His strides were so smooth she felt like she was gliding, floating on air. He settled her gently on her bed with a soft sigh, leaned in and sniffed. Michaela couldn’t hold back her giggle as he licked his lips.
“Witch, you smell divine. Like dessert, just waiting to be devoured.”
“I’m not on the menu,” she protested. She hated the shiver in her voice, that gave away the half-truth she’d spoken. She might not be on the menu, but she sure as hell wished she was. Her heart raced at the heated look he gave her.
He turned and headed back toward the bathroom, and disappointment settled like a stone in her chest. He’d barely disappeared through the doorway when he was back, a fluffy pink towel in one hand, and her favorite homemade lotion in the other.
“What are you doing? I don’t think—”
“Good. Now’s not the time to think. Just relax.” He poured a dab of lotion into the palm of his hand and then rubbed his other palm across it just enough to warm the lotion, then settled onto the end of the bed. Unexpectedly soft hand and skillful fingers found all the right pressure points as he massaged the lotion into the sole of Michaela’s foot. “Let me take care of you. I need you back at the top of your game tomorrow, and letting you cry the night away isn’t going to do either of us any good.”
Michaela sighed in relief as his deft touch released the tension and knots in first one foot, then the other. She sighed in relief when his strong hands glided up her calf and worked their magic, first on one leg, then the next. Heat curled through her and flared into a desperate desire she couldn’t ever quench.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Devlin bit back a groan and warmed another dab of lotion between his palms. The vanilla scented concoction mingled with the clean, freshly scrubbed scent of Michaela had his beast demanding a taste. Just a nibble here, kiss there and he’d be in heaven and all too happy to stay there forever. His bear was begging for more, begging to claim her as their mate.
Instead of giving in, Devlin continued his gentle massage. Her skin was like warm silk beneath his palms and her tears were slowing under his gentle ministrations. He slowly worked the knots out of her calves, then her thighs, taking care not to touch too close to her sweet center. Damn how he wanted a taste of her, just there. But that wasn’t what she needed right now.
And his job, his duty, mated or not, was to give her what she needed. So he turned her gently over, paused to kiss the tears off her cheeks, and then smoothed the knots out of her tense shoulders and back. Her soft, contented moan encouraged him to continue his ministrations. His cock jumped to attention in response to her soft sighs, but he reined it in with a low growl.
A sudden sob pulled him out of the fight for self-control. “What’s wrong, babe?”
That single sob became a flood before Michaela gasped out an answer. “Don’t know why you’re bothering to help me. I’m worthless, even my coven thinks so.” The sobs faded, but salt from her tears turned the air bitter in his nose.
“The hell you are. You’re worth everything, more than that entire coven combined.” Devlin’s beast demanded they fix this. Now. Claim her, protect her, tear that damned Supreme and her followers to bits for daring to damage his mate like this.
“Nobody else thinks that, Devlin.”
“Your sister did. Or she wouldn’t have left those boys in your care.”
“I’d believe it, if it weren’t for the curse you found in her room.” Michaela’s curvy frame shook with silent sobs again.
“I can’t fix this tonight, babe. But…” Devlin hesitated a moment, then continued. “If you want, I can distract you from it. I’d love to worship every inch of you, show you just how much you matter.” He could smell her desire, the intoxicating scent of her need drove his beast wild. He refused to give in to his animal side though. No, if she agreed, this was all for her. Because she deserved to know without a doubt that she mattered. His world would be darker if he’d never met her.
Her softly whispered ‘please’ tore Devin’s heart to shreds, and his control hung tattered right beside it. The last shred of his human half held on tight to a determined need to put her first. No way claiming her in this emotional state would make the point he needed to make to this curvaceous beauty. Not making that point was unacceptable. Still, he needed to be absolutely certain she was willing.
“I have your complete permission to worship every single inch of you?” He bit back the growl that rumbled in his chest, but her wide eyes and the slight tremble coursing through her said he hadn’t done so soon enough. Still, she was a brave mate. She nodded slowly and carefully enunciated her answer once more.
“Yes.”
