Banishing Shadows by Lorna Jean Roberts

down his shaft, learning the feel of him, loving the velvety warmth.
    “Kayla, you don’t have to—”
    “I want to.”
    Tonight she’d lain in bed for ages before falling asleep, her mind replaying that terrifying moment where she’d been unable to find him.
    When she’d awoken from the midst of her nightmare, she’d wanted only him. To be held safely in his arms. To reassure herself that he was alive.
    The thought of sleeping with any other man made her nauseous. The thought of sleeping with Cord? Hot, nervous, needy. Sex was so intimate. She needed to trust the man she slept with, to be so attracted to him that desire for him would push her past any fear.
    Cord ticked all the boxes.
    God, she craved him.
    “Hey.” He grabbed her hands, stilling them as she started to pull off her t-shirt. She was dressed in her usual night attire, an oversized t-shirt and panties. “There’s no rush.”
    “I’m in a rush,” she snapped, disgruntled. “I’m antsy. My skin feels tight and itchy. I have this constant need rolling through me. I need…I need…”
    “Okay, it’s okay. Here, lie on the bed.” She fell back, expecting him to touch her. Instead he leaned up on one elbow and stared down at her.
    “Do you know how gorgeous you are?”
    She blushed, feeling self-conscious. Cord kissed her neck, his mouth hot and wet against her skin as she trembled, flooded with desire.
    “We go as far as you want. You know if you need to stop, just say the word and I’ll stop.” His gaze was fierce, his touch gentle.
    He slowly pulled off her t-shirt.
    Cord brushed his lips over the skin behind her ear, a spot she hadn’t realized could feel so erotic. Her pussy flooded as he continued down her neck to her breast. Reaching a stiff nipple, he sucked firmly. Cupping her mound, he simply held her.
    “Please, don’t tease me,” she cried.
    Moving toward the bottom of the bed, Cord slowly removed her panties and knelt between her spread legs, his gaze devouring her.
    “Aren’t you going to get undressed?”
    “No, baby.”
    Wild lashings of pleasure seared her as he ran his tongue up her thigh.
    “Oh lord,” she groaned, widening her legs.
    “We’re going to take this nice and slow.”
    Slow? Was he mad?
    “What if I don’t want nice and slow? What if I want hard, fast and furious?”
    He chuckled. “Oh, there’s plenty of time for that. Right now, this is all about you. What you want, what you need, all you.”
    He licked her, teasing her, driving her insane.
    “Please, more,” she begged.
    “Hmm.”
    “More, more, more,” she demanded, twirling her fingers in his hair, trying to force him closer.
    “Easy, angel, easy.”
    He used his tongue to play with her clit, skimming over it. Her hips rose, a low sigh of satisfaction escaping as he skilfully manipulated the bundle of nerves.
    When her release washed over her, long and deep, she closed her eyes, savoring the rush, letting herself slip away.
    Reluctantly, she drifted back down to reality. Cord rolled her, spooning her from behind.
    “What about you?” she asked, her voice drugged with satisfaction.
    He kissed the back of her head. “I have everything I need right here.”
    * * * * *
     
    Kayla stirred, opening her eyes as Cord slowed his truck and pulled into the motel parking lot. It had been a long day. She’d insisted on going to work even though she’d had little sleep. She was really regretting that stubborn decision now. She’d spent all day thinking about Cord, about what they’d done last night. When she’d thought about the possibility of losing him, of him dying…she’d wanted to die herself.
    Because she loved him. Always had.
    Damn. If only she could keep her feelings out of it. Yeah, right. And yet, she didn’t want to pull away.
    “Wait there,” Cord ordered. He left the truck and strode around to her door, opening it and lifting her into his arms. Locking the truck, he turned toward the motel. They’d only stayed one night