Healed by Love (Love in Bloom: The Bradens) Read online

  “Jewel? Are you sure?” he asked even though he wasn’t sure he’d be able to back away this time. He wanted her too much, had loved her for too long.

  “Shut up, Nate.” She pulled him into another kiss.

  His hands moved slowly over her body as she groped and touched and clawed at him. He skimmed the sides of her breasts, her rib cage, and finally—finally—clutched her hips. He’d dreamed of holding her this way in his bed. He loved her soft curves and couldn’t help but grind his hips into hers as he took her in another heated kiss. The desire to touch all of her at once, to love her slowly, fast, hard, soft, deep, and then to start all over again, had his hands moving fast and furious over her curves, his mouth seeking her hot flesh anywhere he could.

  For the first time in his life, Nate Braden was overwhelmed.

  Jewel was kissing him hungrily, clawing at his back, his sides, his ass. She ground her hips against his hard length, like she was as frantic to have him inside her as he was to be there. He pried his mouth from hers but couldn’t stay away. He had to possess her mouth again, her jaw, the heated skin of her neck. The air left her lungs in a rush, spurring him on to suck and lick and taste with fervor. He lowered the straps of her top down her arms, trailing kisses over the arch of her breast to the edge of her lacy bra, desperately wanting to feel her taut nipple against his tongue.

  “Nate,” she whispered, bringing his mind back into focus.

  Her lips curved up in the sweetest smile he’d ever seen.

  He touched his forehead to her chest for a moment while he tried, futilely, to rein in his desires, then met her gaze. “Hey, beautiful.” He brushed her hair from her forehead and pressed a kiss to her lips. “Am I moving too fast?”

  “No. I just…” She smiled again and searched his eyes for a moment. “I just wanted to kiss you again.”

  He shifted his weight so he was lying beside her and pulled her against him.

  “That sounds like the best idea of all.”

  Their lips touched as softly as a whisper. He slid his hand beneath her hair as their mouths made sweet love, unhurried. He shifted, bringing them flush from knees to chest, and slid one hand up the back of her shirt, pressing her chest harder against his. They still weren’t close enough—would they ever be? He nipped at her lower lip, and her head tilted back, exposing the ivory expanse of her neck for him to love. He kissed his way to the dip below her earlobe, and she moaned.

  “I’ve loved you for so long.” He sucked her lobe into his mouth, and she moaned again. “I’ve dreamed of hearing that sound so many times.”

  Her hands found his back, and he was surprised at how carefully she touched him, as if they had all the time in the world, while her body trembled as if she were anxious for more. The conflicting messages confused him, but he couldn’t maintain the slower pace. He recaptured her mouth, more demanding this time, and, as if she’d been just waiting for him to let go, she returned his efforts with reckless abandon, rocking her hips forward, clutching at his shoulders and back, sending a searing heat and desire through him. He didn’t know that it was possible to want her more than he already did, to crave her like a drug, but she took him there, made him feel like he’d explode if he wasn’t inside her soon. Every gasp of awareness, every arch of her back, every press of her fingers into his heated skin, made him fall deeper into her, into them.

  “Jewel. I have to see you, to touch you.”

  “Yes.” She pulled at her shirt as if it had suddenly gotten too tight.

  He drew it over her head, and the pit of his stomach flamed at the sight of her creamy skin against her black lace bra. How many times had he dreamed of this moment? But his dreams didn’t come close to how truly stunning she was. He took a minute to drink her in and catch his breath. The passion and innocence in her eyes coalesced with the frantic pulse point beating on her neck, and nearly took him over the edge.

  “You’re more beautiful than I could have ever imagined.”

  Her skin flushed with the compliment. She closed her eyes and he kissed her lids. “Look at me, sweetheart. I adore you. There’s no reason to be shy. You’re the only woman I want, and you’re perfect.”

  Her eyes opened, and he kissed her again. His hands shook as they moved over the lace cups of her bra. He’d waited so many years, had told himself for so long that she was off-limits, and now she was his. He was so overtaken with love for her that he could barely think.

