Dalir's Salvation (26 page)

“Nice cabin.” He examined the picture. “Where is it?”

“Outside of Mazree, Georgia.” Her father enjoyed painting as a hobby. He’d captured the rustic feel of the log and brick home sitting on land in the middle of lush pines perfectly. Vacations there were the best part of summer. No need to bore him with family history.

“Looks like a spot I used to visit in Virginia near the Blue Ridge Mountains. It was surrounded by acres of trees. The air was so fresh all I wanted to do was stand there and breathe.”

“That’s what it’s like up there. It’s close to a pond and lots of great hiking trails. One of them takes you to a clearing where there’s this gorgeous view of the mountains.”

His gaze met hers. “What else do you like about it?”

She couldn’t stop a smile. “Time slows. I don’t care about the clock. I sit under the stars and let the crickets chirp me to sleep. When the sun wakes me up, I’m excited to start another day.” It was the one place she was always happy. The vision of Mazree dispersed. Why was she telling him about her life? He needed to go.

“Do you still go there with your family or friends?”

“No. My parents split up. Dad’s invited me, but our schedules haven’t matched up.” And she didn’t feel comfortable joining him and his new wife. “As far as Celine and Ari, that will probably never happen. Celine is always too busy. Ari won’t go to a place with ‘take the first left at the old, covered bridge’ as part of the directions. She says it’s Hicksville.”

“That’s a shame.” Longing haunted his expression. “Looks like a relaxing place.”

“What about Virginia? Have you been there lately?”

“No. It was my grandfather’s place.” Sadness passed through his gaze. “It doesn’t exist anymore.”

Her heart squeezed. Was his story like hers? The first years after her parent’s divorce were agonizing. She loved Mazree, but it was never the same. She’d prayed so hard for her parents to love each other again.

“I should go.” He brushed a kiss over her temple.

At the last second, she turned and their lips met.

Move away.
End it now.
She placed her hands on his chest.

Reid stroked down her back and cupped her ass. He shifted his stance, nestling his hard thigh between her legs.

Her breathing picked up and intermingled with his, heating the small distance between their lips. The need to rub herself against him overwhelmed. The need for deepening pleasure consumed. Heady, sinful, so wrong, but oh, so right.

Reid guided her into the rhythm of a slow torturous grind. He swept the seam of her mouth, coaxing her into an unhurried kiss.

The downward glide of his fingertips mirrored the pace. Leisurely strokes around her nipple sent spirals of desire straight to her core. She moaned encouragement as he caressed down her belly. Anticipation left her breathless.

He’d filled her completely. Satisfied her like no other, and she yearned for more. Lauren widened her stance.

He stroked her clit between his fingers, and her world narrowed to his perfect touch. Right where she wanted him, needed him, moving in ways that intensified pleasure. Feathery brushes switched to small circles moving faster and harder. She canted her hips and matched the rhythm.

He nipped her throat. “That’s it, beautiful. Let me hear it. Come for me.”

As he ground his hardness against her hip, images branded of what would follow. Her knees turned to jelly and he held her up. As an orgasm chased her down, he slipped two fingers inside of her, prolonging it with erotic sensation she never wanted to end. She had no choice but to let go. Lauren surrendered into fiery bliss.

Nina Crespo lives in Florida where she indulges in her favorite passions—the beach, a good glass of wine, date night with her own real-life hero and dancing. Her lifelong addiction to romance began in her teens while on a “borrowing spree” in her older sister’s bedroom where she discovered her first romance novel

Curiosity about people and places, including what’s beyond the stars, fuels her writer’s imagination. Let Nina’s sensual contemporary stories and steamy paranormal tales feed your own addiction for love, romance, and happily ever after. Visit her at: ninacrespo.com.