60 #2
He tugged his own shirt over his head, tossing it onto the tattered heap of the one she’d worn.
Kora instantly grabbed hold of his shoulders, bringing him closer as she matched his intensity, before biting down on his lower lip.
Wild need spiked up his torso, nearly choking him as her hips rocked onto his, a thin layer of fabric separating them.
Don’t push it. A small voice of reason broke through the haze, telling him to slow down, to be gentle with her. Kora’s teeth nipped his ear, and he cursed, his cheeks flushing at her boldness.
“Kora,” Raiden swallowed. “Wait—”
She reared back, his flesh prickling at the sudden space between their chests. With one brow arched, that light in her eyes dimmed a little.
“I’m sorry, we need to slow down. We can’t, not yet.” That light darkened, and Kora blinked three times. Whatever he said, it threw a cold bucket of water over them as Kora untangled herself from him, standing up in one swift moment.
“Oh,” was all she said.
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
Casting her stare down, she paced to the fire, picking up his still intact shirt. What was happening? Gods, his body, his essence screamed at him to touch her. To be near her. To fix what he’d somehow broken within a second.
“What is it? Kora,” Raiden tentatively asked, pushing up from the bed. “Where are you going?” She tugged the shirt around her furiously, before biting her cheek so hard it dimpled.
“Is it because I’m broken? Because I’m not her? Because of this?” She pointed to her scar.
The question was a slap in the face. Raiden winced, her hurt clear in her rounded eyes. She thought he was rejecting her. Taking a deep breath, he approached slowly, letting her watch every movement he made with obvious deliberation.
One hand cupped her scarred cheek, his thumb gliding over the textured skin, before following it with the lightest of kisses. Her gaze shuttered, her lips trembling.
“You are not broken,” he affirmed, his voice catching as his other hand trailed up the side of her body, memorising every curve. “You never need to compare yourself to the past again. Because you are so much better, in so many ways that I could spend my eternal life counting them.”
She gasped.
“But . . . you don’t . . .” Kora glanced away, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of the shirt. Raiden gripped her chin, turning her face to look at him.
“Listen to me now, Kora.” Every time he spoke her name, she shivered. And damn wasn’t that fucking delightful. “I’ve never wanted anything more in my eighty-four years than I want you right now. But I’m not risking it when we have no tonics here.”
It took her a moment. She frowned and Raiden ached to press his thumb between her brows to soothe her mind.
“Do you understand?” he prompted, her lack of answer concerning.
“I . . . I wouldn’t . . . I haven’t . . .” The words died as she met his gaze.
“You never did with him?” He needed to know.
Her head shook. “You would be my first . . . to my knowledge. I know that it’s different for you. But for me . . . we never did much. Just mostly—”
“I don’t need to know the details.”
Gods, he never wanted to think about Kora and that mutt together ever again. She paused, her lips quirking.
“I didn’t think about protection tonics . . . I’ve never had to.”
Raiden’s world tilted. Blake Marwood still hadn’t gotten his way. Thank you, Haizea.
A million thoughts raced behind those perfect eyes. Kora placed one hand on his cheek, and Raiden gently kissed her palm, his heart thundering so hard it was audible.
“You make me feel whole again. When I’m with you, I’m alive, free, and unafraid. I trust you, Raiden.”
He swallowed, twice. His body lowered slightly, and her breath hitched as his torso met hers, their bodies fitting, warmth colliding. The shirt parted open, and her breasts brushed the hairs on his chest. Warmth pooled within, and Raiden’s cock sprung back into action.
“I trust you too, Huntress.” He winked as she rolled her eyes at the nickname.
Kora raised herself up onto her tip toes, her lips brushing his ear. “If we must wait, what else can we do?”
Raiden shakily exhaled, that primal part of him still demanding their union. He tried to leash it, but his bulge only grew bigger between them. “Anything else,” he growled, his hands palming her waist. “As long as I can touch you.”
Her smile was devastating, and Raiden nearly dropped to his knees.
Kora’s hands swept across his bare chest, humming with a twinkle in her eye.
Her hands kept drifting, outlining his abs, lingering around his waistband.
Before he could sweep her up, take her to the bed and continue where they’d left off in the kitchens, Kora knelt.
She was kneeling.
Gazing up at Raiden, she unbuttoned his breeches, his shirt sliding down her shoulders from the motion. The fire crackled, orange embers bathing her in a godly glow.
“What are you doing?” Raiden could hardly voice the words, his voice so raspy it was a miracle she heard him.
“Kneeling before my prince.”
Raiden’s head emptied. His heart thundered so much, he gasped, one hand flying out to the stone ledge of the fireplace. He trembled violently, as Kora continued removing his clothes slowly.
“I-I’m not—”
“You are. I’ve seen it.” With those words, his length sprang free, and Kora motioned for him to step out of his breeches, before tossing them to the side.
Holy fucking Haizea.