  “I want to see all of you, Jewel.”

  She nodded, pushing at the waistband of her jeans. He gently moved her hands to her sides and kissed his way down her belly, feeling her breathing quicken as he moved closer to her waist. He lifted his eyes to hers, making sure she was okay, and the smoldering look in her baby blues, combined with the way she pushed at her jeans, told him she was anxious for him to move faster. He opened her jeans and laced his fingers with hers as he kissed along the top edge of her panties.

  “Nate,” she said urgently.

  Taking the hint with a groan of his own, he took off her jeans and tossed them to the floor. Seeing Jewel lying beneath him wearing nothing more than a bra and panties set his entire body aflame, but it was the trust in her eyes that made his heart swell. She pulled at his shirt, and he tugged it off and stripped off his shorts, leaving himself bare, save for his boxer briefs. Her eyes rolled over him as he came down beside her. She licked her lips, making him even harder as her hands moved slowly over his chest and abs.

  “Nate?” She leaned up to kiss his chest. “Can we switch places?”

  “Babe, we can do anything you want.”

  He rolled onto his back. Her slender fingers traced the lines of his muscles, and her mouth followed in the most scintillating torture. She dragged her tongue across his abs, her hands splayed on each side. Then she blew softly on the wet trail, sending shivers up his spine.

  “Holy hell,” he ground out.

  Jewel was torturing him, taunting him, and at the same time, she looked as if she was exploring, discovering. She made him feel special and loved, and he hoped like hell he made her feel the same way. Pulses of anticipation coursed through him as he watched her drag her tongue along the edge of his briefs, to the center, where the tip of his erection separated them from his skin. She lifted her eyes and met his gaze as she slicked her tongue along the sensitive head. It took all of Nate’s focus to keep from flipping her over and taking his fill. He fisted his hands in the blanket as the edges of her mouth curved up, and she licked him again. Nate thrust his hips up, and his head fell back to the mattress. She stroked her palm over his erection and lowered her mouth to his abs again, sucking, licking, laving her tongue around his belly button while she gently squeezed him through his briefs.

  “Baby. You’re killing me.”

  Her hand flew off of him. “Sorry.”

  Nate pulled her up against him with a soft laugh. “Not that kind of killing, sweetheart. You’re making me so hot I can barely stand it.” He rolled her beneath him and sealed his lips over hers. “You don’t get to taste until I do.”

  He unhooked her bra and slipped it off. “You’re trembling.”

  “Cold,” she whispered.

  “Let me see if I can rectify that.”

  He lowered his mouth to her breast and sucked her nipple against the roof of his mouth. She writhed and arched into him.

  She bit her lower lip as he cupped her sex through her panties.

  “Oh, baby. You’re so wet.”

  He stroked her through the damp material, and their mouths crashed together again. She rocked her hips, pressing her center against his palm and exhaling sexy little sounds that nearly made him come. He took her breast in his mouth again, groaning at the feel of the hard peak and at the way she panted with need. He slid his fingers inside her panties, and she sucked in a breath as he teased her slick, sensitive heat. She opened her eyes and met his gaze, and the temperature in the room spiked. He brought his wet fingers to his mouth and sucked her juices from them, relishin
g the way her whole body shuddered in response. “You like seeing that, don’t you?”

  Her cheeks pinked up. “I like everything you’re doing.”

  Jewel dug her fingers into his shoulders as he dragged his tongue along her damp panties. She tasted salty and sweet, but he needed his mouth on her. He pulled off her panties, revealing her soft curls.

  “You’re glistening wet. So fucking perfect.”

  He spread her with his thumbs and used the tip of his tongue to tease her, to taste her. She pressed her hands to his on the tops of her thighs.

  “Want me to stop?” he asked.

  “No. God, no. So good.”

  He slicked his tongue over her again, harder, then into her, deeper, needing more of her. He covered her sex with his mouth and teased her swollen clit with his thumb.

  “Oh God. Nate.” She panted, pressing her fingernails into his hands. She dug her heels into the mattress.

