Storm Front by Monette Michaels

and some other war vets. A place where you can control your surroundings and you feel safe.”
    “Exactly.” She rubbed her cheek against the hand supporting her head. “I would’ve called you … eventually. I really wanted to go to the Bulls game, ya know.”
    Earl laughed and kissed the corner of her mouth. “Well, sweetheart, you can go to every Bulls game this season once we get this ass-bastard off your case and out of your life. I promise.”
    “Yay.” She wrinkled her nose. “Now can I go pee and get a drink?”
    “Yeah.” Earl laid her back down, released her, and then rolled out of the bed on the opposite side, his back to her.
    Even in the dim lighting, she could see every detail of his muscled torso. The man was huge and had to outweigh her by a hundred pounds. She licked her lips and imagined all that yummy mass over her, thrusting—then he turned to move to her side of the bed.
    Oh, my God! His huge cock stood at attention, and the tip of it touched his navel. She whimpered in arousal and, yes, a slight touch of fear.
    Yes, he is definitely more man than you’ve ever had. Yowza!
    “Tessa, you scared?” Earl came around to her side of the bed and leaned over her prone body, his arms caging her. “I can put on some clothes. I don’t want you being scared of me physically. I’ll never hurt you. We can take our relationship as slowly as you need. The nudity was only to get your body temperature up since I didn’t want to risk putting you in a hot bath.”
    “Not afraid. Impressed is more like it.” She licked her lips and assessed her body and mind’s reaction to his maleness. “I’m aroused, sort of.” Be honest . “No, not sort of. A lot.”
    Earl groaned, and his cock twitched and seemed to seek her like a dowsing rod looking for a source of water. “God, sweetheart. Don’t say that if you don’t mean it, because I’ve had a hard-on since the first minute I met you on Saturday. Lying next to you has been a lesson in restraint. Restraint isn’t something I’m used to when it comes to sex.” He lifted one hand from the bed and swept some of her hair behind her ear. “But for you, I would, and will, do anything you need.”
    “I want you.” Tessa touched his chest, swirling a finger in the smattering of dark, silky hair that covered his chest from nipple to nipple. “Very much.”
    Earl groaned. “Baby, you were very close to death. I’m not sure the kind of sex I need is something you’re up for at the moment. And with your past … I’m worried—”
    “Shh, it’s okay. I’m fine.” Tessa took one of his hands and placed it on her abs just above her navel. She hesitated and looked at his expression and found only desire and something even more precious in his dark eyes. She slowly pulled his hand down her body, her gaze never looking away from his.
    “Sweetheart, do you want me to pet your pussy?” His voice was husky and low. “Make love to you?”
    She nodded and placed his hand over her very wet slit and aching clit. “After I get cleaned up a bit and have something to eat and drink, will you try?”
    Earl swept a finger through her wet folds and growled. “God, sweetheart, you’re drenched.”
    He lifted his fingers to his face and sniffed and then licked her juices from them. His gaze never left hers, and she about died at the desire and love she saw there. He liked her, maybe even more than liked. She was something more than a body to him. She choked back a sob of relief. She’d done enough crying in front of this special man.
    “You want me to love you, baby? You sure?”
    “Yes. I want this. I want you.” Tessa took his hand once more and held it firmly over her pussy.
    “I promise to make it good for you, but only if you’re up to it. You took quite a beating on the mountainside.” Earl’s lips twisted into a slight smile, and then he swept her up into his arms and carried her to the bathroom in what she now saw was his room and not hers. “But