by Sarra Cannon
“Let it flow through you. You won’t be able to stop it. Try to relax into it. Hopefully it won’t get too much more intense.” Was he trying to convince her, or himself? His breaths quickened. Oh yes, he was feeling the effects too.
Even his voice in her mind sounded more sensual than usual. Her body responded with a small spasm deep in her core. The smouldering heat pooling between her thighs pulsed and throbbed. She couldn’t remember ever having been so aroused.
Her breaths were coming in short gasps. She had to do something—anything to keep from doing what her treacherous body was demanding. Maybe if he kissed her, just once, it would help ease the ache building inside her. It was no secret, the man could kiss, boy could he kiss.
Stop. This kind of thinking will get you nowhere fast. Think, Rhia. Think of puppies and old people, or… or sea turtles.
Another wave pulsed through her. “Ahhh. It’s too much. Drake, put my legs down.”
Thoughts of Drake’s strong hands caressing her bare skin, his body pinning hers to a wall as he brought her to a fevered pitch invaded her mind. Her body clenched. Was it possible to have an orgasm just by thinking about him like this?
Giving in to temptation would be like touching a little piece of heaven, but she wouldn’t put him in the position to have to fight off her advances. Neither would she put herself through the humiliation of throwing herself at him and have him push her away again.
Passion sizzled in his half-hooded gaze. “You’re regaining some strength, but you need more. You were completely depleted.”
Having his arms around her was sweet, hot torture. She wanted to wrap herself around him in every way imaginable, but she had to keep her head on straight. “I just need to move a little, to ease the pressure a bit.” Another little moan slipped past her lips. “Please?”
He caught her gaze, and then groaned, as her body slid down the length of his so she was flush against him. His pupils dilated, a sultry heat burning in the depths of his eyes. Jaw clenched, he bent his head to her neck and buried his nose in her hair before taking a deep breath.
He was struggling just as much as she was. A small thrill raced through her. At least she wasn’t suffering alone.
Goosebumps rose on his neck where her short little gasps teased at his skin. She wanted to smooth them away, but didn’t dare touch him. If she did, she wouldn’t be able to stop.
“Rhia…”
Her body was going up in flames and she had no desire to stop it. He brought his hand up under her shirt to her lower back, caressing in small circles as though trying to restrain from doing more. Was he even aware he was pulling her closer with each slow rotation of his hand?
Running her fingernails through the hair at the back of his neck, she gently scraped his scalp, making him moan and press his hips onto her skin.
His soft growl teased the skin at the back of her ear. “Rhia…” His husky voice brushed against her mind, making her toes curl.
Her whole body was quivering, begging to be touched. It took everything she had to keep from moving against him. “I’m sorry. I thought this position would help.” Her lips brushed against his shoulder as she tried to stifle another moan.
“Just do it, Rhia, please.” He brought his hand down to squeeze her bottom, pulling her even closer.
Do what? What did he want from her? She couldn’t think past the haze of need shrouding her mind. “What do you want, Drake? Tell me.” She pleaded with him, her body burning. Her heart pounded. If he wanted anything from her, he’d have to take it. Please, please take it.
“Kiss me, damn it.” The raw hunger in his voice sent heat straight to her already throbbing center.
“Drake…”
He ground his hips against her. His gaze swept down to her open lips before crushing them beneath his. His tongue invaded the moist warmth of her mouth, capturing her moan with his kiss. She had no hope of resisting. No part of her didn’t want this—want him. Whatever he wanted, she’d give him, and right now, he wanted her.
“We’re almost there.”
How he managed to keep them from crashing to the ground was a mystery. His hands kept her steady as he rocked back and forth against her, stoking the wild inferno already blazing inside her.
She barely managed to open her eyes to take in her surroundings before she buried her fingers in his hair, pulling as she deepened the kiss.
He took her straight towards a hill with a slight overhang. If he wanted to do it on a hill with the sun warming their bodies, it was fine with her. All she knew was she was going to burst into flames if he didn’t do something soon. The moment their feet touched ground, he sent a short burst of energy towards the hill, pushing brush to the side to reveal a door before his mouth found hers again. She wasn’t even aware they’d been moving again until she heard the loud snick of the lock as it slid into place.
“Can’t wait.” He tore his lips from hers long enough to pull his shirt off, before wrapping his arms around her again.
She traced the hot, muscular expanse of his chest. If ever there was a body made for pure pleasure, his was it. She couldn’t get enough of him. The tips of her fingers grazed over his flat nipples, making them harden under her gentle touch.
“Wrap your legs around my waist.” He lifted her against him and groaned into her mouth as she complied. He kicked open a second door, not breaking his stride as he took her through.
If this was going to be her one and only time to be with him, she wanted it all. “Where are the lights? I want to see you.” She accentuated each word with a kiss, starting at his neck and ending with a swirl of her tongue over his taut nipple. She smiled at his swift gasp before licking it again and then blowing, making it pucker.
His moan resonated in the quiet room as he reached behind him and flicked a switch, bathing the room in soft light. The room could only be described as functional with its small utilitarian bed, but right then, she didn’t care. It could have been an empty room with nothing but a concrete floor and she’d still have been happy. All she cared about was the man standing before her, looking like he wanted nothing more than to devour her.
