He wasn’t sure what he expected, but finding Hope standing right there, her shoulders against the wall, her fingers playing with the terry cloth belt to her wrap, was a total shocker.
Her gaze shot up to meet his, and they stood there like that, no more than two feet separating them, while the tension expanded, throbbing in the air.
With her place so small, the bathroom and her bedroom were right next to each other. She’d left the bedroom door open.
She’d even turned down the bed.
Those realizations all closed in on him at once. While trying to sort it out, he stepped into the bedroom and set down his clothes, then moved the wallet to the nightstand.
Hope stood in the doorway, her gaze tracking over him, across his shoulders and chest, down to his abs, lower—as if she could see through the towel.
When she stepped toward him, the groan came of its own volition. “You’re killing me, honey.”
Crossing the last few steps in a rush, Hope came up against him, her arms sliding around his neck and her mouth seeking his.
Definitely not what he’d expected.
Probably more than he deserved, too. But yeah, he loved her eagerness.
He gently cradled her close while devouring her mouth. It wasn’t easy, but he kept his hands still on her back.
Hope didn’t. Her hands were everywhere, over his chest, up to his shoulders, along his arms. She freed her mouth, but only so she could brush her nose over his chest, breathing him in and all in all acting like a woman well primed, without a single nervous qualm.
He tangled a hand in her hair and tipped her face up. God, she looked beautiful to him, petite and pretty with her dark, baby-fine hair and her deep blue eyes now dazed with need.
Lang considered things, then asked low, “Want to try the bed?”
“Yes.” Snagging his hand, she attempted to drag him toward the mattress.
He laughed, but damn. “Slow down, babe.”
Rounding on him, she said, “Over four years I’ve gone without wanting anyone, and now I want you. I want this.” She pulled the belt of her robe open and let the material part. “And I want it now.”
It struck Lang that he’d been completely wrong in his thinking. Hope was a smart woman who knew her own mind. She’d lived through the awfulness of her past and had learned to deal with it. In all the time that had passed, no one had managed to pressure her in any way—because she hadn’t let them.
Why would he think he’d be any different? Obviously, she wasn’t shy with him, so he’d been worrying about nothing, instead of proceeding naturally.
The smile came slowly. “You’re really sure, aren’t you?”
“About you? Yes, definitely.” As if to prove it, she shrugged off the robe and it landed in a fluffy white heap at her feet.
Lord help him.
As if in challenge, she stood with her hands at her sides, her shoulders back and her chin angled with determination.
So many nights he’d thought about her body, but he still hadn’t been prepared. Lust clamored against protectiveness and then melded with love. It was all okay, because it was with Hope.
Watching her, he loosened the towel and let it drop.
She swallowed heavily, her gaze darting all over him, her breathing deepening.
Using care, Lang stepped closer and eased her bare body against his. “Okay?”
She tucked her face into his neck. “I want you so much.”
That honest admission was all the encouragement he needed.
After that, everything happened as it should, without unnecessary caution. He stopped worrying about offending her and instead loved her as he wanted.
As she wanted.
Stretching out on the bed together, they both grew bolder. Lang discovered that she was keenly curious about his body and not at all timid in exploring. When she curled her small hand around his erection, he closed his eyes and concentrated on not coming.
Once he had himself in control again, he showed her how to tighten her grip, how far to stroke, how fast.
Such exquisite torture.
“My turn,” he said, moving her hand and bending to kiss her breasts while pressing a hand between her thighs.
Thrilled to find her already hot and wet, he utilized every ounce of experience he had, and every drop of patience he could muster, until she gave a throaty, vibrating moan. As soon as her climax started to ease, he shifted to grab the condom, quickly rolled it on and then came down over her.
Using care, he parted her thighs and settled against her. “Open your eyes, honey. I need to see you.”
She chuckled and lazily did as he requested. “I think you can see plenty of me.”
“Yes, and I enjoy looking at you. But I want to see what you’re thinking, too.”
Her gaze warmed. “I’m thinking that you’ve changed my life, and I will never, ever regret that.”
It wasn’t quite a declaration of love, but he didn’t care. He took her mouth and slowly eased into her. She was so tight, it made him a little insane, but her enthusiasm sparked to life again.
Half an hour later, he really wished he had another condom—or ten. He could have made love to Hope all night long.
He could definitely love her...for the rest of his life.
* * *
“Lang?” Cuddled together, Hope relished the closeness and comfort of being like this with him. For an instant, she thought of all the time she’d wasted being afraid, and then she shook her head.
It hadn’t been only fear that held her back. No man had offered even a slight temptation.
Not until she’d met this man.
“Hmm?” His fingertips trailed up and down her spine in a never-ending caress.
“Will it ruin the moment if I ask you something?”
He shifted slightly, scooting her up so he could see her face. “You can ask me anything, at any time. Okay?”
Shoot. She hadn’t meant to imply it was something monumental, but now he looked so grave, she smiled. “How come you don’t want me to meet your mom?”
His brows shot up, the seriousness vanished, and he laughed. “God, I’m not sure I want to talk about my mother while we’re naked in bed together.”
Oh. She hadn’t thought about that. No, she wouldn’t want to talk about her mother, either. “Sorry.”
“Kidding.” He rolled her to her back and turned on his side to face her. Now his big hand, fingers opened, rested on her stomach. “I don’t mind if you meet my mom. Actually, I think you’ll like her. For sure she’ll like you.”