Page 17 of Aspen's Defense

"Kiss me," she whispers.

I willingly oblige, brushing my lips across hers until she softens beneath me, going pliant in my arms with a sweet sigh of surrender. Tension drains from her, her fears lying quietly.

I kiss her until she's shifting restlessly beneath me, little whimpers breaking from her lips. She needs release. I know she didn't sleep any better than I did last night. Nearly being shot this morning didn't help. She needs five minutes to forget everything but how good she can feel.

Maybe it's selfish of me to want to be the one who gives her that, but I fucking need it. I'm losing it for her. In more ways than one.

Little by little, she's consuming me. Every thought leads back to her. Obsession has taken root over the last twenty-four hours, and it's only growing stronger.

I've been certain of exactly two things in my life. Hockey and the woman beneath me. She feels like my future, deep in my bones. I can't explain it. Hell, I'm not sure there is an explanation that doesn't sound completely insane. But I saw her, and I knew. Just like that.

I need her on the same page. By any means necessary.

I kiss my way down her throat, pulling her shirt up at the same time. There's no way I'm getting a taste of her without seeing her spread out beneath me.

She shivers as I skim my hands up her sides, loving her softness. Her skin. Her body. All of it is soft and perfect. My dick has never been this hard. I've never wanted to get inside someone as badly as I want in her.

Hanging onto my virginity was never the battle people seem to think it was. I didn't dodge temptation at every turn. No one ever interested me enough to tempt my focus away from my career. Not until now. Not until her.

She leans up, allowing me to pull her shirt off over her head. I drop it off the side of the bed, laying her back to get a look at her.

Early morning sunlight spills in through windows, giving her a golden glow. Her full breasts peek from the tops of her red bra. Her hard nipples press against the thin fabric. She's so goddamn beautiful.

"Jesus, Dimples," I whisper, running my thumb over her nipple. "I didn't know you were going to blow my mind before I ever got my mouth on you."

A pretty blush climbs up her cheeks. Her eyes flit across my face, searching again. Whatever she sees there makes her smile. "I always thought supermodels would be more your type."

"Fuck no." I grimace at the thought, not because I have anything against supermodels but simply because the thought is preposterous to me. And then her statement truly sinks in. "You thought about me."

"No!"

"You did."

"Maybe a little," she confesses in a whisper.

"How much is a little?"

"You were my first crush." She looks up at me through her lashes. "Maybe you still are."

I growl, leaning down over her again. My teeth close around her nipple.

"Noah!"

I chuckle against her breast. "I like the thought of you thinking about me, Dimples. A whole helluva lot."

She moans my name, pulling my hair as I suck and bite her nipples through her bra. I slide my hand down her round belly, aiming for heaven.

She doesn't stop me. Instead, her legs fall open as if in invitation.

I take it, cupping her pussy through her pants.

"Noah," she moans.

"I can already feel how wet you are, Aspen." I press my face to her throat, trying like hell not to come in my pants here and now. "You're fucking soaked for me."

"Yes. Please, Noah."

I groan, her sweet little plea driving me closer to the edge. I need to get her off fast. If I don't, there's no way I'm going to keep my dick out of her.