10. Berne #3
For a moment, he allowed himself to just look at her.
For over a week, he hadn't had any real idea of what her body was like under her thick layers, but he couldn't imagine being more pleased with what she revealed to him.
Her skirts had slipped up her legs, exposing voluptuous thighs encased in thick woolen stockings.
Her long, deep umber hair had, at some point, fallen from her bun.
It spread across the bed behind her, like ink he could already feel seeping in, coloring and flooding the cracks in his life.
Her mouth glistened the most alluring shade of dusky pink-brown, one he hoped matched the tips of the perfect little breasts heaving under her bodice.
He wanted to unwrap her like a present, pull the ties that bound her and remove the fabrics that hid her glorious body from him.
But, apparently, that would take too long.
Sirin raised her legs to remove her boots and chuck them to the floor. Berne smiled wickedly because, in her haste, she'd revealed the most perfect thatch of dark curls and glistening mahogany sex to him. His mouth watered for her, ready to drink in the slickness that dewed at the edges.
A frustrated scoff tore him from his fantasy. ''Well? You're wearing too many clothes!'' she admonished while frantically unbuttoning her blouse so it hung open over her stays.
''You are an impatient one, aren't you?'' He chuckled as he raised his shirt over his head, tossing it down.
He reached down to help her ease out of her own, pausing to kiss the indignant look off of her face.
She giggled into their kiss, and Berne couldn't resist tickling as he untied her side lacing stays.
He ran his hands up the sides of her ribs, skating over her skin and drawing peals of laughter with his fingers.
He watched the ripples of her body as she squirmed under his touch, revealing her expanses of soft, delectable skin.
The heat of his desire was fierce and demanding, but this other fervor felt steady and firm—enduring.
With her clothes clutched in his hand, he let out a pleased grumble and ran his tongue over her pert breast. He nuzzled the valley between them before latching on to her erect nipple, sucking and rolling it around his mouth.
After several strong pulls had her arching off the bed, he moved to give the other the same treatment, abandoning her clothes in favor of caressing her side and untying her skirts.
He nipped her breast goodbye, already anticipating his return, kissing his way down the soft round of her belly.
Then, with the most delicious slowness, he eased her skirts down to the floor, allowing him to bury his nose between her thighs and drink in her scent.
He inhaled, luxuriating in being surrounded by her complex perfume, her sounds all he could hear.
His entire world narrowed and centered on her.
Sirin made him hungry in the most carnal way, and he thought he might have growled in desperate approval.
Berne placed small, reverent kisses and licks along the crease of her thighs, pausing every so often to nuzzle in and enjoy the scent of her.
He ran his hands up the insides of her strong legs, pressing his thumbs to her mound to spread her wide for his view.
Berne glanced at her face; Sirin's cheeks and chest were flushed, her mouth open on a pant as she stared down at him, desperation in her dark gaze.
He was pleased to see how needy she was, how lost to him, but grumbled when he realized she was awkwardly lifting her head to watch him.
That would never do. He quickly grabbed his pillow, tucking it under her head, with a peck to her kiss-swollen lips, devouring her giggle.
He ran his hands down her arms and led her hands to her breasts, kneading his own over hers.
He broke the kiss to whisper, his voice gravelly to his own ears, ''I am going to be occupied for a bit. Will you take care of these for me?''
Sirin nibbled his lip and nodded, sucking to keep him there longer.
Berne nearly stayed, the suction on his lip pulsed in time with his cock, but he knew he only had one chance for their first time.
Sirin was considering him as a true match, more than just a farce, and he wanted to show her what a good mate he would be.
He wanted her to know he would always see to her pleasure.
Hoped somehow he could show her what a gift she was to him.
He was, if nothing, a determined bear, single-minded in his dedication to a task. He'd win her over with his fervor. He'd addled her mind, wringing her pleasure from her so thoroughly that she couldn't possibly regret this, regret him.
1. Shortly after these events, the council of Sanctuary clarified their rulings around trespassing, which involved a sliding scale of infractions and corresponding responses. Until the Barrier fell, they worked swimmingly.
2. Though admittedly, answers about Annika did help ease his pain.
3. Astute readers will likely deduce that while we’ve always been deeply in love, we’ve also had our fair share of power struggles, especially concerning what Berne likes to call my “harebrained schemes.”