Second Chances

by Gray, Christle

  “I’m sorry, lass. I never wanted you to hurt like this.” He stood there, his tall frame diminished by the helplessness in her words.

  Kristin shivered as his voice caressed her. Her brain refused to think clearly as her body betrayed her. “You need to go.”

  “I couldn’t stand seeing you leave so upset.” He clasped her hands and held them gently within his warm grasp.

  “I’m fine.” Kristin knew her voice shook as she pulled her hands away from his. Even now, his touch made her skin tingle.

  The smoldering fire in his eyes made her weak in the knees. How was she supposed to stand her ground when he looked at her like that?

  She’d fought her attraction to him since they’d met. Now, as David’s heated gaze locked with hers, Kristin came to the conclusion that she was tired of fighting. She wanted to give in. Would the frail ribbon of reason within her rein her in?

  “Those red rings around your eyes, lass, they tell me that you’re not fine.” He stepped deliberately toward her again.

  She backed away from his advancement, trying to maintain some distance between them. She swallowed as her heart rate accelerated. Her breathing sped up. The urge to keep fighting was failing fast.

  “So would you care to tell me the truth, then?” David’s brogue became even thicker as his voice turned husky.

  Kristin continued to back away from him as he came toward her, and she cried out in surprise as her back came up against the outer wall of her bedroom. Mere inches away, he braced his left arm above her on the wall.

  This close, her body responded to the heat that emanated from him. His eyes darkened as he focused intently on her. Kristin hadn’t wanted to get this close to him, yet here she was.

  Tears trickled down Kristin’s cheeks as she gazed at him, her pounding heart making it hard for her to breathe. “Why are you doing this?”

  Softly, he wiped the tears away with the thumb of his right hand. Kristin watched as the tide behind his eyes slowly changed from a confusing storm to the color of a clear, dark, ebony sky.

  “Ever since we met, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you, and I have tried, believe me. You’ve invaded my heart and my soul, no matter how I’ve tried to push you out. It kills me to see you in such turmoil, and to know that I am the cause of it.”

  Kristin stared at David in stunned silence. The words that had come out of his mouth surprised her. She hadn’t thought he would be so honest and open with her, not about this, not with the way they’d tiptoed around everything so far. “David, I”

  He pressed his finger to her lips. Kristin melted under the heat of his gaze. What in God’s name was happening?

  “Now, all I can think about is this.” David leaned forward and kissed her. His lips were soft and smooth, just like she remembered.

  As David pulled away, fear at what she was about to do gnawed at her gut silently. Was she ready for this? Would she disappoint him? Kristin laid a hand on his chest, the thud of his heartbeat was just as strong as her own.

  “Tell me you don’t feel the same way,” his voice rumbled huskily. “Tell me you don’t love me as much as I love you, and I’ll leave.”

  Kristin stared at him, not exactly sure of what she had just heard. He loved her? Had he actually said he loved her? David removed the clip from her hair, freeing it to fall haphazardly around her face. He wove his fingers through it and cradled the back of her head in his hand.

  “Tell me.” He demanded the answer throatily. “Tell me, and I’ll leave.”

  It would make things so much easier if she could do as he requested, if she could just tell him she didn’t love him, but Kristin couldn’t lie to him.

  “I can’t.” Kristin’s voice fell to a whisper as she finally let go of the feelings she’d kept in check and gave in to the moment.

  David growled, and his mouth crushed hers as he claimed her with his lips.

  Kristin whimpered under the ferocity of his embrace, frightened by the intensity of the hunger he had for her.

  Pressed roughly against the wall, the hard contours of his lean frame dug into her softer ones. The control she had so carefully kept on her passions slipped away, and she encircled him with her arms. Her body pressed back against him just as hard.

  His mouth finally released hers, and she gulped for air. The pupils of his eyes turned black with the force of his desire. As Kristin stared intently into their depths, the thought of denying him and herself became an impossible option.

  He roughly shrugged off his sport coat, and quickly pulled his shirt over his head, dropping it to the floor. Reaching out to touch his tight chest she found that the heat from his bare skin scorched her.

  The muscles of his chest quivered where she touched him. She craved his hard and lean body, so full of strength. Kristin had wanted him badly, it seemed almost unreal that they were giving into it now. David’s hands moved swiftly to the edge of her T-shirt and pulled it over her head.

  His hands slowly cradled her breasts, and the small buds of her nipples hardened. Kristin moaned and let her head fall back as his thumbs stroked the sensitive points. Her body throbbed in time with her pulse. It was such sweet torture.

  David’s mouth covered hers once more, and muffled her soft cries of pleasure. His tongue darted past her lips into the dark recesses of her mouth. He tasted warm and spicy, as his tongue danced around hers in a slow, seductive tango.

  The wall felt cool against her back as his kisses passionately burned her front. Caught in the frenzy, Kristin rolled with David against the wall while they moved toward the bedroom. His muscular body shielded her as they fell on the bed in a tangle of limbs.

