N. Walters - Finding Chrissten

She noted he didn’t say he wouldn’t get into trouble. A pain went through her heart at the thought of him possibly losing the respect of his pack, maybe even his home because of her. “Of course I’m worried about you.”

He smiled at her and it was such a sad smile it brought tears to her eyes. “You’re the most important person in my world. Do you understand, Chrissten?” He framed her face with his hands and traced his thumbs over her cheekbones. His expression was intense and she could hear the utter conviction in his voice.

She didn’t want to be that important to anyone. Not now. Not with her life so mixed up. She started to shake her head and push him away, but he wasn’t having it. He lowered his head and kissed her.

Chrissten was lost.

Here was what she’d always wanted, always dreamed of having. Here was caring and acceptance. Hank’s mouth pressed against hers, firm and warm. Oh, he tasted so good, a mouthwatering combination of coffee and male.

He used the hold on her face to tilt it slightly so he was able to get a better angle. His tongue teased her bottom lip before sliding into her mouth. Chrissten moaned. She couldn’t hold back the small sound of pleasure. Hank kissed her as though he had all the time in the world. She loved that about him. He savored each kiss like it was a goal in and of itself.

She ignored the slight flutter in her belly when she thought the “L” word. She could love things about him. He was an admirable male in all ways. He was intelligent, caring and strong. And he was loyal. Best of all, he made her feel, and in a good way.

Hank banished the shadows and the demons that lurked in her mind. He made her forget her months of captivity, Brian and the fight ahead. When Hank kissed her there was no room for anything else. She stopped fighting the kiss and let herself go, wallowing in the genuine warmth and caring.

He pulled away slowly, kissing her top lip, then her bottom. He dropped kisses onto her forehead and nose, her cheeks and her chin. “I want to give you what you want. Let me love you, Chrissten.”

She knew she should say no. Knew she should send him away, for his sake. She’d started something she shouldn’t have. But oh how she wanted him. Wanted to taste pleasure at least once in her life.

Words failed her, so she nodded. Hank scooped her into his arms as though she weighed nothing and carried her to the bed. She rested her head against his shoulder for the all-too-short ride. Then he was setting her down on the mattress.

He slowly removed her shoes and socks, giving her time to reconsider. Maybe if she was a stronger person she would. But she wanted this. Wanted him.

She grabbed the hem of her sweater and sat up long enough to yank it over her head. “You next.”

Hank unbuttoned his shirt, one button at a time, giving her a tantalizing glimpse of his muscular chest and abs. He shrugged his powerful shoulders and the fabric slid down his arms and disappeared onto the floor.

She swallowed hard. Hank was gorgeous. His skin was golden and the light smattering of chest hair was darker than the hair on his head. The hair bisected his stomach with a thin line and disappeared into the waistband of his jeans.

Her gaze dipped lower and there was no missing the bulge in his jeans. Hank was very aroused.

“Chrissten?” She knew what he was asking. The mere fact that he asked her gave her the courage to move forward. She nodded.

He reached for the snap of her jeans and undid it. Her zipper slid down, the metal rasp loud in the otherwise quiet room. Their breath was in sync, both of them breathing slow and deep.

Hank hooked his fingers around the material and pulled until it was gone, leaving her dressed in a plain white bra and panties. She had to fight the urge to cover herself. Being naked meant being vulnerable to another person. In her limited experience that was never a good thing. But she trusted Hank like she’d never trusted another male.

He swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple moving up and down. “You are so beautiful.”

She looked down at herself. She was still too skinny from months of being starved. Her breasts were average. Nothing special. The tips were hard nubs outlined against the thin cotton fabric of her bra. Her panties covered her pubic hair. Her legs were long and firm. Personally, she thought they were her best physical trait.

Hank caught her chin on the edge of his hand and lifted it until she was looking at him. “You are beautiful,” he repeated. “I love your long hair. I’ve dreamed about having that hair flowing over my body, wrapped around my cock.”

Heat flashed over her skin and through her body. It was all too easy to imagine what he was describing. She licked her bottom lip and silently willed him to continue.

Not that he seemed to need any prompting. “I love your eyes. They’re like a summer’s day, clear and lovely.” He brushed his knuckles over her cheek. “Your skin is so soft.”

He let his hand slide down her throat and across her collarbone. It came to rest between her breasts. “But it’s this that attracts me the most, your brave heart, your courage.”

Chrissten couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t speak. The sheer beauty of his words rocked her to her core.

But Hank wasn’t done. He found the front clasp of her bra and gave a deft twist. The fabric pulled away, leaving her breasts bare. He cupped both mounds in his hands and buried his face between them.

She caught his head between her hands, holding him to her. The moment was so tender, so precious. He turned his head and dragged his tongue over her skin. Fire licked her flesh where he touched, leaving her scorched but wanting more.

He carefully circled one distended nipple before taking it into his mouth and sucking gently. She arched upward, encouraging him to take more. His hands moved over her ribcage and lower.

She sucked in a breath and he immediately sat back. Every muscle in his body was tense, outlined in stark relief against his skin. She wanted to feel them ripple beneath her hands.

Chrissten came up onto her knees and shrugged out of her bra. She touched him then, started with his face, his strong, rugged face. He closed his eyes briefly when she lightly caressed his high forehead and cheekbones. He sucked in a breath when she dragged her fingers along his stubborn jawline and down the thick cords of his neck.

There was no give in his shoulders and biceps. The man was built like a rock. Blue veins ran up and down the insides of his broad forearms. His hands were wide, his fingers long. Strong hands. Male hands.

“Chrissten, you’re killing me.”

Alarmed, she pulled her hands away, but he grabbed them and put them back on his chest. “It may kill me, but what a hell of a way to go.”

He was putting her in charge, leaving her no room for doubts and fears. Was there a better man in the world? One who instinctively seemed to understand her? She didn’t think so.

It made her sad. Made her wish for things that could never be. She wanted to go back in time before she was kidnapped and meet Hank, before fear had become her constant companion.

She hated herself for being so weak, so fearful. He thought her brave. Courageous. She was none of those things. She was simply a woman trying to survive.

“What are you thinking?” He placed his hands over hers and gave a light squeeze.

“That I want you.” She shoved all other thoughts aside. If he wanted her then she wanted this to happen. They didn’t have much time. Hank would be going with the other men tonight. And she would be following them. Somehow. Some way.

Beyond that, she knew they didn’t have long before someone came to check on them, maybe fifteen or twenty minutes at most. Not long enough for what she truly wanted, but long enough to give them both a wonderful memory.