Free Awakening Beauty by Bonnie Dee and Marie Treanor Page A

broad line of his naked shoulders and back. There was no detail to be seen in the dark. But a chink of light from the street broke through the heavy curtains to shine near his edge of the bed. Slowly, she raised herself on one elbow and looked over his shoulder at his sleeping face.
    She’d been right. The light did illuminate his features, smooth and contented in sleep, seeming much younger and more vulnerable than in his wakeful state. She felt an urge to touch his face, the fine creases around his eyes, his full, still lips… She remembered how they’d felt on hers. Her heart beat faster and louder.
    There was magic in a kiss. She’d always been taught that and she believed it. The kiss of this man was meant to awaken her, she was sure. And if the “fairytale” Joel had told her was at least partially true, then the spell of her guardian fairies must have been so strong that his very presence had done the job. He wasn’t a prince. But in this world, neither was she a princess, and she found she didn’t much care. Not when she could gaze on the sleeping face of this strong, handsome man and imagine his arms around her and his mouth on hers once more.
    He stirred, turning with a hint of restlessness. In fright, Aurora, whipped back on her other side and pretended to sleep. She might be the “new” Aurora with the power to do as she wished, but she was also the old Aurora who was shy and nervous about all this.
    Joel grunted and then breathed normally again, long and deep. Aurora let out a sigh of relief. But he was closer now. She could feel his warm breath tickling her nape, making the tiny hairs there stand up in awareness. At first, she was frightened to move, and then, slowly, she realized she liked his breath on her neck; she liked his nearness, the warmth radiating from his body to hers. Sharing a bed was not so bad. Except that it made her wonder what would happen if he came any closer, if he touched her…
    He wouldn’t. He’d said so, and she had the feeling he regarded her as more of a precocious child than a woman capable of adult feelings. Her body heated. Adult sensations. Joel’s kisses on her mouth, on her breasts, Joel’s clever, knowing hands all over her body, fanning the flame she could feel burning here between her legs.
    She let her mind go, fantasizing about more of those kisses, imagining his hand caressing her thigh, sliding inward to stroke the little nub of delight. Would he bring her to full pleasure that way? Oh yes, certainly in this fantasy. She wanted his cock too, but since she had no idea how that would feel, she’d stick with his hand.
    At her shoulder, Joel stirred again, as if he was too hot or uncomfortable. His breath pushed out, ruffling her hair, and without warning he shifted against her. Shocked, she expected him to jump away again immediately, but instead, he let out a grunt of apparent satisfaction and hooked one arm over her.
    Aurora was afraid to breathe, especially when his thighs curved against hers, fitting his whole body around her shape.
    When one got over the shock, she decided after several moments, it was really quite a nice, enveloping hug. She couldn’t even take offense since he was obviously asleep and unaware whom he was cuddling. Or even that he was cuddling. Well, she would take the comfort and the oddly sweet, stolen excitement of his touch. It was real, physical, and so much better than fantasy.
    She smiled into the pillow and closed her eyes. And since his hand lay so close, she wrapped her fingers around his. Now she could sleep.
    She’d almost drifted off when he moved closer, pressing against her. Her eyes sprang open. Shocked all over again, she felt the hardness of his erection pushing against her bottom, insinuating itself between her cheeks. His hand slid free of her fingers and down inside the quilt, finding the curve of her waist and hip and thigh. The warm breath on her neck hitched as his hand caressed and tangled in her chemise,