  The heat of their passion fogged Kristin’s mind, so only the sensations David created through his wicked tongue coursed through her body. His tongue traveled a white-hot path along the side of her neck to her breasts and snaked out to lap at each taught bud. Then he lightly nipped at each erect nipple with his teeth. Her back arched and she released a loud moan of ecstasy. Growls and groans of her pleasure drowned out all other noise.

  David’s hot breath never left her skin as he shifted his body and unbuttoned the waistband of her shorts with his mouth. Kristin raised her hips so he could ease them off, which left her exposed before him.

  The vulnerability of the moment frightened her suddenly, as she was about to travel a path of no return. David’s breath hissed sharply. He leaned in and kissed her gently.

  “So beautiful,” he whispered, chasing away the surfacing doubts as quickly as they had appeared.

  The rest of his clothes were quickly removed, and he returned to her embrace. She gasped at the contact of his bare skin against her own and ran her hands along the smooth muscles that rippled along his back. She pressed him to her, wanting there to be nothing separating their bodies, not even air. Wherever their bodies touched, fire burned along her skin.

  Her fingertips traveled along David’s back, down to his thigh, and the muscles flexed under her touch. Her hand explored between their bodies and encircled him. He gasped at the contact, as his body grew rigid over her. Normally she wasn’t so bold, but she itched to touch him everywhere. Her fingers stroked him gently as he pulsed in her hand.

  “Oh God…Kristin…” His voice rumbled in his chest and vibrated against her.

  Her hand increased its pressure and his moan was swallowed when he kissed her. Kristin wanted nothing more than to be wrapped around him, enveloping him in her molten core. He broke their kiss and stared intently into her eyes. She shuddered at the relentless beauty in their depths. Nothing would be the same after this.

  Her fear fell away when he shifted his body, settling between her shaking thighs. Kristin parted her legs wider and raised her hips to rub against him, the sensation a savory tease for what her body craved. She ached for him, the need inside her drowned out all rational thought.

  Swiftly, David sank inside her, and she gasped as his hardness filled her completely. He groaned and plunged again, and
her body pulsated in time with his.

  Kristin clutched David’s strong shoulders and dug her fingernails into his skin. She lifted her hips off the bed to meet his thrusts, the rhythm of their bodies a fervent dance.

  David seductively sucked her bottom lip into his mouth. Her hands gripped his shoulders tighter while she tilted her head back, exposing her throat. David’s mouth moved to her neck, and his tongue traced circles all along her passion-sensitive skin. He moved repeatedly within her, his heat flowing from her core to every nerve ending in her body. Kristin cried out loudly as every plunge brought her closer to the edge of that sweet abyss her body longed for. She wrapped her legs around him and drew him further inside her.

  With each thrust, David touched a part of her soul that no one else had even come close to.

  Her cries grew louder and faster as the spiraling sensations threatened to overtake her. Her arms wrapped around David tightly as he held onto her, his heart beating hard against her chest. He sank into her one last time, and the blinding tide of fire spilled over her, blossoming throughout her body in heated ripples like flower petals opening to the sun.

  “David…” she climaxed, and her body convulsed around him.

  He tensed with his own release, his body rigid as he spasmed within her.

  Kristin rode the wave of passion created by the torrent of their bodies pulsing together, throbbing as one. David kissed her lips again, and groaned. The sound was swallowed up by her mouth covering his.

  His body collapsed on top of her and they lay in bliss, the only sound their ragged breathing.

  Finally, David raised his head to look at her. “That was”

  “Intense.” Kristin’s response came out breathless from the exertion.

  David smiled and brushed a few strands of damp hair from her face. “You’re wonderful, lass.”

  “No…you’re wonderful.” She smiled mischievously.

  David kissed her, then shifted to lie at her side. She leaned her head against his chest, and his breathing evened out just as hers returned to normal. Kristin’s right hand rested in the thatch of dark hair on his chest, enjoying the coarseness of it between her fingers.

  What just happened between them was unlike anything Kristin had ever experienced, which was a bit startling. Especially since she always strived to remain in control. And she had definitely not remained in control. That relinquishment freed her, yet plagued her with uncertainty at the same time. Had it been just as profound for David?

  “This isn’t something I do lightly, you know.” She peered up at him.

  “Mmm hmm.” David had a sort of dreamlike expression on his face, indicating his thoughts were only partly on her words.

  Kristin pushed him with her fingers to get his attention. “I mean it. I haven’t had manypartners.”

  David glanced down just as her face heated from admitting her lack of experience.

  “How many?” His forehead wrinkled in question.

  “Two.” She cringed, waiting for his laughter.

  He raised his eyebrows in surprise. “Two besides me?”

  She bit her lip. “Two including you.” It took everything she had to let him know that he had only been her second lover.

  David’s face relaxed. “I’m the only man you’ve ever been with besides James?” His voice was soft and gentle. She didn’t hear any laughter or mocking in his voice.

  “Yes.” Her voice was barely above a whisper. Fear of admitting her inexperience to David squashed her voice down inside her throat, tightening it so that she could scarcely emit a sound.

  She fell in love with James when they were only seventeen, then married him at twenty-two. Kristin had never wanted or been with any other man. Until now.

  David caressed her cheek and lifted her chin to look into her eyes. Kristin’s gaze lingered as she tried to gauge what he was thinking. Had she said too much? She hoped not.

