Page 63 of Her Intense Protector

He held out his hand for her, and she took it.

“No, you’re beautiful right now. In my eyes, your smile, your heart, your soul, make you the most beautiful woman in the world.”

Her heart skipped a beat. Nobody had ever said anything close to that to her, and with such conviction. “Ezio, how do you do this to me? How do you make me feel so much more than I ever have before? I’ve never felt this connected to anybody before.”

He pulled her into his arms. Her nose touched his collarbone, and she turned so her cheek rested on it, so she could nuzzle his neck and breathe in his scent. He smelled of soap, grass, and Ezio—it was a heady combination. She needed to find out if he tasted as good as he smelled. Her tongue touched his skin and she felt the jolt that went through him, and she smiled. Good, she wasn’t the only one who was affected by this out-of-control attraction.

“Are you playing rough, Miss Brooks?” Ezio’s voice was a husky whisper.

“I’m too needy to play,” she admitted.

One of his arms tightened around her waist, the other speared through her hair, and he tilted her head back. His green eyes were dark as they stared into hers. “Needy is good. I can work with needy.”

In an instant, he changed positions and had her high up in the air, nestled against his chest and he carried her into his bedroom. He’d just left one bedside lamp on.

“You made your bed,” she laughed out in surprise.

“It’s a special occasion.” He settled her softly on top of the navy-blue bedspread.

“I’ve dreamed about your hair flowing across my bed.”

“You have?”

“Oh yeah. I’ve had lots of fantasies.”

“Want to share?” she asked.

He cocked his head. It was as if he could hear the slight bit of nerves in her voice. Ezio smiled easily and moved so that he was resting on his elbow at her side, so he could look down at her. He brushed back a strand of her hair covering her face. “I’ve fantasized about you smiling up at me, like you’re doing right now.”

Her smile brightened. She wanted to hear more.

Ezio moved his free hand and rested it on her stomach. His palm felt hot over his cotton shirt. “I’ve dreamed of touching and tasting your breasts again, but only after I kissed your lips, and I watched your eyes turn a deep blue.”

“My eyes are light blue,” she protested weakly.

“Not when you’re aroused, then your eyes turn almost navy blue.”

She reached up and slid her fingers through his lush hair and tugged. She needed that kiss he’d described. He smiled as he lifted up and over her so that she was surrounded by his warmth.

“Ezio, please,” she begged.

His eyes turned dark and he swooped down, his lips melding with hers in a cataclysm of fire. He stormed her defenses, his tongue soon tangling with hers and her head spun with desire. She tasted his want, his passion, and his need. It matched her own. She didn’t let go of his hair, instead she pulled harder so that he moved the way she wanted, the way she needed, as she arched up off the bed to meet the languorous thrusts of his tongue that were driving her insane.

Something changed; it felt good, but she was so lost in the fire of his kiss she couldn’t decipher the new sensation until she felt Ezio’s hand on her breast. Samantha gasped and drew back from the kiss. Ezio's hand had been busy moving under the T-shirt and undoing the front clasp of her bra.

“Why did you wear this, when you know I wanted to touch your breasts?” he asked in consternation.

She didn’t answer. Instead she wiggled and pulled at the shirt, trying to work it off her body.

“Let me help,” he laughed.

In moments, the T-shirt and bra hit the floor and she saw his eyes glint in appreciation. “I love your breasts.”

She almost thought he was telling the truth. Then his thumb started to draw circles around her aroused nipple, and she started to pant. “You’re the most responsive lover I’ve ever known.” His thumb traced over the receptive nub and she moaned. Back and forth, again and again. Her universe centered around what he was doing.

She wanted, no she needed to say something, but no words would come out of her mouth. Then Ezio did something even more diabolical—he put his lips to her other nipple and she cried out. Her passion was unimaginable.

His tongue lapped against her turgid nub as his thumb rasped over and over across the other tip, sending flames to her very core. Her legs were moving, parting and then squeezing together. Ezio must have realized her agony of need, because he settled one heavily muscled thigh between her legs, and she groaned with relief. Samantha couldn’t believe how aroused she was, and they still had their clothes on.