by Leslie LaFoy
He released his prize only to claim the other just as deliberately. She moaned and arched closer and his patience with slow seduction frayed. Aching with want, he clung to what little control he still possessed. Easing back and straightening, he lifted his gaze to her face. Her eyes remained closed, her breathing ragged and fast as she leaned forward to lightly brush her breasts against his chest. Watching her, he slipped his hands up the length of her thighs. As he neared her hips, she murmured a wordless plea and arched her head back.
He leaned forward to kiss her throat. "Do you like this, Sera?" he asked, his lips grazing her skin as his fingers found and stroked the heated wetness of her. "Or shall I stop?"
"No. God, no."
She was close, so close to the edge. "Ah, Seraphina," he said, easing away from her. "I think maybe I should."
"Carden!" Sera cried, tumbling back from the crest, frantically catching his arms. "Don't you dare leave me like this!"
His smile was wicked and wide, his eyes bright with knowing triumph. "Afraid that I'd deny you, angel?
Never."
Her heart was thundering, so full that she knew it was going to burst. She loved him. Loved the way he made her feel, the way he knew her and teased her and pleasured every fiber of her body and soul. "You're shameless, Carden Reeves," she breathlessly accused.
"And you love me for it," he countered, adoring her, craving her, as he drew her to the very edge of the bed and fitted himself between her legs. "You like being a wanton."
"Only with you."
"Yes, Sera," he murmured, taking her hips in his hands.
"Only with me."
He filled her leisurely, hard and deep. She moaned and slowly shuddered, seizing him, welcoming him, holding him fast in the slick, wet heat of her body. He drew back only a bit and then pushed forward, filling her again, driving himself as deep into her as he could. She dug her fingers into the bed-coverings and arched up, soaring on the spiral, panting. "Carden!"
They were both too close. It was too soon. "Only me, Sera," he repeated, gasping, struggling for control as he drew back and bent down to gently capture her lower lip with his teeth. "Only me. Promise it."
She touched her tongue to his lips, arched up. "Only you, Carden."
"Always," he gasped, desperately releasing his claim to her mouth and stilling her hips. "Always, Sera," he pleaded. "Look me in the eyes and promise me always."
"Always, Carden. Only you."
Lifting her up, he filled her with every measure of his desire, every measure of his being.
She tumbled over the edge with a strangled cry, the heat and the power of her fulfillment gripping him and pulling him hard to the hilt. His own release building and beyond stopping, he surrendered to the tide that sated his need and flooded his heart and soul with the love of Sera.
She drifted in dreamy contentment, wrapped in the strength of Carden's arms, warmed and cradled against the length of his body. Water splashed at the edge of her awareness, an accompaniment to the sweet lullaby of Carden's heartbeat, the even measure of his breathing.
Always. He'd asked her for always. Sera smiled and nestled her cheek closer into the curve of his shoulder.
Someday there would be- Her heart tripped with sudden realization.
"What's wrong?" he murmured, pulling her closer, pressing a kiss to her temple.
She shifted, pushing herself up on her elbow and swallowing back her trepidation. "We forgot the sheath."
Tracing her lip, he smiled. "I didn't forget, Sera," he said softly. "I very deliberately chose not to bring them into Paradise."
No woman on earth had ever been happier, more completed than she was. "Thank you."
His eyes sparkled with devilment. "You'll have to marry me, you know. The scandal will be horrendous if you don't." .
"Well, I certainly wouldn't want your reputation to suffer."
"I was referring to yours," he countered, chuckling.
"Mine's already an irredeemable disaster."
"They can say whatever they like," she assured him, settling back in beside him, her head in the cradle of his shoulder, her hand lying over his heart. "About either of us. I don't care."
He threaded his fingers through hers and whispered, "Thank you for loving me enough to be patient with me."
"I would have waited forever and a day for you, Carden Reeves."
Yes, forever and a day. With Sera. With her at his side, anywhere would be Paradise.