Chapter 16 #3
My hands didn’t roam. They cradled, and they caressed.
One cupped her cheek, the other held her against my chest. Because if I let them wander, I wouldn’t stop.
My smoke swam over her with the opposite intention, wrapping around her waist, sliding across her hips, eager to explore while I fought for restraint.
I guided her down onto the mat, easing her beneath me but holding most of my weight away. My lips traced her jaw to the hollow of her throat. She trembled with every touch—mine and the smoke that trailed hungrily.
Her hands fluttered to my shoulders, then slid down my arms as though testing what was allowed. My magic followed the path of her fingers, curling around her wrists in a gentle, smoky caress.
I drew myself lower, kissing along her collarbone, the slope of her chest. Her sigh was one of wonder and delight. Every sound she made pulled me in deeper. Every arch of her body was a prayer I wanted to answer over and over again.
I moved with patience, with reverence, mapping her skin as if each inch carried a secret meant only for me to uncover.
Beneath my lips, her pulse quickened at her throat.
I moved lower, and she clutched my shoulder.
My magic didn’t share my patience, though, and it trailed over the curve of her breast, teasing where my mouth had yet to touch.
I took her hand and pressed it to my chest, where my heart pounded.
“Feel that?” I whispered. “That’s what you do to me.”
Her fingers curled against my shirt while I traced my mouth down her chest, lingering over every inch of her bare skin.
She gasped when my lips brushed the curve of her breast, my smoke tightening around her waist as if it couldn’t bear the wait.
I took my time, kissing, tasting, letting her grow accustomed to the tenderness before I closed my mouth around her pebbled nipple.
Her back arched, and she let out a sound that was half moan, half plea.
I lifted my head to meet her eyes. “Every sound you make, every inch of this beautiful body is mine to worship. Will you let me?”
With her lips parted, she gave a jerky nod. “Please.”
My fingers slid lower, over the flat of her stomach, only stopping when she tensed. I stilled, giving her a chance to breathe, to pull back if she wanted.
“Is this too much?”
Her hips shifted up, her body answering far clearer than words.
I kissed her again, slow and deep, as my fingers slid beneath the waistline of her shorts. She eased out of them, and with her eyes on me, her legs parted. My control slipped, enough that a strained groan escaped me.
I shook my head in wonder at the sight of her. Naked and spread out for me. Gods, she had no idea how close I was to losing myself.
“Finley.” Her name scraped from my throat. “You are everything.”
I traced my fingers along her inner thigh, wanting to claim each tremble and whimper. Her gaze burned with desire as she lifted her hips, demanding more. I gave her a slow, torturous stroke, and we both choked out a curse.
I rubbed against her slit, ready to slip a finger inside her, when I paused. “Tell me if it hurts or if you want me to stop.”
She adjusted her hips, following my hand when I pulled away. “You feel so good,” she said, her voice scratchy and tender all at once. “Touch me, Brent.”
I gritted my teeth to fight back a moan. But she was wet and ready and so fucking eager. Smoke flared from my ribs, sliding down her sides in a possessive graze.
“Beautiful,” I whispered, my gaze locked on her heat. “Gods, you’re beautiful, Finley.”
I slipped a finger in, and she gasped as I sank inside her, curling my finger in a way that made her hiss.
“Brenton.” She whispered my name and followed it with a cry.
I swallowed hard, fighting the instinct to give her everything at once.
Then my mouth was on her. Hot open-mouthed kisses, and she jolted while her fingers fisted my hair. I kissed her sex with one intent—to show her what turned me on. Her.
I sucked and licked while I pumped my finger. I slipped in a second digit, adding pressure to her bud of nerves with my mouth. Her gasp tightened around my stomach, and I groaned.
Each flick of my tongue, drag of my mouth, suck, and nibble sent her closer to orgasm. I surrendered to her sounds of pleasure, each one drawing out my own. Smoke rippled across her stomach, down to her hips, as if echoing the motion of my hand, unable to restrain itself the way I fought to.
Her thighs trembled against my shoulders, every cry tearing through me until I was raw with need. I drove my tongue harder, curling my finger inside her, desperate to wrench out every last sound from her lips. She arched and cried my name again as her orgasm rolled over her in tremulous waves.
I shattered, and all that control I’d clung to disintegrated in a single breath.
My hips jerked across the bed mat with my release tearing from me just from the taste of her, from the feel of her coming apart on my tongue.
My magic erupted in a pulse, sweeping over her like a dark, warm breeze before I wrestled it back under my skin.
I groaned against her as her pleasure continued to take her, my own orgasm dragged out by hers. Breath shaking and embarrassed at how quickly I’d lost my composure, but there was no stopping it. Not with her.
Her every shiver, every cry was mine to worship.
She came undone beneath me, and the knowledge I’d given her this, that I was her first taste of ecstasy, broke me apart more completely than any release ever had.
My body quaked, still spilling in my pants, while my mouth stayed locked on her, drinking in every last wave of her bliss.
I’d wanted nothing more than to give her this, yet I was the one who’d come undone.
When I dropped my body beside her, she curled into me. I traced the soft, satisfied smile of her lips.
“That was . . .” Her fingers tightened around my shirt. “Thank you.” She closed the distance, her lips pressed against mine.
“You’re thanking me?” I shifted, still a little shocked I’d come in my pants. “I should be on my knees thanking and worshipping you. Maybe later I will. I’m a little spent at the moment.”
She huffed out a small, tired laugh. “You’re the one who brought me to pleasure.”
I smirked. “I did do that, didn’t I?” I gave her a biting kiss that I quickly softened until she moaned against me. “Seems fair since you dragged out mine. In all my years, I’ve never once spilled in my clothes until you.”
