She did that thing she always did when he told her so, closing her eyes for a moment then smiling softly—timidly. “Thank you,” she whispered then leaned against his body, making that vulnerability she made every attempt to hide so evident.

He kissed her deeper now, but unlike the first couple of times last night when he’d eaten her up like a starving man—every inch of her—now he wanted to take it slowly. All the times before when he’d told her how beautiful he thought she was, it’d made him nervous—nervous that she might pick up on something he let escape each time—something he apparently had no control over. Now he wanted her to pick up on it. He wanted her to know that she may not have to answer to him and he wouldn’t ever ask to tie her down if what she wanted was to fly free. But at the very least, as long as she was involved with him, she’d have mercy on his heart. The simple fact that he was thinking of Nellie in terms of what she did to his heart as opposed to other parts of his body, scared him breathless.

What Nellie had told him last night about still loving her sister even after what the selfish little bitch had done to her gave him hope that he’d been right all along about this beautiful woman. She didn’t have the kind of heart it would take to spend time that felt this special with one guy and then casually do the same with someone else.

Bringing his hands around her now, he continued to kiss her as he pressed her against the wall, his erection firmly against her hip. He ran his hands up and down her body a little more frantically now as they swept down between her legs. She gasped against his mouth when he slipped two fingers inside her. Her own hand roamed from his shoulders all the way down his arms until they were on his hips, and then she took him in her hand, making him groan.

Instinctively, he began to lift her, wanting her to wrap her legs around him so he could be in her already, but she protested. “We can’t in here,” she said quickly. “No condom.” Damn, he hadn’t even thought of that. In the next moment, she slid down his body until she was on her knees, and his legs nearly gave out on him as she licked away at what he was certain was already dripping with more than just water. “But there is one thing I can do.”

She took him so far and deep in her mouth that he had to hold on to the shower head, certain his legs would give out on him this time. “Oh, baby!” He managed to say before his head dropped back in ecstasy as she licked and sucked him harder.

With one hand on the shower head, he ran his fingers through her wet hair. He squeezed his eyes shut, wondering if he’d ever kiss her again without messing his pants. He’d forever be reminded of what her amazing tongue was doing to him now. Normally he could hold out a little longer than this, but already he felt ready to blow. “I’m gonna come, babe,” he warned, but she kept on, her tongue going into high gear now. “Jesus!” he said as the first enormous release came and still her tongue went on.

He had to lean against the wall as he continued to explode massively in her mouth. Her hand let go, but her mouth didn’t as she continued licking away every drop. “God, that’s enough, babe, “he pleaded, his legs feeling like noodles now. “I can’t take anymore.”

She kissed the very sensitive tip before looking up at him with a sly smile. “Just so you know,” she said as he helped her up. “I’ve never done that before.” She licked her lips again. “Swallowed. But with you, I wanted to.” He stared at her, his heart still pounding away as she continued to lick her lips sheepishly and unbelievably a little timidly. “I liked it.”

Reaching out, he brought her to him, and she fell into his arms. Maybe it was wishful thinking, but the way she wrapped her arms around him and kissed his chest made it feel as though her little confession, about having done this with only him, gave him hope that it meant more. Maybe this and everything else she’d experienced with him for the first time so far would stay just like that for good—with only him.

Chapter 6

“Not on your life, Abel Ayala.” Nellie said as she snuck a peek at one of the brochures Abel had taken from the hotel lobby.

“Hey!” Abel smirked, moving it out of her sight. “You’re not supposed to be peeking. I told you I wanna surprise you.”

“Well, I’ll tell you right now.” Nellie shook her head defiantly. “St. John will bend a finger the day you or anybody else gets me to bungee jump.”

“What!” Abel laughed.

“Yeah.” A small smile broke through despite her sudden alarm that Abel might actually try to get her to bungee jump. “My mom says that a lot. Only she usually says it in Spanish. It probably makes more sense that way too.”

Abel shook his head, still laughing, and then kissed her softly. “What does that even mean?”

He stared at her bright-eyed, his big gorgeous smile taking her breath away. She felt silly suddenly, though the way he was looking at her made her heart flutter. “You know St. John the Apostle? Most depictions of him have him extending a finger or two up in front of him like this,” she lifted her fingers in front of her, feeling so silly about using her parents’ outdated saying that she felt her face warm.

Glancing at her fingers then back at what Nellie was sure was now a red face, Abel took her fingers in his hand and kissed them. “You’re adorable.” First, he kept insisting she was beautiful; now she was adorable? Her heart felt ready to burst. “Say it in Spanish. I’ll use that on my mom as soon as I get a chance.”