Chapter 16
Rise kicked himself mentally. What had possessed him to suggest something so ludicrous? Why would she ever truly want to be with him?
But when she’d pushed the image of them in the cave together, and he could feel the heat of her desire, he’d thought she’d done it purposefully.
But the cave had been after a near-death experience.
She’d likely just needed to be close to somebody.
In actuality, she couldn’t possibly want someone like him.
He’d gone to the front of the tent and paced back and forth, debating with himself what her purpose in sharing the image of them together in the cave could possibly have been.
He knew his scarred body and face weren’t appealing in the traditionally handsome way, but he’d thought maybe somehow she had found him attractive. Now, as he stood outside the small bathing chamber, he knew he’d been mistaken.
He turned to go, but the flap was suddenly pushed to the side, and Liv stood before him, clothed in a drenched, sheer white dress of some type that fell to a spot halfway between her knees and her hips.
His heart raced as his gaze dropped to her nipples, clearly delineated by the fabric clinging to every delectable inch.
His mouth watered as they puckered before his very eyes.
He groaned as he turned back toward her, reaching to pull her to him.
“What were you saying about other things?”
His lips tipped up in a grin at her words as he lowered his mouth to hers. The minute he felt the soft touch, he forgot all his insecurities. Whether she was attracted to him or not, she clearly wanted the same thing he did, and he was very willing to give it to her.
The sweet, clean fragrance that he inhaled reminded him just how road-weary he was. He didn’t want this to be the way he took her for the first time.
He broke the kiss and stared down at her heavy-lidded expression. “Go to the bed. Remove this soft fabric and wait for me. I will be but a minute.”
She nodded, and Rise quickly removed his clothes, tossing them to the side. He noticed two, new sets of clothing hanging, one for him and one for Liv. The people had been overly generous. He just hoped they didn’t expect him to give more than he could in return.
He shook that thought from his head and made quick work of the water, pouring out most from Liv’s bath and adding new. With rapid movements, he washed every inch of his body until he was satisfied she would not reject him.
Then, he jumped from the water and grabbed a towel from a pile on the ground. He dried off quickly, feeling his length hardening in arousal as he thought of the beautiful woman waiting for him in the bed.
As he rushed into the room, anticipation driving every step, he stopped short at the sight of the perfect woman lying in the center of the furs and blankets, completely naked and completely asleep, her soft breaths moving in and out in slumber.
Rise sighed and shoved down his disappointment.
He, too, was beyond exhausted and needed to sleep.
Of course, he’d been very willing to sacrifice rest to fuck Liv, but she clearly needed the sleep more than sex.
With easy motions, he eased in beside her, fighting the pain of his arousal, especially as she snuggled closer to him.
This was going to be a long night.
After what seemed like a long time, Rise finally drifted off. He dreamt of flicking and sucking Liv’s nipples until she cried out with intense pleasure. It was the hottest dream he’d ever had, and he didn’t want it to end.
Yet, when he awoke again, it was to the feel of light kisses on his neck and chest, the soft touches making him question whether this was real or just another part of his sexually frustrated dreams. But when he felt her hand stroking his thigh, so near his hardening cock, he knew this was really happening.
When her lips met his with a searing kiss, Rise flipped her to her back and intensified the meeting of their mouths, cupping the back of her head with one hand and her face with the other.
He’d never felt such a strong desire for any human being in his entire existence.
He wanted Liv. He wanted to fuck her. He wanted to hear her scream his name as she came.
He wanted to give her such pleasure that she craved him as much as he craved her.
He broke the kiss and stared down into her gaze. “Is this what you want?” He rocked his hips forward, feeling heat suffuse his entire body as the tip of his dick felt the moistness of her folds for just a moment before he pulled back. He groaned at the sensation.
“Yes!” Her pleading voice made his lip curl as desire raced through his body and pooled in his groin. He wanted her, to almost a mindless degree, but he wanted her to want him more.
“Well, not quite yet, princess.”
She whimpered as he pulled away and began to slide down her body.
With purpose, he paused at her chest and spent long moments flicking his tongue teasingly over each of her nipples.
She gripped his hair in her hands, trying to steer him to suck them.
After resisting as long as he could, he obliged, taking each pert tip into his mouth, one at a time, and sucking them until she cried out, bucking her hips to try to reach him.
With a chuckle, he pulled away and continued down, kissing her stomach and thighs before settling between them. He was about to feast on her to make her come the hardest she ever had, and he wouldn’t stop until she called his name over and over.