Her heart gave a warning squeeze…because, despite his blunt speech and forbidding face, he was more protective than any man she’d ever met. Through the curtain, the lamp in the living room cast a dim glow that sharpened the roughness of his rugged face and darkened the beard shadow along his jaw. She ran her palm along his cheek, feeling the scrape of the stubble.

He smiled ruefully. “Will it bother you?”

On the contrary, she was wondering how it would feel in…places. Like between her thighs. Not that he’d do that, but… Her face heated as she realized he was watching her. “Um. No?”

His eyes lit with laughter in a way she hadn’t seen before. “Let’s check. See if it’s a problem.” He lowered his head and kissed the curve between her neck and shoulder. His velvety lips contrasted with the deliberate scrape of his chin that followed.

Oh, my God. A disconcerting pleasure sent goosebumps over her skin.

Without pausing, he moved down. His hand closed over one breast, plumping it, as his thumb circled the nipple. “Such a pretty pink. Like a Sitka rose.”

He licked around one nipple, then the other, switching back and forth, before his fingers teased each to a jutting peak.

Hunger pulsed in her bloodstream. Her breasts swelled, and her pussy ached for the same touch. No one had simply…played…with her before, but he looked as if he was enjoying himself. Her protest died.

He rubbed his cheek lightly over one sensitive nipple, making her gasp at the unexpected rasp, so different from his velvety tongue. When his lips closed over the nub, his mouth was hot and wet. Soothing—yet…not. When he sucked, the rush of exquisite pleasure made her back arch, pushing her breasts upward for more.

His laugh was a rolling rumble. “You don’t seem to mind beard stubble.” He switched back and forth between her breasts until they were tight and swollen and acutely sensitive to the lightest touch.

“You are fun, Goldilocks,” he murmured.

Damn, she was beautiful. Somewhat unsure, but delightfully honest. And as responsive as a dream.

Sitting up next to her, he pulled off his shirt and took hold of the waistband of her sweatpants to strip them off.

A low sound broke from her. Dismay filled her face.

Uh-oh. “Easy, Julie.” He dropped his hand and lay back beside her, propping himself up on an elbow. Cupping her face, he set his thumb under her chin and tipped her head up so he could meet her tear-filled eyes. “What’s the matter, sweetheart? Shall we stop now?”

“What happened to you?” Her voice shook.

“Me?” He frowned. “What do you mean?”