Rocky Mountain Rescue, Elle James [rooftoppers .TXT] 📗

attempted to slide from under her and return to his room, but as he untangled her arm from around his waist, she whimpered.

“It’s okay,” he said. And brushed her hair back from her forehead. “You’re going to be all right.” Again, he tried to slip out from under her.

Her hand captured his.

“Please,” she said, and her eyes fluttered open. “Don’t go. I don’t want the dreams to return.”

“Try to think of something else. Like kittens, and puppies.”

“And babies,” she whispered.

“And babies,” he agreed. He could imagine a baby of JoJo’s. She’d have dark eyes and jet-black hair just like her mama, and she’d be as beautiful as her mama.

Since she didn’t want him to leave, he slid down until he was lying next to her with her body pulled up against his. His groin tightened, and his pulse increased pace as her leg slid over his and her breasts pressed into his chest.

He swallowed a groan. Lying next to her made him only want to hold her longer and closer, preferably naked. But she didn’t need that now. She needed him to focus on providing comfort not slaking desire.

His body tense, he tried to relax and go to sleep. It was a long time coming before he finally drifted into a disturbed sleep.

He remained half-awake for a while, afraid his body would react to hers, and he would touch her and take advantage of her without being fully conscious of it. And if she had been assaulted, attempting to make love to her would only frighten her.

So, he lay in a half-sleep, half-awake state loving the feel of her next to him and thinking that it was too bad they weren’t really engaged.

JoJo slept the deepest sleep she’d had since she’d woken up in the hospital in Ramstein, Germany. From the moment Max had gathered her into his arms and lay down beside her on the bed, she’d relaxed. She felt safe in his arms.

She blinked her eyes open to the gray light of dawn, as she nestled snugly in the crook of Max’s arm. Her cheek rested against his bare chest. She listened to the steady beat of his heart, reassuring in its evenness. Her hand rested on the solidness of his abdomen, his warmth seeping into her.

JoJo could’ve closed her eyes and gone back to sleep. Instead she lay there, taking in everything about Max, from his woodsy scent, to the hard planes of his muscles. He’d held her without any hint of sexual intent. Had he made a move on her, she probably would’ve backed away. Now, she lay with her cheek resting on his naked chest, wondering how it would feel to lie naked against his entire body.

Her pulse quickened at the thought, and heat spread from her core outward. What would it feel like to make love with him? Would he be gentle? Would she be receptive? Or would she freeze in the flashbacks of her rape?

His breathing was deep and steady. His eyes closed and his body relaxed. While he slept, light crept into the room. From where she lay, she studied his skin, his muscles and the way his chest rose and fell with each breath. As if of its own accord, her hand moved across his belly and lower.

His muscles twitched beneath her hand.

JoJo froze.

His breathing remained steady, indicating he was still asleep. Unable to resist, she slid her hand even lower. When she reached the elastic band of his boxer shorts, his hand came up and grabbed hers.

“Hey, darling. I don’t want you to start something you can’t finish.”

“What if I want to finish it?” she whispered.

He chuckled and released her hand. “Knock yourself out.”

Taking a deep breath, she slid her hand beneath the elastic band and immediately encountered the velvety smooth head of his erection. Her breath lodged in her throat. Caught between the excitement of desire and fear, she hesitated.

“Don’t do it if it scares you,” Max said.

“You confronted your fears and came out stronger,” she reminded him.

“Fear of heights is a lot different than whatever’s got you knotted up.” He smoothed a hand over her hair. “Look, JoJo, we barely know each other, but I give you my word I would never hurt you.”

JoJo nodded. “I believe you.” And she did.

“That being said, you need to tell me what you want from me.”

She swallowed hard at the lump in her throat. “I don’t know what I want.”

He slid his hand down her arm. “Sweetheart, I could take you to the very edge and leave you satisfied without ever penetrating you.”

JoJo shivered at the velvety silkiness of his tone. His talk about sex made the heat at her core flame. “What about you?” she asked. “What if I don’t want to…”

He chuckled. “I could be more than satisfied just to see you come apart.”

A shiver of desire rippled through her.

His hand swept up her arm and back down. “I can go as slow or as fast as you want.”

She stilled, her heart beating hard against her chest. “What if I want you to stop?”

He drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Then I’ll stop. You’ll be in control. And only you.”

With him touching her body, she doubted that she would be in much control.

“Or we could just lie here and enjoy each other’s company.” His arm tightened slightly around her, and then loosened.

He’d placed no demands on her or her body. Which made touching him even more tempting. “Go slowly,” she whispered, and then held her breath wondering if he’d heard her.

Several seconds passed before he asked, “Are you sure?”

She nodded, her cheek rubbing against his chest as she did. Then she tilted her head up to look into his eyes as he looked down at her, and she spoke a little louder. “Go slowly.”

Max shifted to where he was lying on his side facing her. He cupped her cheek in his hand and leaned forward to press his lips to hers. His hands slipped