“Good. And thank you,” he rumbled, then dipped his head to the sensitive inside of her ankle and nibbled. He trailed soft kisses up her calf, first one leg, then the other. He nibbled the crease at the back of her knee, his beast damn near roaring triumph when the scent of her arousal finally filled the room. Devlin alternating kisses and nibbles up to the towel that lay across her thighs. So close to her perfectly round ass, but he couldn’t go there yet. Her legs were relaxed, but her breath was coming fast and shallow. His beast grumbled again at that denial. So Devlin gave in just a smidge, and cupped her rounded curves, then gently kneaded them. He could feel that sense of worthlessness, that tension overtaking her, so he eased up and whispered in her ear. “Your body is perfect. I love every curve, every millimeter that I’ve touched and tasted so far. And I intend to taste all of you before I’m done.”
A grin curved across his face, stretched his cheeks in a way he hadn’t felt in ages when she moaned and relaxed under his touch. “That’s my girl.”
He slipped his hands under the rough towel, scooting it up just to the small of her back. Goosebumps pebbled her silky smooth skin, but the heat that met his palms with every soft caress told him that she most assuredly was not cold. Good.
“You don’t need this anymore, do you love?” He tugged the towel for emphasis. “Promise I’ll keep you warmer than any old terrycloth towel, babe.”
A bold laugh echoed round the room and she flung the towel off. The bright gaze she flashed over her shoulder at him sent his already aching cock into purgatory as it hardened further. Down, boy, he chided himself. This is for her, not me. Devlin made it a point to reward her bold look with a predatory grin, and a low voiced whisper. “Beautiful. Just fucking beautiful, babe.”
She shivered at his words, but she didn’t look away. Good, brave mate. Devlin rewarded her with hot, searing kisses that trailed from that perfect curve at the small of her back clear up to the nape of her neck. She bowed her head as he nibbled just the right spot at the back of her neck, and moaned.
Her low ‘more, please’ damn near startled him. For a woman who was convinced she was worthless, she was bold in the bedroom Good. He had to convince her she mattered to him. To those boys. Hell, even to the coven that had rejected her. His beast was damn certain that this woman had layers and layers she’d not shared with anyone yet, and damned determined he’d be the first to get a glimpse of her.
“Roll over, babe,” he whispered. Her soft lips brushed his as she followed his request without hesitation. He lowered his head just enough to brush his mouth softly against hers. God, she was so sweet. Her soft mouth met his perfectly. He couldn’t help but ask for more, and gently nudged his tongue against her mouth. She opened to him, and her hot tongue tangled with his, silently begging for more. Her hands tangled in his hair and she pulled him closer. Tighter.
Devlin’s chest rumbled with need. He wanted to slam himself into her, fill her up, drive away that belief she didn’t matter. Prove in the oldest way possible that she mattered more than anyone. But he couldn’t. No way to do that without losing control, letting the beast out. And he wasn’t ready for a mate yet.
Wasn’t ready to let his woman believe to her soul that she was worthless either. That thought had his teeth growing sharper. Shit. He pulled away from the kiss, but not without a soft nibble
of her lips. She tasted like tears and hope and all things bright and good in his world. Damn, he needed her. But he couldn’t have her yet.
“I’m gonna rock your world, make you forget this crazy worthless talk.” The growl in his voice startled her. Her eyes flew wide, but she didn’t run. Instead the intoxicating scent of her need grew stronger. More temptation for him to resist. “I’m going to worship you. Make you come so hard you can’t think straight, much less think that shit.”
Devlin dipped his head lower, nipped gently at one peaked nipple, then the other. Suckled slow and long, and reveled in her soft gasps and the gentle arch of her body against his. God how he wanted to feel her soft skin pressed against his chest. He had to stay strong though. Tonight was for her.
He trailed hot kisses down her ribs, biting back a laugh at the giggle that escaped in response. Then trailed those kisses lower, paused to taste and lap at her belly button and watch her curvy stomach tremble with need. Her breath was coming in fast pants, and he was certain that every other one held the faintest whispered plea. He looked up, and damn near drowned in the hooded, sultry gaze she leveled at him. Her lips were parted, swollen from his earlier kisses, and her body bucked beneath his gentle caress. He knew he was teasing, but damn he couldn’t resist drawing every soft sigh, every whispered ‘more please’ from her.
