That hadn’t been peace, though. Because the frustration, the despair, and the fury that she’d felt about the loss of her dreams had still been there. She’d just locked it away.
This, though—this was peace.
She pulled back, finally, and met Carlos’ eyes. “You’re my mate,” she said. Just to hear the words out loud.
He nodded. “I am.”
She smiled. And then the smile grew, until it felt like it was ready to leap off of her face and take on a life of its own, spreading joy throughout the world. “We’re mates!”
He was grinning back. “We are.”
And then he kissed her, and it felt like he was touching her soul.
Pauline kissed him back, wanting him to feel every ounce of joy inside her. His mouth was warm and sweet; she thought she could spend days exploring the taste of him.
His arms came around her, and she blinked a little again, because she could tell how strong he was—goodness, anyone who saw him could tell how strong he was—but he was being infinitely gentle with her.
She thought, suddenly, that she might not mind if he was a bit less gentle. Maybe.
The thought gave her courage, and she leaned in, deepening the kiss, wrapping her arms around his neck. He sighed, a low rumbling sound, low in his chest, and the kiss turned fierce. His mouth devoured her, his tongue exploring, his lips catching hers, releasing, catching. It felt like he was melting her, like her entire body was being replaced by a pulsing desire.
He slipped a hand up under her shirt. It was a button-down, and there was plenty of room for him to get up there and touch her skin, his hand rough and hot, making her shiver. “Is this okay?” he asked softly, against her mouth.
Pauline nodded helplessly. She wanted to say something about everything being okay, but he caught her mouth again before she could, kissing her deeply as his hand worked its slow way up her spine. Tingles ran out from the spot he was touching her, all the way to her fingertips, and she shivered. He found her bra strap, and slid around to the front, cupping her breast. The fabric of her bra was thin, and she could feel the heat of his hand. Her nipples were tight and sensitive, wanting to be touched.
She suddenly flashed to the memory of the halting, exploratory sex she and Gary had had early in their relationship. Honestly, the actual acts hadn’t looked much different from this, but somehow these first kisses and touches with Carlos were inflaming her with want, instead of leaving her feeling kind of awkward and self-conscious.
Carlos suddenly pulled back from her mouth, leaving her to pant for air as he leaned down and pressed a kiss to the hollow between her collarbones. The warm, damp touch thrilled her all the way down between her legs. She’d never known that was a hot spot.
He kissed down her sternum, one hand coming up to undo a button. “All right?” he murmured against her skin.
“Yes,” Pauline gasped. “Yes, yes, all right. More than all right.”
He chuckled quietly and kissed down into the warm gap that had just opened up. Then he undid another button and kissed further down. His stubble rubbed the sensitive curve of her breast, making her gasp. He kissed the spot right between her breasts...and then pulled back again.
“Are you—”
“Fine,” Pauline interrupted. “Fine, I’m great, let’s keep going!”
He started to laugh. “I was going to ask, are you okay with taking this to the bedroom?”
“Carlos,” Pauline said seriously, “the faster we get to the bedroom, the happier I will be.”
“All right, then,” he said, and the next thing she knew, he’d stood up and taken her with him.
Pauline yelped in surprise, finding herself plastered to his body, his big hands firmly under her butt. Her legs spread, her clit suddenly pressed against his belt, sending sparks of pleasure through her. She fought the urge to just rub against it.
“Which door?” he rumbled.
It took her a second to get her brain together enough to point. He moved with alacrity, and a second later, they were in her comfy, familiar bedroom.
Carlos laid her gently on the bed, and she looked up at him. He filled this room like he did every room, and it was crazy how the homey room where she’d slept alone for fifteen years suddenly seemed darker, more exciting. Filled with his scent, and now a showcase for her, laid out on the bed with her shirt gaping open for him to see.
And he was looking his fill.
Feeling suddenly bold, Pauline unbuttoned her shirt the rest of the way—then hesitated, and started on her jeans. The button, the zipper...she could see Carlos’ eyes darken with desire.
She started inching the pants down her hips—and then Carlos was there. He stripped her jeans off without the slightest difficulty, catching her underwear and her socks—no, just one sock—as he went.