Free The Edge of Forever by Jenika Snow

continued to keep a firm, yet gentle hold on her wrists. Slowly he removed his hands from her, but she didn’t try to cover herself again, not when he watched her so intently. With her heart in her throat, Poppy stared with wide eyes when Blake gripped her shirt again and lifted it. He stopped right below her breasts, but her embarrassment was the area of her body his attention was now on. Face feeling like it was on fire, Poppy was frozen in place.
    His warm breath teased the skin of her belly, and she took in a stuttering breath. The first touch of his lips on her scar had her mouth parting and her pulse racing. Over and over he kissed and ran his tongue along the proof of everything she tried to forget. The tears she tried so hard to keep at bay spilled forth until great, wracking sobs left her. Poppy covered her face with her hands and cried as Blake continued to lave attention to the part of her body she had always felt discomfiture over.
    “You’re beautiful, love.” Blake whispered. “You’re the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.” His hands took over where his lips had just been. He caressed her in a gentle sweep of his fingers, so soft and smooth that goose-bumps formed along her skin. “Every part of you is beautiful.” His hands moved up, and up, until they stopped right below her bra. “Look at me.” Poppy let her hands fall away and looked at Blake, who was now mere inches from her face. “I want you to tell me you’re beautiful.” He leaned in the rest of the space and kissed her long and slow. When he broke the kiss he stayed only inches away again. “Tell me, love.”
    Poppy licked her lips, the words getting lodged in her throat. His eyes urged her to continue, to find the strength deep inside of her. When was the last time she felt beautiful? When Jon told me right before he died. Now was not the time for this, not when Blake opened up her heart again. Not when she felt something. Finding the courage deep inside her soul, Poppy grabbed for it and didn’t let go.
    “I’m beautiful.” The words were barely a whisper from her, but Blake heard her nonetheless and brushed his lips across hers in response.
    “Yes, yes you are, love.” He took her mouth again, and she became lost in the sensations of lips, tongues, and hands. It felt like they kissed for hours, or maybe it was just minutes, but it felt glorious regardless. Mouth swollen from the blood that rushed below the surface, cheeks scrapped from the erotic scrape of his stubble along her skin, and pussy so wet the lining of her panties was unbearably soaked, Poppy drifted away in the hazy fog of aroused delight.
    With quick movements and expert hands, Blake had her shirt off and her bra undone and tossed aside. She had only ever been naked in front of one person, had only ever given herself to one man, but the way Blake looked down at her, with not just desire but love and understanding, had the wall she had built around her heart after Jon died fading away. She lifted her arms and ran the pads of her fingers across his bare chest. His body lightly shook beneath her hands, and she knew he was just as affected by this encounter.
    “I want you, Blake.” Poppy dropped her hands and gripped the edge of her pajama bottoms. She lifted her hips and dragged them down her legs and off when Blake moved aside. He looked almost stunned, or unsure of her actions, but he didn’t stop her. So she reached for the drawstring of his lounge pants. “Tell me this is right, that you want this, too.” Hands on the strings but not making a move to loosen it, Poppy stared into his eyes. Everything around her stilled as she waited to hear his answer. It was strange how the roles had been reversed. It now seemed Blake was unsure of what was transpiring. He closed his eyes, and his jaw clenched as he dealt with his internal battle. Poppy went to drop her hands, but Blake anticipated her move and placed his hands atop hers, stilling her movements.
    “I