Free Leave the Lights On by Karen Stivali Page B

forward, her hair brushing gently against his chest, she placed a whisper-soft kiss on the darkest scar. Her warm voice breathed against his skin as her lips passed over him. “They remind me that you’re still alive.”
    Her words struck a chord deep within him. He watched in awe as she moved from one scar to the next, her nose gently grazing his chest as she kissed every mark.
    Threading his fingers into her hair, he tilted her head. Eyes dark and earnest. Lips slightly parted. She was the most beautiful he’d ever seen her. Had ever seen anyone. Sophie. He struggled to find a single word other than her name but nothing came to mind.
    Reluctant to close his eyes, he let them drift shut as his mouth found hers. Slow, gentle kisses grew more potent as their tongues met, swirling together in a delicious spiral. Bracing his arm against her back, he lowered them both onto her bed.
    So soft. Everything about her was so soft. So imminently touchable. Silky hair. Velvety skin. Every curve of her body yielded to his as they rocked against each other.
    Sophie deepened the kiss, sucking his tongue into her mouth as she stroked his back. Jesus. The touch of her hand made him crave more. He hadn’t let himself think about quite how much he’d missed the feel of another person. The scent of someone else’s skin.
    As much as he wanted to ravish her, he forced himself to go slowly, savoring every sensation. The sweet scent rising off her body made him crazy. Kissing his way down to her collarbone, the fragrance intensified. Warm but slightly spicy, like tea with honey. His lips skimmed along the hollow of her neck. Her sighs of pleasure encouraged him as he kissed lower, tracing his fingertips beneath the cups of her bra.
    Feeling her nipple pucker below the thin fabric, he kissed his way over one stiff peak, exhaling hot breath. Sophie moaned, curling her hips tighter into his. Reaching behind her, saying a silent prayer, he squeezed the clasp of her bra, breathing a sigh of relief when he felt it spring undone.
    Gently slipping the strap off her shoulder, he pulled back enough to allow the rest of the bra to fall forward. The sight of Sophie’s pert, pale breasts made his breath catch in his throat. Dark pink nipples, firm as gumdrops, close enough to touch. He slid one hand along her ribs, inching higher, grazing beneath each mound before passing his fingertips across the puckered flesh. A whimper escaped her as he lowered his mouth and flicked his tongue against the taut skin.
    Parker shivered with need. He wanted her. Not just her lips and her breasts. Not her hands. All of her. Easing lower, he hooked his fingers into the waistband of her yoga pants. Her sexy, black, I-can’t-see-straight-when-she’s-wearing-them yoga pants. Hesitating to make sure she was okay, he felt her shimmy her hips as her hand joined his and tugged the pants down. Thank God.
    Smoothing his hand across her hips, he couldn’t believe how much heat radiated off her. Sophie resumed stroking his back, but only for a moment. Fingers quickly slithered around his waist and down to the button of his jeans. With one flick it popped open, and he felt her lowering the zipper.
    Feeling her tug to get his jeans off was all the incentive he needed. He rolled onto his back, raised his hips and quickly rid himself of his pants. Before he could turn back toward her, Sophie’s hands were on him, tracing over his chest, dancing lower, twirling through the hair on his stomach, sending goose bumps across his skin. Even through the fabric of his boxer briefs, her touch drove him wild. Drawing her palm down the length of his erection, she curved her fingers around his balls, squeezing lightly.
    Tremors raced up his spine as his stomach muscles clenched. Sophie slid her hand back up then dipped beneath the fabric that separated them. Her warm fingertips against his swollen flesh were almost too much to bear. Sucking in a deep breath, he steeled himself against the pleasure.