Finally, he trailed his kisses even lower, following the vee of first one hip, then the other, down to her mound. The scent of her was delicious. Vanilla and honey, and something earthy and more. Devlin settled his body carefully between her legs, then glanced up at her. Her cheeks were pink, eyes gently closed, head thrown back as she begged for him to please do it.
He dipped his head, and suckled her clit. Her hips rocked against his mouth and she bit back a scream. His beast rumbled a demand for more, and Devlin gently licked her again and again until she was mewling and writhing at each touch. He pulled back just a moment, and looked. God, she was perfect even here. Everything from the way her body opened to his admiring gaze right to the way she tasted so sweet and salty on his tongue and the way she felt every caress of his clear to her core was a godsend in his mind. He could feel her attention on him as he studied her.
“God you’re perfect, woman. Soon I’ll make you mine. Not today,” he licked again in apology, and added a quick, hard suckle as distraction. “Someday. When we’re both ready.” Then he dipped his head again and set to work in earnest. He eased one finger into her moist heat and growled at how she clenched against him. Hell, yes, she was worthy of everything he could give her. His beast growled, torn between being grumpy at being denied this sweet heaven, and ecstasy at being able to touch her, lick her, make her beg for mercy under his tongue and hands. Too bad she wasn’t begging. Yet.
Devlin licked and nuzzled, suckled even harder and slipped a second finger into her warmth, then a third. So close. She was so goddamn close he could feel it in every squeeze of his fingers, every upward motion of her hips against his mouth. Her hands pulled his mouth tight against her and her thighs squeezed his ears. No matter. This was heaven, and he could spend eternity pleasing her. He didn’t really need to breathe anyway.
His pace picked up, his suckling became harder as her whole body tensed around him. His beast roared approval as he curled his fingers just right inside her and she shattered around him. Her inner muscles locked so tight he didn’t think he could move if he tried, and her sweet honey flowed out. He dipped his head lower and reached his tongue out to lap up her delicious juices and ignored his aching cock with a silent promise to take care of it later.
Finally, she shuddered beneath his gentle tongue laving up the last of her orgasm, and her body went soft and relaxed. Devlin withdrew slowly and looked up at her with a grin.
“Totally worth it, love,” he growled.
The satisfied grin that met his melted his heart. Mission accomplished.
Mostly, his beast argued as his cock throbbed against the bed. Mostly would simply have to do. For now.
CHAPTER NINE
Michaela melted into the mattress, every muscle in her body completely relaxed. Devlin’s soft groan as he stood up from the bed made her cheeks heat with embarrassment. She could see his erection plain as day.
“I could return the favor?” Not that her body wanted to cooperate. She was damn sure willing to try though. Countless orgasms over a lifetime and none had matched what she’d just felt.
Devlin shot her a lopsided grin as he adjusted himself. Heat flooded her veins at the challenging sparkle in his eyes. “Think you can move, babe?” He winked, and blew her an air kiss.
Her sad head-shake had him laughing out loud. Damn, she wanted to take him up on that invitation, but her legs were trembling. “At least promise you’ll think of me,” she teased.
“You’re all I can think about,” he said with a sexy growl. Then he turned and damn near limped the rest of the way to the shower.
Michaela sat up, determined to join him. She teetered so much on the suddenly long walk to the bathroom that her stomach rebelled. Shit, she hadn’t felt this off balance since the last time she’d cut loose on girl’s night. No matter. She needed to clean up after Devlin’s mind-blowing performance earlier.
She pushed open the door, and blinked at the wall of steam filling the small room. The tile floor was slick with condensation, but she didn’t care. Devlin’s low curse and soft groans urged her on. She could hear the slick glide of his hand over flesh and his soft groans made her want to show him just how much better her hands would be. So she slipped in behind him and gasped when the hot water splashed her. His broad frame blocked most of it, and despite the almost-pain of too hot water, Michaela had to admire the sight in front of her. Broad shoulders faced her, one arm braced on the wall. His head was thrown back like he was praying to some relentless god for release. His muscles flexed and strained as he stroked himself.