He set her feet down near the bed. “Take your clothes off.” Her body clenched at his gruff command.
Her breath came in small pants. His hard, chiseled chest had just the right amount of hair to make her want to run her fingers through. Her gaze slid down to the bulge beneath his jeans, making his cock jerk under her scrutiny. Her tongue darted out to wet her lips. She toyed with the edge of her shirt for a moment before lifting it over her head, the peaks of her nipples visible through the white lace of her bra.
His throaty moan had them budding tighter as he bent his head to her. He flicked his tongue, making her gasp and pull his head closer, teasing what little sense she had left from her mind. A soft rumble escaped his chest, just before his teeth grazed the sensitive tip. It was the sexiest sound she’d ever heard. It vibrated straight through her and made her want to rip the clothes right off his body.
“More. Take the rest off,” he instructed as he pulled back to watch.
“It’s hardly fair. I’m going to be naked and you’re not.” Reaching behind her, she unclasped her bra, and then let it slide down her arms and onto the floor at their feet before reaching for the snap of her jeans.
“It’s not about being fair. It’s about keeping myself from plunging into you like a rutting animal.”
His words sent her heart racing. She smiled, catching her lower lip between her teeth as she gazed up at him through her lashes. “Have you considered that maybe it’s exactly what I want?”
He closed the small distance between them, taking her mouth in a savage kiss. His hands replaced hers at her waist. He had her jeans unfastened and down to her knees along with her underwear within seconds.
She found his neck and shoulder with her mouth, biting, and then easing the sting with her tongue, making him moan.
He lifted and set her on the bed, following to cover her bod
y with his own. He took her lips in a searing kiss, moaning into her mouth as she shimmied beneath him, freeing her ankles of her jeans so she could wrap her legs around his waist.
“Now, Drake, please.”
His hands were everywhere, skimming across the smooth expanse of her back, and then cupping her bottom, pressing her moist entrance against his hard cock.
Her breath caught in her throat as his tongue traced a lazy pattern down her throat to her breasts. Every deliberate movement was designed to drive her insane, and it was working. “Drake.”
“Please what, Rhia? What do you want?” Her fists gripped the sheet as she arched her back.
“Please kiss me. There, please…” Her body, strung like a bow, was ready to snap. “I want you to kiss my breasts, my nipples… please.”
His hot breath reached her taut nipple seconds before his lips, making her whimper. When he didn’t move fast enough, she arched her back and twined her fingers through his hair, tugging his head down to her.
She felt more than heard his chuckle as it vibrated through her. His tongue twirled around once, twice, before taking her nipple into his mouth and sucking hard. She’d never felt pleasure so intense. It zinged through her body like a lightning bolt headed right for her clitoris. Sweet baby Jesus, he’s going to kill me. She wasn’t going to survive the sensual overload. It was too much, yet not enough. A body just wasn’t meant to withstand so much pleasure. She closed her eyes as pure heat pulsed over her.
“I want you so much it hurts.” He ground his hips against her again.
“So take me. I’m not stopping you.”
“Not yet. I need to touch you. Taste you.”
She nearly bucked off the bed when his fingers slid between her slick folds. “Please…” She couldn’t help her upward thrust, wanting more—needing more. She lost all coherent thought as his tongue replaced his fingers, lapping then circling her sensitive bud. Her nails dug into his shoulders. “Now, Drake.” She tried to pull him back up but he didn’t budge.
One long finger slid into her hot, wet sheath as his mouth came down on her again. Her head thrashed from side to side as he set an excruciatingly slow pace, easing into her and then out again as his tongue ravaged her.
“Drake, please, oh God.” She was so close and she had no hope of pulling back.
“Yes, let it go.” Her body wound tighter and tighter as he increased the tempo, slipping a second finger into her. His relentless tongue flicked and swirled, until her entire world shattered and fragmented around her.
His warm hands stroked her hip and stomach as she came back to earth.
She wasn’t done yet, not by a long shot. When she tried to bring him back up to her, he finally complied. She pressed soft kisses onto his lips and jaw, making her way to his ear. “I want you inside me, Drake—filling every part of me.” She whispered the words, her tongue darting out to flick his earlobe.
He groaned as he covered her, his shaft poised at her moist entrance. With a sigh, he pressed in, sliding home one slow inch at a time. His ragged breath stilled. “Rhia? Damn it.”
No, no, no. He couldn’t stop, not now. She’d never survive. “Drake?” Her legs wrapped around him, urging him forward. She needed this, needed him, more than she needed her next breath.
“I can’t do this.” His entire body tensed as he fought to remain still.
Her heart pounded. “I want you, Drake. Please don’t take this away from me.”
“Rhia…”
“I want this. For me, just once.” She reached up and kissed his jaw. “I want my first time to be with the man of my choosing. Is it so much to ask?”
Her eyes must have shown her desperation because he closed his eyes and set his jaw. Then, with one last groan, he buried himself deep. The sweet ache melted away as he began moving within her. He tried to go slow, but she wouldn’t let him. She couldn’t hold out. The pleasure was too intense. She met him thrust for thrust, needing him with such intensity she didn’t think she’d survive without him.
