Chapter 27 #2
"You're beautiful," his eyes following the path of the blue markings that now decorated much of my upper body. "All of you."
Instead of making me self-conscious, his words filled me with a strange confidence. I finished unbuttoning my shirt and let it fall to the floor, standing before him in just my bra and jeans. The markings glowed softly in the dim room, casting blue shadows across our skin.
Zane's breath caught, his eyes drinking in the sight of me. Slowly he leaned forward to press his lips to the markings on my stomach, tracing their path upward with gentle kisses. I gasped at the sensation, my hands finding his shoulders for support.
"Your turn," I managed when he pulled back, tugging at the remains of his torn shirt.
He complied, carefully removing the ruined garment to reveal the bandage on his side and the rest of his torso, lean and muscled from centuries of demon hunting. Scars marked his copper skin, telling stories of battles won and lost, of a life lived on the edge of danger.
I traced one particularly vicious-looking scar that ran across his collarbone. "Does it hurt?"
"Not anymore," he caught my hand, pressing a kiss to my palm. "Nothing hurts when you're touching me."
The words sent a shiver through me, desire pooling low in my belly. I leaned down to kiss him again, more demanding this time, my tongue sliding against his as his hands found the clasp of my bra. With practiced ease, he undid it, letting the garment join my shirt on the floor.
"Lie back," I instructed, gently pushing him down onto the mattress. "Let me do the work."
Zane complied, his eyes never leaving mine as I climbed onto the bed, straddling his hips carefully to avoid his injury. The position brought our bodies flush together, the friction delicious even through our remaining clothes.
"Winter," he breathed my name like a prayer, his hands sliding up my thighs to my waist, then higher to cup my breasts. His thumbs brushed over my nipples, drawing a moan from my lips.
I rocked against him, feeling his arousal through the fabric of our jeans. The blue markings on my skin pulsed brighter, responding to my increasing desire. Zane watched, fascinated, as they spread further across my body, following the path of my pleasure.
I ignored the protest my knee gave.
"I want to see all of you," his voice rough with need.
I stood to remove my jeans and underwear, suddenly shy despite the heat between us. Zane's eyes darkened as he took in my naked form, the blue markings now covering much of my body in intricate patterns.
"Your turn," I repeated, nodding toward his remaining clothes.
With some difficulty due to his wound, Zane managed to shed his jeans and boxers, revealing himself fully to my gaze. He was beautiful, all lean muscle and smooth skin, his arousal evident and impressive.
I rejoined him on the bed, this time settling beside him rather than on top, mindful of his injury. Our bodies pressed together, skin to skin, the contact sending sparks of pleasure through me. Zane's hand found my hip, pulling me closer as his mouth sought mine in a kiss that left me breathless.
"I've wanted this for so long," he confessed against my lips. "Wanted you."
"You have me," I whispered back, guiding his hand between my thighs where I was already wet and ready for him.
Zane groaned as his fingers explored me, finding the sensitive bundle of nerves that made me gasp and arch against him. He worked me slowly, building the pleasure with each stroke, each gentle circle. I clutched at his shoulders, my hips moving in rhythm with his hand.
"Zane," I moaned as the tension built, coiling tighter and tighter inside me. "Please."
Understanding my need, he shifted, positioning himself above me with his weight on his good side. The head of his cock pressed against my entrance, teasing but not yet entering.
"Are you sure?" he attempted to be the gentleman one last time, his eyes searching mine for any hesitation.
In answer, I wrapped my legs around his waist, pulling him closer until he slid inside me in one smooth thrust. We both gasped at the sensation, the perfect fullness, the connection that went beyond physical.
For a moment, we stayed still, adjusting to the feeling of being joined.
Then Zane began to move, setting a gentle rhythm that quickly built in intensity as our bodies found their pace together.
The blue markings across my skin brightened with each movement, casting patterns of light that danced between us in the dimness of the room.
I watched his face, the concentration in his furrowed brow, the parted lips, the way his eyes never left mine as if afraid to break whatever magic connected us.
"You feel incredible," his voice strained with restrained passion. His fingers traced reverent paths along my collarbone, down to where our bodies met.
I couldn't form words in response, could only arch upward, drawing him deeper.
The world narrowed to the points where we connected, his hands gripping my hips, guiding my movements to complement his own careful thrusts that avoided putting pressure on his wound.
Despite his injury, he moved with surprising strength, each careful roll of his hips sending waves of pleasure radiating outward through my body.