A flurry of sound caught my attention, but the sound of the ball hitting the floor didn’t come as anticipated. She’d caught it, and stepped backward for a minute. Did she put the ball somewhere?
“Cory.” The warmth of her hands trailing up my arm, her body pressing into mine shattered my mind.
Fuck. Was she offering sex? I couldn’t do casual sex with Romy. I didn’t do it with anyone. A clean break up, that’s all I wanted despite the fact there was apparently nothing to break up. No begging forgiveness, saying we should be friends. I couldn’t play the platonic role any longer, and couldn’t be her booty call. “Stop. You warned me. You don’t trust doctors. Or what was it? You don’t date doctors.”
She wrapped her arms around me from behind, hands holding my chest. The sight of her fingers over my shirt stirred everything I’d repressed. Her tits pressed into my back, creating a demand deep inside of me to claim her. Take what she was offering. What I wanted.
One time? No, that’s not what I wanted. I’d hate myself? My heart raced. The pounding had to be noticeable under her hands. I could feel hers against my back.
She turned her head, leaning her cheek into me. Why hadn’t she refuted me? If she didn’t date doctors what the hell was she doing?
Were all the doctors she dated truly assholes. There was nothing special about me. I couldn’t risk being another tally mark on her list of poor choices. Couldn’t be the next one in line to break her heart even though it wasn’t an option.
What the hell was happening? Every possible outcome jammed my thoughts, but the only thing I could process was the heat of her naked body tormenting me. Wetness soaking through my clothes. Her legs mingled with mine. This is how we were meant to be. Together.
I needed to seer the moment in my brain. Raising my eyes, I paused on the sink. Looking was wrong. She’d already told me I was wrong for her. Sucking in a deep breath, I lifted my gaze to the mirror.
The shine from water dripping down her legs, the line where her smooth skin met me made my heart miss a beat. Up to her ass, fuck. She’d flaunted it in front of me in spandex, but the flesh of her perfectly rounded cheeks created pressure in my core, a need to take her. I couldn’t stop my eyes from moving upward. The naked expanse of her side and back, so much bare to me, even more I couldn’t see. A groan spread from my chest.
Pushing her away meant never experiencing this adrenaline surge again. Never seeing her perfection. Never relenting to desire. Heat ignited my body and my chest tightened. Not figuring out what she needed would be my first big failure in a long time. “I respect you too much to do this.”
Gripping her wrists, I tugged for her to let go.
She tightened her hold, digging her fingers into my chest.
The pressure of each fingernail ripped through me, lodging in my heart, ready to tear me open. “Don’t. I can’t bear the thought of hurting you.”
She slid in front of me, her legs straddling one of mine. Her pussy was bare to me, wreaking havoc on my desire to do the right thing.
Her head rested on my chest, her breath warming my heart. “You’re not like them. I can see that now.”
My hands moved lower, stopping in the sway of her back. “I need to know you believe that.”
“I do because I was at fault too. I went for flash and excitement then ignored the signs things weren’t working.”
I tilted her chin so I could speak directly to her. “Don’t ever blame yourself for them cheating on you.”
“No, but I could have ended it when I realized they were jerks.”
“Romy, every day I see you, I’m more convinced I’ll find a way to have a relationship and save lives. And every day I don’t see you, I’m convinced I’ve chosen the wrong path.”
Her eyes glistened with tears. “Can you forgive me for doubting you?”
“There’s nothing to forgive. We have to protect our hearts, but we also have to let them heal. I love you, Romy.”
“I love you, too.” Her fingers tangled in my beard then she rose on her tiptoes, her eyes conveying the abandon I’d longed to see in them. Her lips parted.
For the first moment I could remember, my soul felt complete. I crashed my lips onto her, our tongues taking and giving, while I experienced her sweet taste for the first time.
She stripped me and pulled me into the stall. My mouth honed in on a nipple while my hands were trapped between her ass and the wall. “I’m on the pill.”
Her words ricocheted through my head, entrenching the full impact of what she was saying with each ping. I scooped her up, spread my legs for balance and slid her onto my erection.
She gasped and my dick got even harder.
How could such a small sound be so erotic?
“You’re perfect,” I couldn’t muster better words.
Her tongue rode over my lips then worked its way to my earlobe while she adjusted her hips to accommodate me. The spray of the shower faded into the background while our contact became my only focus.
I wanted to run my hands over every curve of her body, but holding her on my cock gave me a sense of complete ownership and power. The tangle of her arms and legs around me filled a gap I hadn’t known existed.
She leveraged herself against the wall and worked her hips, grinding into my cock.
“I can’t go slow if you do that.”
“Good.” She wiggled her hips.
I had to consciously steady myself on the tile flooring.
Her teeth on my ear, her fingers in my hair, I couldn’t hold back. Her legs quivered around me and her moans escalated.
“I need to know you’re mine,” I said, more like growled. My only fear was why I felt so protective of her. Why I needed to own her.
“I’m yours.” Her pussy clenched around my cock. Her lips returned to mine, kissing deep and long until her body went limp.
Giving up the fine shred of resistance I’d held onto, my body tensed then released into her, filling her with my cum.
She relaxed in my arms, water washing over us, detouring where we were too close together for it to stay on a path.
“I’m all yours.” Her finger brushed over my lips then down my beard as she cradled herself against me.
Did she understand my primal need to claim her? Protect her from every other male. She should never hurt again. A mission I welcomed. And if I did it right, she’d welcome it too.
Epilogue
Romy
We’d barely known each other two weeks, but I’d learned enough about Cory to know he wasn’t like anyone else I’d dated. I’d known he was different from the start, but hadn’t trusted myself.
