Page 65 of Claimed By the Guardian

She sighed and closed her eyes. Life was so strange. Twenty-four hours ago, none of this was even on the horizon.

“Are you still wondering if you have a brain tumor?” he asked.

Damn it, he was relentless! “I get it,” she huffed. “I haven’t locked in. Twenty-four hours is not enough time to make a lifelong commitment.” She opened her eyes to pin him with a frustrated glare. “Have you? Are you sure I’m the one?”

She watched him nod. No doubt. No hesitation.

“I’m sure,” he said.

She could see that he believed it. He had absolutely no doubts as to what he thought or wanted.

“You can’t know me that well yet.”

He didn’t argue. And when she looked at his expression, there was a Zen kind of acceptance there. For him, it was a fact.

“So…you love me?”

“Yes.”

She shook her head. “What does that mean to you? That you want to have sex with me? That you want me to bear your children? That you’ll?—”

“Care for you every second of your life. That I’ll spend every breath and every dime I have to make sure you are protected and happy. That you can make whatever choices you want, whenever you want. That you are free to be amazing while I cheer for you from the sidelines. I want the best for you, Cecilia. And I’m going to make sure you get it. As much as I possibly can. You are the center of my balance.”

He said it so earnestly. And even if she doubted the certainty in his voice, she felt it in his body. There was passion in his words and determination in his body. So solid. So clear. As he declared without regret or fear that he was devoted to her happiness.

“So you won’t make love to me because that might create a baby?—”

“Which makes everything more complicated.”

“And you want to give me the time to settle my doubts. And possibly get a CT scan.”

His lips quirked up at that, but his nod was solemn. And then his eyes got a kind of twinkle. “But there might be other things we can do. If you want.”

Oh, she wanted. She 100 percent wanted. But now she understood his restraint when she had literally begged him to penetrate her. And damn, her heart melted all over again. He was holding back for her sake.

She flashed him a coy smile as she pushed up on her elbows. And then she maneuvered a bit more, sitting up in front of him. “Lie down,” she ordered. “It’s your turn.”

His eyes blazed, but he didn’t move. “No penetrative sex. You promise?”

God, when had that ever happened? The guy making her promise there would be no penetration. No babies. “I promise.”

He shifted around on the bed and she moved to accommodate him. And because she had already burned off a lot of her tension, she was able to take her time with him. She stroked his body with tender caresses while his breath grew short and tight. She kissed his nipples and teased his belly. She wasn’t as thorough as he had been, but he didn’t seem to mind. When she grasped his penis, his hips surged upward. When she sucked him into her mouth, he whispered her name.

He was going to come too soon, so she pinched the top and pressed deep into the space behind his balls. She was a doctor and some things had been fun to learn in biology class. But even with all her training, he would not be held back. He gripped her leg and looked at her with such burning need. So she squeezed his stalk and pulled down while he thrust.

Once. Twice. By the third, he had arched up on the bed and his cum shot from him in an impressive display. She never thought it would be fascinating to see, but she was wrong. Turns out, she was fascinated by all of him. Every single moment.

“Yabba dabba do,” she murmured when he finally regained his breath.

He gaze locked on hers in surprise, and then he burst out laughing.

“Yabba dabba do,” he echoed breathlessly.

She chuckled and together they cleaned him up. Then he lay back down and spread open his arms, inviting her to cuddle up beside him. She went willingly, tucking herself as tightly as possible against him.

Could she do this? Could she settle right here happily for the rest of their lives? Was she ready to make that decision right now?

Maybe. Her body said yes. Her mind was so busy running in a dozen different directions that she ignored it.