by Marie Harte
Every doubt she had that this man wasn’t for her, that she wasn’t for him, evaporated in the heat he created. She forgot everything. She simply melted into him. Aeros hauled her tightly along his hard body. She could feel his chest rise and fall with each hectic breath. His kiss was almost desperate, as if he couldn’t live without tasting her. With deep groans, he stroked his tongue along hers, guiding her to take his kiss and give her own.
She rose on tiptoes to thread her arms around his neck, plastering herself to him to ease the longing building up inside. He responded by groaning against her lips. His big hands gripped her waist and lifted her closer, not hurting, not causing alarm, but making her tremble. She wanted those hands on her skin. Hot and roughly calloused, but gentle.
When she couldn’t take it any longer, she tugged the collar of his T-shirt, needing skin on skin. He broke the kiss with another of his quick grins. She watched him as he reached behind his head and pulled the shirt off with one amazing display of his chest and abs. Aeros bulged. His hard stomach rippled all the way down to his hips where the muscles veered down in a V from his hips. Before she could take in every inch he’d revealed, he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her. His rough bristle scraped her face but felt so good she moaned.
He was more than she’d ever thought to have. Trembling inside, she dared to reach up and cup his face to deepen the kiss. Their tongues collided and merged, sliding sinfully along each other. She could have kissed him forever. The thrill of it made her legs feel weak. He didn’t just kiss her, Aeros made love to her with deeper glides and sensuous caresses of his tongue, exploring and conquering her in one blistering exploration.
She shivered at the first warm feel of his hands. Another moan broke free and Aeros cupped her butt with one hand and rubbed his other along her skin. Warmth spread from every corner of her body. Afraid he might stop, she pressed her breasts to his hot flesh and dug her fingers through his silky hair to hold him in place. He pulled her body tight to his with a low sound and broke off their kiss.
“Tabithia, slow, baby, I don’t want to hurt you, but gods, I… Gods, you’re beautiful. I’ve wanted you for ages. Centuries.”
“Centuries? I’ve not lived that long, Aeros.”
He groaned and kissed her again. If all she had to do was tease him to get more kisses, she’d be in heaven permanently. There was simply something about her straight-laced captain, with his foul language but proper manners that drove her to ache from not teasing him. If she received kisses for teasing…
He plunged his fingers into her hair, pulling her head back so he could mash their lips together, swallowing her smile.
Even her breasts began to ache. They felt heavy, needy, as if they were jealous of the attention her mouth was receiving. Her nipples tightened to painful points even against the softness of her silky bra.
Gently, he cradled the side of her face and brushed more hot kisses along her jaw and down her neck and back up again. Too soon in her opinion, he released her face and took a step backward, letting out a long, low breath to stare at her.
“Can I see you? Can I…? Will you let me see you again?”
She blinked and her hand automatically clenched at her throat.
He rushed on, “Baby, I don’t want to rush you. I know we should go slow.”
Slow down? Ah, no? If they did, she might never get the nerve again. And now that he’d asked, suggested, she knew she didn’t want to stop. Didn’t want to go home and pleasure herself to thoughts of him. She wanted him.
He frowned and paced to a big dresser she’d not even noticed. Hell, they were in his bedroom. When had that happened?
“Tabithia?”
“I don’t want to stop—”
“You let me touch you before, will you let me again? We could—”
He obviously realised what she had said because he turned around quickly and his handsome face was almost comical it was so blank. “You don’t want to stop.”
“No. I loved what you were doing.”
Slowly, again—she got the feeling he thought she might bolt—he closed the distance he had put between them and took her hand. The feel of his big, hardened hand holding hers made her feel small and…warm inside, she realised.
“Tell me if you want me to stop.”
“I want you to kiss me, like before.”
Aeros wrapped his arms around her waist, closing the space between them until every line of her body fitted every line of his. She could feel his heart beating fast and hard. His body’s heat seeped back into hers. Along her stomach, his erection felt thick and hardened, ready for so much more than what he was doing.
Their eyes met and he brushed a wisp of hair from her face with his knuckles, while he kept his warm palm anchored around her waist, holding her tightly as if she still might run. She glanced down from the intensity in his eyes and felt trapped by the medallion around his neck. A choker, really, made of leather and woven into a braid with a flat disc threaded through the centre so that it sat against the hollow in his throat.
Her heart skipped a beat looking at that medallion. Was it the means for his control over her? Why so limited? It couldn’t make her do what he wanted, only what he told her to do.
“What are you doing, Tabithia?”
She sighed. She might never know what the power of the disc was, but she did know the power of this, what they shared, and she knew she wanted him. This. Them.
“Nothing, simply letting you hold me.”
His lips tipped upward slowly, the pinkness of them fascinating her, until her gaze snagged with his and she lost all sense of anything but Aeros.
He bent his head and kissed her slowly at first until, with an impatient sound, she dug her hands in his hair. He must have understood because he grunted and began devouring her mouth, breaking off only to glide hot, wet kisses over her jaw-line and down her neck to the cord of her throat. He bit down gently, her head fell back, and she moaned at how good he felt.