“Rhiaaa.” Her name came as a soft hiss in her mind. He plunged one last time, making her body tighten and convulse around him, as he poured himself into her in a fiery climax, fragmenting them both until nothing existed but the other.
Chapter 16
Drab grey, it was everywhere. A metal table and two matching chairs were in one corner, and a military style cooktop with shelves stocked with dried goods were in another. Even though the room was bare, the view was astounding. The strong line of Drake’s back, his wide shoulders and tight ass drew her attention. When he’d left the bedroom, he’d pulled his jeans on, but had left his shirt off. He busied himself heating soup with much more focus than required for the job. He hadn’t spoken to her yet, but as soon as she’d come to the doorway, his back had straightened and his shoulders had tensed. Yeah, he knew she was there.
He’d given her his energy three more times, insisting she needed it even though she felt better, and each time, the sexual pull was stronger than the last. Try as they might, resisting it had been impossible for both of them. She swore the last time had been so intense she’d seen sparks flying all around them as they’d both climaxed. The brilliant colors had flashed so bright before her eyes she’d had to close them, and even then, she’d seen them through her lids.
What’s going on in that head of yours, Drake? Part of her wanted him to come out with it already, while the other part wanted to stick her head in the sand and pretend everything was fine, though deep down, she knew it wasn’t.
“I could get used to having someone cook for me all the time.”
The muscles of his back knotted before he answered. “You’ll never have to cook again if you don’t want to. In fact, every single household chore will be attended to for you.” He didn’t turn to look at her. “As our Queen, you can have people wait on you hand and foot if you’d like.”
So it was like that again, was it? He’d remembered who she was and was going to put her at arms’ length after all they’d been through?
He ladled soup into two bowls and carried them to the metal table.
“Smells delicious.”
“If only I could take the credit. I simply added the water. Perhaps one of these days I could…” He stopped himself mid-sentence, the muscle in his jaw ticking as he ground his teeth.
She sat on one of the cold metal chairs. The firm set of his jaw, and resignation in his eyes, made her weep inside. He’d done everything he’d been asked to do. He’d taken care of her every need, but now they were in Avalore, and he was going to leave her the first chance he got. Hell, he was already pulling away. She had to swallow a small sob as her heart clenched.
“Eat your soup. We’ll talk once you’re done.”
She brought the spoon to her mouth, unable to taste anything. Her hand moved on autopilot as she swallowed and took another bite until it was gone.
What was left to say? Who had she been kidding? She should have known having someone like Drake was too good to be true. What he didn’t know though, was if she couldn’t have him, she didn’t want anyone at all. Elders be damned. If they came to her and asked her to join with someone she’d tell them all where to go.
He waited until she brought her gaze up to meet his. “I know it’s not easy to understand. I’ll try to explain as well as I can.”
“It’s okay. We don’t need to go through this. I may not know everything there is to know about Avalore and your customs, but I know you’re pushing me away. I don’t need to hear the words.”
Pain flashed in his eyes before he hardened them again. “I don’t want this any more than you do. Please believe me.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “What happened earlier was amazing. I won’t deny it, but it should never have happened.”
She swallowed past the huge lump in her throat. The roughness in his tone, the way his jaw clenched was more than she could bear. She averted her eyes as pain stabbed through her. What could she say? She’d been awed and amazed at w
hat they’d shared, and he was ashamed.
“What we did the last time was more than just sex, more than making love. It should never happen outside of a joined couple. The energy exchange paired with the lovemaking touches deep within the person’s soul and can’t be undone.” He stood and paced away from the table. “Both of our mates will know what we’ve done. I’ve failed you in a way you can’t even comprehend right now.” He turned to face her again. “It’s not your shame, Rhiannon, it’s mine. I should have known better. Damn it, I did know better and still I wasn’t strong enough to stop.”
What had started out as one of the most beautiful experiences of her life was turning into one of the worst. She wasn’t ashamed, and she couldn’t care less if her soul was marked. She stood, fists clenched, glaring right back at him. “You can have your regrets, Drake. You can feel ashamed if you want, but I don’t. I’ll cherish these memories even if you wish you could take them back.”
He didn’t say a word as she marched to the bedroom, head held high, and slammed the door, locking it behind her.
Once again, she’d made a fool of herself. When would she ever learn? It wasn’t like she hadn’t known any better. She couldn’t even be angry with him, not really, though part of her wished she could be, at least for a little while. Anything was better than the numbness encasing her now.
He’d been honest with her from the start and had even tried to push her away, but had she listened? No, of course she hadn’t. He’d told her time and again he wasn’t the man for her, but she’d let herself fall for him anyway.
She didn’t know how long she’d been sitting berating herself, but it was long enough. Taking a deep breath, she shoved it all aside. Going over the conversation a million times wouldn’t change a darned thing, and she couldn’t very well hide in the bedroom all night. Just as she began to open the door, an ear-splitting roar tore through the silence, stopping her in her tracks. What the hell? She threw the door open, letting it slam into the wall as she ran into the empty room.