Just when Michaela started to wonder what had happened to his shifter senses, Devlin glanced back at her and winked. “Like the view?”
“I’d like it better from the front,” she grinned and winked.
Devlin spun in place so fast he damn near blurred in her sight. Then he froze, stone still. His cock stood upright, pulsing. “I aim to please,” he whispered hoarsely.
“You’ve sure done well so far.” Michaela placed one hand over his heart. His skin was hot and rough beneath her palm, and his heart raced. She trailed her fingers down his abs, marveling at how she could count every muscle as she went. His stomach quivered and jumped under her soft touch, and he moaned. “Wonder if the rest of you is as sensitive,” she muttered as she lightly ran her nails over his stomach. Despite the hot water, goosebumps pebbled his skin.
Before she could change her mind, Michaela wrapped her hand carefully around his swollen cock, and knelt carefully on the porcelain. The way his hands tangled in her hair, alternately pulling her away in protest and then softly urging her on startled a giggle out of her.
“You gotta know, this is pushing it. The beast wants you. You’re his mate—our mate. If you do this—” Devlin gestured toward his twitching cock. “If you put that sweet mouth around me, I might lose control of him.”
Michaela licked her lips at the thought of this man being hers forever. She’d always considered shifters off limits. Dangerous. And Sam’s plight had just reinforced that assumption. And yet, Devlin had just given her the best orgasm of her life. And even now, when she desperately wanted to taste him, to make him feel the way he’d made her feel, he was giving her an out. The rough edge to his voice, and the careful way his hands went completely still in her hair told her he wanted the choice to be hers and hers alone.
“I can think of worse fates,” she whispered. She tasted him, one slow hesitant lick after another. God, he tasted divine. Salty, and hot and all male. Her mouth closed gently over his shaft and she suckled gently at first, sliding her mouth down his shaft and back. His hands tightened in her hair, but he didn’t pull her close. Part of
her wanted him to, wanted to see him lose control and take what she’d offered. But he wasn’t that kind of man, she knew it clear to her soul. So she teased, slid her tongue carefully over that most sensitive spot at the tip of him, then took him ever deeper in her mouth, sliding up and down his length, savoring the hard, solid feel of him as he filled her mouth.
Heat pooled between her legs, and damn if she wasn’t that close to coming again, just because he let her take the lead. She cupped his sack with one hand, and pulled him ever closer with the other. His behind was tight and tense under her grasp, and she could feel the tension ramping up as she continued her steady rhythm working him ever closer to the edge with her mouth.
“Michaela, I’m—” Devlin’s growl died when she pulled him close until he’d filled her mouth full. She tilted her head just enough to take him all the way to the back of her throat. She could still taste his seed as he came with a roar. The salty tang of him on her tongue damn near put her over the edge, but before she could finish the job, Devlin pulled her upright with a soft curse.
His mouth crashed onto hers, his tongue probing for entrance. She opened with a sigh, startled at the change, but her tired body loved it. Her skin was so sensitive even the shower raining down on her felt all at once like too much and not enough. Devlin pulled back from the kiss, eyes hot and heavy lidded.
“You smell like sex, babe.” He winked, but the heat in his eyes was scorching. Before she could think of a smart ass come back, he dropped to his knees in front of her. Damn, that water was alternating between icy cold and boiling hot. Or maybe it was her? She was to worked up to know for sure, but the sensation of water pounding her already sensitive skin was pure torture. Or it was until Devlin lifted one of her legs and eased it over his shoulder, then buried his face in her again. Holy shit, that man knew how to touch her just right. She gasped as he suckled hard on her clit, sending fireworks rocketing through her. His fingers delved into her core, filling her but not enough. Not the way she wanted, the way his cock had filled her mouth.
Bear My Soul: (Arcane Affairs Agency) Page 5