Page 43 of Until Joy

“You like that?” he asked.

“Do it again, and I’ll tell you.”

He captured my lips again. This time he lingered, letting the heat build up until I was clutching his shoulders, pulling him closer. Soon I felt the bed at the back of my legs, and he lowered me down onto the mattress, and stood up. There was something about him towering over me that made me tingle.

“Take off your shirt,” I demanded.

He smirked as he slowly unbuttoned his dress shirt, then unbuckled his belt and pulled it out of his pants.

“All the way off.” This time, I waved my hand in command.

“Yes, ma’am.” Oh my God, that grin should be illegal.

He threw his shirt over his shoulder, muscles rippling under the dim light, and I gasped. Yep, my mouth was open, and I prayed I wasn’t drooling. Judging by his smug grin, the man knew exactly what he was doing to me.

He came closer, which was perfect. It allowed me to push my fingers up, delving through his chest hair. I stopped when I felt a bump. I looked up at him. He grimaced.

“It’s just a scar, baby.”

I stood back, and saw another scar on his left shoulder. It was round and puckered. I touched it tentatively. “Is this a…?”

“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 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 12

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 up 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 knew that drove me insane.

I had been pretty sure she hadn’t worn a bra, and I was proven right as I caught sight of her sweet, pink, aroused nipples that tipped up. I couldn’t wait to get my mouth on them.