  Hearing her so close, feeling her sex swell against his mouth, made him eager to feel her come apart. He slid two fingers inside her, and she gasped.

  “Ohgodohgodohgod.”

  Her head slammed back against the mattress, and her hips flew off the bed. He pressed them back down and continued licking, laving at her as her inner muscles contracted around his fingers and she panted out his name. He didn’t relent until the last shudder rippled through her beautiful body. Only then did he withdraw his fingers—causing her to whimper.

  “Don’t worry, baby. I’m going to make you come again and again.”

  He moved up and claimed her mouth in another passionate kiss. She pulled back, and he silently chided himself.

  “Sorry.” He wiped the taste of her from his lips.

  She pulled him back into another kiss, and he relinquished control, wanting her to be as comfortable as possible. She kissed him tentatively at first, as if getting used to the taste of herself. He felt her heart beating wildly against his, and when she drew back and gazed into his eyes, her cheeks were flushed.

  “Sorry,” she whispered. “I’m just not used to that.”

  “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have assumed…”

  She shook her head. “I want you to assume. I’ll get used to it.” She leaned up and kissed him again. “Touch me more.”

  JEWEL MOVED NATE’S hand between her legs and closed her eyes, relaxing into the mattress as he teased and touched and licked and brought her the most exquisite pleasures again and again. She was more open and exposed than she’d ever been in her entire life, but she trusted Nate. She trusted him with her heart and soul, and she certainly trusted him with her body. When they’d first come into the bedroom, Jewel had thought about telling him—warning him—that she’d never gone all the way before, but she worried it might freak him out. And she wanted to be close to Nate too badly to risk it. She would tell him. She promised herself she would. But for now—oh my, that feels good—she wanted to just enjoy his touch.

  He touched and licked and loved her until her entire body pulsed with need, and when he rose off the bed, she thought for a second he was done. She didn’t want to be done. She watched as he stripped bare. Jewel swallowed hard at the sight of his thick, eager length. He was beautiful, from his sculpted, powerful body to his rugged features and lustful eyes. He moved with confidence to the bedside drawer and retrieved a condom. He tore it open with his teeth and set it on the bed beside her as he settled his hips between her legs and kissed her softly. She felt the thick head of his erection against her center, and Lord did it feel good. She’d never wanted anything as much as she wanted Nate. She was surprised that she wasn’t more nervous. She had to tell him, but suddenly she didn’t want to. The thought of him pulling away terrified her more than the thought of making love for the first time. The more she thought about it, the clearer the answer became.

  He’d already bared his soul to her. He deserved the same.

  He gazed into her eyes. “I feel like I’ve waited my whole life for this moment.”

  She nibbled on her lower lip, and he must have seen the concern in her eyes, because his brows drew together.

  “Talk to me, sweetheart. Do you want to stop?”

  No. God no. She vehemently shook her head. “No. I, um. I. Oh God, Nate, this is harder to say than I thought it would be.”

  “You can tell me anything.” He shifted up on his palms, and she pulled him back down.

  “I need you close while I tell you.”

  “Whatever you need,” he said sweetly, though she could see worry written all over his face.

  Tell him! Fast. Just say it. Ready? Set?

  Oh God.

  Nate shifted as if he was going to lie beside her, and she wrapped her arms around his back.

  “I need you here. Please.”

  “You look so conflicted, Jewel. I don’t want to make love to you if you aren’t one hundred percent sure—”

  “I’m one hundred and fifty percent sure. I just haven’t done this before.”

  There. She’d said it.

  “Haven’t done…?” He shook his head as if he didn’t understand.

  She shifted her eyes down to the center of their bodies. “This, Nate,” she whispered. “I’ve never…”

  His eyes widened in surprise for only a split second before going soft and filling with compassion. He pressed a hand to her cheek.

  “Baby, why didn’t you tell me earlier? I’ve talked dirty to you, and I…” The tenderness in his voice whispered over her skin like an embrace.

