips as she broke away for a second, but then returned, opening her mouth to his. Pressing her body to his, he drew her in tighter until they were breast to chest and his body responded, hardening against her softness.

She shivered then and he tempered his hold, loosening it so she could draw back and meet his gaze.

She licked her lips, then bit her lower one and shook her head, as if in denial of what she was feeling.

“I’m not… It’s been…” She shook her head harder then and looked away before blurting out, “I’m not sure of what I want. I’m sorry.”

He clasped her cheek and tenderly urged her to meet his gaze. “I’m a patient man, Selene. I would never rush you or hurt you.”

Through incipient tears, she nodded. “I know,” she said, voice hoarse, and in a softer tone added, “I do. I do.”

It was almost as if she was trying to convince herself. To truly believe he wouldn’t damage her as other men had, which made his heart hurt at the pain she’d suffered.

Ryder had fallen asleep on the sofa, the laptop close to falling off his stomach. Delilah lay on her doggie bed beside the couch, looking like a gigantic dead cockroach with her stubby little legs up in the air and her tongue lolling out of her mouth.

She couldn’t fault Ryder for falling asleep. He’d been going hard on the investigation even after being struck by the car.

But that also reminded her that since he had a concussion, it would be good to check that his sleep seemed normal without waking him. He’d only had a light concussion and sleep was a good way for him to heal.

Plus, it’s late, past midnight, she thought with a glance at her smartphone. Time for her to get some rest so she could be sharp in the morning.

Easing from the table, she tiptoed to his side and snared the laptop midair as it finally slid off his lap.

He jerked away and also reached for it, realizing what had happened.

She offered him an apologetic smile and said, “I’m sorry. I didn’t want to wake you.”

“No, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to fall asleep, but working on the computer was giving me a massive headache and I closed my eyes for just a second,” he said and sat up, the leather creaking loudly with his motion.

Sophie kneeled by the sofa, handed him back his laptop, and brushed away a lock of his hair that had slipped down onto his forehead. His hair was silky beneath her fingers, tempting her to brush it back a second time.

When her gaze drifted from that action to his face, she realized he was watching her intently. So intently, it caused a skitter of awareness deep in her core and heat to flood her face.

She jerked her hand away. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to invade your space.”

“Invade at will,” he said, his voice husky as he tenderly skimmed his knuckle across the blush on her cheek.

She did, rising to press her lips to his and explore the attraction she’d been feeling since they’d first met.