  “What about you?” Kristin managed to ask him, despite the tightness that continued to hold her voice hostage.

  “Hmm?” His eyes were still locked with hers.

  She was still dumbfounded by how much power those eyes of his had over her. One look was all it took to turn her insides to jelly. Thinking clearly became difficult, especially with the warmth of his skin pressed against her.

  Kristin took a shaky breath and cleared her throat. “How many partners have you had?” She wanted to know his answer, but dreaded it at the same time.

  He sighed and leaned his head back against the pillow. “Too many.”

  “Oh.” She turned her gaze away. Of course he was more experienced. She’d been a fool to think otherwise.

  David gently pulled her face back toward him. “But none like you,” he told her softly.

  Kristin’s heart skipped a beat. She wanted so much to believe him. Was she really unlike any other woman he had been witheven Sophie?

  Was it all too good to be true? But there again was their big problemSophie.

  Her happiness faltered at the thought of David’s ex-fiancé, but she refused to let reality intrude on this moment. Dealing with that would come later, after she’d let herself truly enjoy this time with him.

  “Oh, David.” Kristin snuggled closer to him and inhaled deeply. His scent was decidedly malemusky, spicy, and earthy. It was hard to describe, but it was oh, so David.

  The awareness of his body next to hers flooded her senses in waves like a drug, making her woozy. Her body basked in his heat, her skin sizzling at the touch of his long arms, his lean legs. His muscles contracted as he tightened his embrace around her.

  Her fingers traced the outline of his face, then moved through his hair to the back of his head. This time she pulled his face toward hers and focused completely on his lips.

  Kristin kissed him slowly, languidly, suckling at his mouth. When she pulled away from his mouth, her breath became raspy. His hardness pressed against her thigh, betraying his desire. It was wonderful to be wanted again.

  “The way that I see it.” David’s low and throaty voice quivered with passion. “Is that you have some catching up to do, then.”

  His lips brushed across her forehead, her eyes, her cheeks, her chin, and finally settled on devouring her mouth.

  “Is that so?” Kristin was out of breath when David’s mouth finally released hers.

  “Very much so.” He grinned devilishly, his eyes shining mischievously.

  Kristin grabbed the back of his head and pulled him to her.

  Gone was the frenzy from earlier, the frantic passion that wouldn’t be denied. David kissed her long and deep, tasting her slowly. There was a deeper desire now, the quieter need of a slow burning fire, set to smolder.

  Her artist’s hands explored his body leisurely, losing herself in her roman sculpture. His taught chest, chiseled stomach and smooth lean muscles were a work of art.

  Kristin pushed him backwards onto the bed and kissed a path over his chest. David buried his hands in her hair and moaned as her mouth reached his stomach. Her roaming hands brushed against his erection.

  David’s sharp intake of breath urged her tentative fingers onward. As Kristin’s head lay on his chest, her hand massaged him languidly. His chest rose and fell rapidly under her cheek as his breathing quickened. She enjoyed making him feel good, the power making her bolder than normal. Her thumb teased the head of his shaft, and he groaned loudly as his hips arched off the bed.

  “You’re killing me, lass.” She shivered at his husky brogue, her body craving him once again.

  David pulled her gently up to his level and kissed her, his tongue probing her mouth feverishly. He rolled her back onto the bed, and his mouth explored her body. Her ears, neck, and shouldersall were fair game to his lips. Every nerve in her body sizzled from his touch.

  His hands roved over her breasts. Their tips ached to be touched, but he continued over her stomach, down to that part of her that throbbed with need. His fingers found her dark curls and plunged in softl
y, finding that one spot to drive her mad.

  Kristin moaned and lifted her hips at his touch, arching her back in abandonment. David’s long fingers repeatedly brought her to the edge of the chasm, only to hold off and start her over again. She cried out from the sweet torture.

  “Please, David…” Kristin wanted him inside her, filling that need within her that only he could.

  David shifted on the bed, his breath hot as he kissed her passion-swollen mouth. He stared directly into her eyes as he slowly entered her, thrusting deeply within her once again.

  David filled her so completely, like a missing piece of her body that had at long last been found. He was large, and hot, but her soft core accommodated him easily with each thrust.

  Kristin trailed her hands down David’s back and pressed against him, drawing him further inside as she dug her heels into the mattress. David’s fingers found her breast, the tip inflamed by his touch. He tugged at her swollen nipple and Kristin moaned, while a jolt of electricity shot straight between her legs. She clenched around him, and David moaned as well, quickening his movements within her.

  The beating of Kristin’s heart kept time with David’s as their bodies staked out a pleasurable rhythm that drove her closer to release. The world disappeared and there was only the two of them, clinging to each other.

  Kristin flew and soared above the clouds. The air rushed around her as her body wrapped around his.

  “David…” Calling out his name seemed natural as her orgasm flooded through her. Every muscle flexed, holding onto that pleasure as it throbbed its way along every nerve ending.

  “Kristin…” he too cried out her name as he climaxed, and his body tightened around and within hers.

  He kissed her deeply, his lips full of more meaning than any words could hope to convey.