  “I was afraid you’d stop. I don’t want you to stop, Nate. I’ve never done any of this before, and I want to keep going.” She tried not to smile, but she couldn’t suppress it. For the first time in forever she felt free—like she was doing exactly what she wanted to be doing with the man she loved. “Keep going, Nate. Stop thinking. Don’t make it weird between us.”

  “Jewel.” He cocked his head to the side and breathed deeply.

  “Look at me.” She was surprised by the demand in her voice, but it sure brought his eyes back to her quickly, which was good. She didn’t want to lose momentum.

  “Don’t overthink this. My virginity isn’t something I was holding on to on purpose. Nate, I’m not one of those girls who is wrapped up in having that intact. It’s not like I think sex is taboo or my body is a temple. I’ve just been too busy to think about it much, and I wasn’t about to sleep with someone just to say I’d done it. Well, that’s not true. I thought about it with you…a lot.”

  He looked so serious that she began to worry he might back away.

  “I’ve never wanted anyone the way I want you, Nate, and I know that’s part of why it never bothered me that I wasn’t dating. You were away, but you were always with me.”

  She paused, hoping he’d say something, and she realized from the intense way he was looking at her, his mouth pressed together, brow furrowed, that he was too emotional to speak. Luckily, she wasn’t. “Love me, Nate.”

  He pressed his lips to hers for a few wonderful seconds, and when he drew back, he opened his mouth to speak, then closed it and drew his brows together again. Finally—God, finally—he said, “I’ve waited my whole life for you, too, Jewel. Loving you isn’t the problem. I love you with every ounce of my being. I just don’t want to hurt you.”

  She smiled, glad for the lighter thought, though she’d seen the size of him, and she knew he wasn’t worrying unnecessarily.

  “Just go slow.” She leaned up and kissed him, and thankfully, their mouths knew just how to overcome this hurdle.

  She felt his body ease against her, his muscles relaxed as he deepened the kiss. She reached for the condom, and he laced his fingers with hers without breaking their connection.

  “I love you so much, Jewel.”

  “I know you do.” She shifted her eyes to the condom, which was taunting her from a few inches away. “Now, please stop thinking and show me just how much.”

  She watched him as he sat back on his heels and sheathed his eager len
gth. Feelings bigger than need, more consuming than want, even more powerful than love, if that was possible, bloomed inside her, all around her. Her body arched up to meet him as he came down over her again. Her body knew what to do, drawn to him like metal to magnet. She didn’t want slow and careful, but she knew she needed it, at least this first time. He brought his lips to hers in a passionate kiss as his hips pressed slowly forward. His thick shaft stretched her, filling her a little at a time. Then he drew back out and began again. He pushed a little harder, sank a little deeper. The pressure wasn’t hurtful. It was surprisingly pleasurable and was softened by his tender kisses. She was glad he was her first. This coupling, the sharing of their hearts and souls, was too intimate to do with someone she didn’t love. Too intimate to do with anyone other than Nate, and with Nate, it was overwhelmingly perfect.

  “You okay?” he whispered against her lips.

  It was all she could do to nod. “Pressure, not pain.” She pressed on the back of his hips, urging him deeper. She sucked in air between her teeth as he pushed in deeper, and he stopped cold.

  “Don’t stop. It’s good, Nate. So good.”

  That seemed to satisfy his concern, and he kissed her again. Their tongues moved in perfect sync, pulling her into their love, into the emotions seeping from his lungs to hers. Her hips moved with his. She tilted them up as he sank into her until she couldn’t feel where she ended and he began.

  “Okay?” he asked against her lips.

  “Perfect. But we might have to practice a lot.”

  His hands snuck beneath her hips and held her at the angle where they fit together best as their mouths came together again. Lost in the kiss, her hands traveled up and down his back and her knees fell open as she learned to arch and rock and—Oh God—memorize the feel of a certain position that made her insides explode.

  “Ohgodohgod.”

  “That’s it, baby. Come for me. I’m not going to last long. You’re so tight.”

  “You’ll…” She panted through a wave of the most incredible orgasm. “Make it up...” Oh my, this is amazing. “To me.”