Curled up together on the carpet in front of my Christmas tree, I lost myself somewhere between his body and the twinkling lights.
He ran his fingers through my hair. “Ready for your present?”
“Always.” I chuckled and pressed my ass into his hips.
“Not that.” He kissed my cheek, leaned over me, and grabbed a flat box from under the tree.
I sat up, grabbed my gift for him, and we sat cross-legged in front of my ornament-less tree.
“You first,” he said with a wink.
“You always make sure I go first. You go first this time.” I thrust his present in his lap.
Without objecting, he carefully removed the paper, opened the long box, and pulled out the gift certificate to a tattoo studio.
“You don’t have to get my name inked across your chest just yet, but I thought you might want to do something about the other tattoo that you got when you didn’t think you could include love in your life.”
He lifted his shirt and rubbed his hand over his chest. “I love it when you lay on me, when you’re close to my heart. If you don’t want me to do your name, maybe I could get your face done.”
“Good lord, what is wrong with you?”
“You.”
“Don’t start getting sappy.” I jumped up to hide my reaction. His obsession with me made me giddy, and a littl
e weepy. I wasn’t used to being adored and it left me a little vulnerable. Grabbing glasses and the glögg I’d hidden in the kitchen, I returned to the living room.
He raised his eyebrows. “So you didn’t burn through it with someone else after all.”
“I told you there was no one else.”
“Good thing.” An edge cut through his words.
I loved the protective streak he had for me, but only because he managed to temper it with respect for my desires. “Is that a threat?”
Cory cleared his throat, took the items from my hands, and handed my present to me. “Open this.”
I slid my finger along the seam, through the tape, and slid the box out of the paper. Taking the lid off, I realized the box was oddly deep for the ornament it held. A picture of us with the words ‘Our 1st Christmas’.
Dangling it from my finger, I couldn’t stop the tears from sliding down my cheeks.
“Since you lost your Christmas decorations in the move, I thought you needed a fresh start.”
“Thanks.” I leaned forward to give him a peck.
“So, just to confirm…those are happy tears?”
I nodded.
“Okay.” He reached for the box I’d discarded and pulled out the felt that had held the ornament. Shifting to one knee, he extended the box to me once again.
The colorful lights from the Christmas tree flicked rainbows through the beautiful diamond ring in the box. I tried to choke back the tears but they were free flowing. I swiped at my face, embarrassed by my reaction, but also wanting to see clearly. My hands shook as I reached for the box.
Cory pulled the ring out. “Romy, I need a partner who’s as strong-willed and determined as I am. Someone who’s not afraid to stand up to me. Someone who can deal with how much I need to love her. Will you marry me?”
Thanks for reading Healing my Heart. I hope it gave you a little escape from daily life!
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Here are links to my backlist if you’re looking for more hot and fast stories!
Other Books by Barbra Campbell
Anthologies
Christmas Wishes: Where wishes do come true
Leave Me Breathless: The Moonflower Collection
Dangerous Curves Ahead: An Anthology
Christmas, Curves, and Coffee
Christmas, Coffee, and Curves: Complete Series
Take Care of Me
The Way You Are: Alpha Doctor and Amnesia Patient Romance (Take Care of Me Book 1)
Hot Enough
Hot Enough Series Bundle
Crazy Enough: An Older Alpha Firefighter Romance (Hot Enough Book 4)
Lucky Enough: An Alpha Firefighter and Single Mom Romance (Hot Enough Book 3)
Nice Enough: An Older Alpha Firefighter, Opposites Attract Romance (Hot Enough Book 2)
Persistent Enough: Alpha Firefighter and BBW Romance (Hot Enough Book 1)
Morgan Brothers at the Beach
Alpha Billionaire Brothers Bundle: Morgan Brothers at the Beach
Convincing Her: An Alpha Billionaire and BBW Romance (Morgan Brothers at the Beach Book 3)
Protecting Her: An Alpha Billionaire Romance (Morgan Brothers at the Beach Book 2)
Winning Her: An Alpha Billionaire and BBW Romance (Morgan Brothers at the Beach Book 1)
Getting Wet on the Beach
Getting Wet on the Beach Bundle: Books 1-3: Alpha Males and Their Heroines Who Get What They Want
Surprise Virgin Seduction: A Missed Encounter Alpha Male Romance (Getting Wet on the Beach Book 3)
SEALed Seduction: A Navy SEAL Alpha Male, Second Chance Romance (Getting Wet on the Beach Book 2)
Single Dad Seduction: An Alpha Male Romance (Getting Wet on the Beach Book 1)
Hockey Match Hook Ups
Stripping Him Down: An Alpha Male Meets His Match (Hockey Match Hook Ups Book 2)
Playing His Game: An Alpha Male Meets His Match (Hockey Match Hook Ups Book 1)
Tales of the Nightie
Thankfully Yours: Saved by an Alpha Male (Tales of the Nightie Book 7)
My Lucky Halloween: A Brother's Best Friend Romance (Tales of the Nightie Book 6)
My Christmas Risk: A Curvy Girl Puts it All on the Line (Tales of the Nightie Book 5)
Tales of the Nightie: Novellas 1-4 Steamy Romance Bundle
Logan and Vanessa: A Forced Proximity BBW Romance (Tales of the Nightie Book 4)
Jessica and Darius: She's Tired of Being Sweet (Tales of the Nightie Book 3)
Lachlan and Gypsy: An Opposites Attract Doctor and Spunky Girl Romance (Tales of the Nightie Book 2)
Alexis and Chris: A Forbidden Professor Student Relationship (Tales of the Nightie Book 1)
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