Her eyes widened. “You . . .?”
“Yes.” I chuckled. “I should really clean myself off, but I don’t think I have it in me to move.”
Her smile turned feral while her gaze dropped to my erection. “Did you really . . . you know?”
“I came harder than I’ve ever come just from tasting you,” I said, my attention on her blazing eyes. “The sounds you make, Finley. I can’t wait to draw them from you again, if I’m ever able to move again. I fear you’ve immobilized me.”
Her cheeks reddened, but the fire in her eyes remained as she bit her bottom lip. “I’d like that. In the meantime, why don’t I get us both something to clean up with?”
She crawled to the other side of the tent, her ass angled at me like an irresistible challenge. It was truly her fault when I sat up and took one cheek in my palm. She hissed in a breath, and with a devilish grin, she peered at me from over her shoulder.
“It seems you’ve regained your mobility,” she joked.
I squeezed, lowering my mouth for a teasing bite. She laughed, swatting me away, and I flopped back onto the mat, though my gaze never left her.
“Vith, Finley,” I said. “I had no idea an ass could be this perfect. This tempting.”
Her cheeks brightened with her giggle. It was soft, feminine, and wildly out of place on the lips of a warrior like her. Yet I knew I’d happily bleed out if only to earn it again.
Water splashed into the bowl as she tipped the pitcher, her hips swaying in quiet provocation. I groaned, knowing damn well she was teasing me for how I’d reacted to her a few beats ago. My length strained against my damp pants.
She turned to face me, her teeth digging into her bottom lip. Her breasts, soft, perfect curves, made my chest tighten with the ache to touch, to taste, to worship them again.
Her eyes narrowed at the way I stared unabashedly. Her smile came slow but mischievous. “You look like you’re about to make another mess before I can clean the first one.”
I groaned, tipping my head up while I rubbed my eyes. “You want to kill me. Is that it?”
Then she was on me, straddling my hips while she bent down to kiss me.
“What a way to go,” I murmured, sliding my hands over her waist.
Her weight pressed me down against the mat, her kiss urgent and searching before she shifted against my straining length. She gasped, eyes wide, and I couldn’t bite back my groan.
“Is that . . .?”
“My cock,” I rasped, straining against the damp fabric of my pants. “And if you keep wiggling like that, I’ll end up embarrassing myself.”
Her blush deepened, her smile curling bigger, when she whispered, “Show me.”
Gods. I fumbled with the button of my pants, pulling the zipper down quickly. Her eager fingers joined mine until I was freed. Aching and swollen. Her eyes fixed on me. Unblinking.
She tugged at the hem of my shirt, but I was already tearing it off with one motion. Her gaze roamed over me, lingering, hungry, until her lips parted. The satisfied gleam in her eyes made me want to devour her all over again.
When she swiped her finger across the tip of my erection and brought it to her lips, I nearly lost my sanity.
“Blessed gods,” I groaned, the words breaking out of me.
Every muscle strained to keep still while she tasted me, her eyes alight with mischief. Beneath it was something softer, something like wonder.
She touched me again, her hand more curious than certain. When her hand circled the base, I nearly lost control. Gently, I covered her hand with mine, guiding her to a firmer grip.
“Like that,” I managed to grind out. “Vith, exactly like that.”
Her smile widened, innocent and wicked all at once. And I knew I’d never survive her.
Her careful strokes grew bolder, more confident. The sight alone, Finley touching me, burned hotter than anything I’d ever known.
I tipped my head back, breath shuddering as her thumb teased across the head. My hips flexed into her hand, chasing every stroke.
“I’m close,” I warned, desperate and undone and afraid she’d stop.
But she didn’t. Her eyes, bright with hunger, never left me. Her lips parted as she worked me to orgasm. Again.
But this was Finley touching me. The female I’d been promised, choosing me. Wanting to please me.
Pressure built with pleasure curling low in my stomach, before it surged, stealing my breath. I groaned her name, spilling hot over her hand and across my stomach. She watched me fall apart for her, taking in every sound she spilled from me.
“Finley,” I groaned, voice wrecked. “You’ve ruined me. I’m on my knees for you, whether I can ever stand again or not.” I dragged in a ragged breath, enjoying the sly tilt of her smile, and managed a rough laugh. “If this is how you plan on finishing me off, at least I get to die happy.”
Her grin widened as she dragged a finger down my chest, digging into the come that streaked across my skin. “Oh no, Brenton.” She brought her finger to her lips, where her tongue curled around the tip.
My breath caught in my throat while the sight destroyed me. Heat jolted through my body, but beneath it all was something far more dangerous. Hope.
“I’ve only just had my first taste of pleasure,” she said. “You’ll be busy for a long, long time.”
I groaned, dragging a hand over my face, caught somewhere between wrecked and desperate to taste her again.
Her laugh was low and a little breathless, her attention moving from me to the bowl of water that had started this game.
Before she could lift the cloth, I wrapped my fingers around her wrist.
“Let me.” My voice came out rough, with this unending need for my mate clambering up again.
I guided her back to the mat, taking my time to kiss down her chest and savor the way her breath caught. Then I cleaned her carefully, softly. Her lips parted as her lashes fluttered. When I finished, I cleaned the evidence of my orgasm with brisk, quick strokes.
Once I cleared the bowl away, I settled beside her. She curled close without hesitating, her body fitting perfectly against mine. I wrapped myself around her, cocooning her in the warmth of my arms, my chest pressed to her back, her scent surrounding me.
She sighed, already half asleep. I pressed my lips to her hair, my heart stumbling over the truth.
This was my life now. Her. Us. Thank the gods.