The sound was so unlike her she jerked against him in surprise. She sounded sexy.
Aeros chuckled and bit her again. This time he bit down on the delicate curve of her shoulder where he’d pushed her T-shirt out of his way.
His roving hands moved to her waist and lifted her shirt out of his way. She sucked in a breath as his firm thumbs rubbed directly under her breasts. Her body was on fire. Hot. So hot. She wanted those hands on her body, but… Did she have to ask? Couldn’t he tell?
“Will you, baby? Let me touch you? Feel you close and make you experience pleasure?”
Her breath caught in her throat when he slipped his hands up, all the while watching her closely as he finally cupped her breasts, rubbing his thumbs over her hard nipples. Explosions of pleasure rushed to every part of her body, wetting her so thoroughly between her thighs that she dimly feared he’d scent her arousal like a wolf. Her clit ached, tingled, strained for more.
“Take your shirt off. For me. Please.”
Relief surged through her. If he was ordering her, then she wasn’t doing this, was she? He was. Immediately, she recognised the twisted logic for what it was, a cop-out, but she could use all the help she could get. She latched onto his words like a lifeboat in a stormy sea.
Desire reflected in his dark eyes. He was gorgeous with his lips full and still wet from their kisses. Big body tight, he waited, patient as only Aeros could be, for her to do as he requested, or ordered. His chest was bronzed, hardened by the sun, and dusted with a sprinkling of black hair. His tattoo surprised her all over again. She’d seen both in the pools, but the loop of dark black around his big biceps was Celtic, not Greek. Intrigued, she reached up and palmed his flesh, letting her hands smooth over his flat, hard pectorals before she skimmed her hand over the complicated ink knots. Strength. Honour. Both wove through the ink. She hummed softly at the pleasant feeling of his skin.
“Hell, Tabithia. What are you doing to me?”
His chest rose and fell, his body was tight. His jea
ns had slipped down his lean hips and she knew his erection pulsed under the soft denim.
She took the plunge. Biting her lip once, she let it go and rushed to say, “Touching you.”
He closed his eyes in what looked like relief but snapped them back open so fast she jumped in his arms.
“Don’t fear me, Tabithia. I will never harm you.”
Tears threatened at his earnest, honest words, but she held them off. She wanted this. She did.
Reaching for the bottom of her T-shirt, she saw him suck in a breath. His hard body tightened, the ripple of muscle from chest to his low waistband was so hot she pulled her shirt off in record time. Once she had it off though, she froze. She’d never undressed in front of anyone, not since… A chill raced over her. Doubts settled in. Memories of the underground pool rose up to block the darkness. He’d seen her, touched her, knew all about her, had even brought her pleasure while showing her what gave him pleasure. She’d been naked for Aeros, and he’d been speechless with admiration. He’d even cussed.
He did again, now.
“Sweet fucking gods, baby. You’re so damn beautiful.”
He breathed the last with such feeling she felt the chill ease, the fear subside.
“Gods, pink?”
Rubbing his neck, he displayed muscles she couldn’t stop herself from moving forward and touching. He was hot to the touch, but smooth, not drenched in sweat like before—hot and silky. Was she beginning to cure him? He had an indent along his torso when he raised his arm, all the way down to his flat navel. And an eight pack. Flat, hard muscles used to war, but for her, she knew he’d never harm her. “Aeros, you curse too much.”
He covered her hand with his, holding her gently in place. “Touch me, Tabithia. I’ve wanted you for so long. I’ve waited, I mean, I can wait, but I want to pleasure you.”
Pleasure her. Tracing his sun-darkened pectorals, she moved in closer, letting her fingers discover him. He shivered the more she explored, his big body reminding her of a stallion ready to mount a mare. Would he harm her? He was huge. She’d seen how big his erection was when he was fully engorged. He’d been beautiful, perfectly formed. The memory of his release under her hand had her shivering.
“Tabithia?”
“Yes, Aeros, I want you. I want to try, just…”
“Anything at all, baby.”
He looked so earnest.
She flushed. “Be careful with me.”
He pulled her close and hugged her to his hard chest. “Always, always. I’ll never let harm come to you. I can promise you this. Never. I will never harm you. Trust me. I want your pleasure, never pain. Never pain, baby. That’s not what this is about. It’s about pleasure. Yours. Mine. Ours. We can go slow, very slow.”
Something broke inside her. Maybe she didn’t need his pendant to guide them. Maybe she could do this alone.
Thinking of telling him to take it off, though, caused a huge amount of problems. She knew he’d not be happy. He’d be angry. They wouldn’t experience this now. She wouldn’t experience this.
All thought ended when he skimmed his hands down her back to cup her ass and pull her closer. He was impossibly big. The bulge she’d noticed in the coffee shop had been impressive. This? This was frightening.
And she was taking him. All of him. Grabbing hold of her courage, she caressed the hard planes of his chest and gripped his hair to tug his mouth down to hers.
“Damn, I fucking love when you pull my hair.”
She’d have him cursing like a sailor before she was done with him. Why not start off that way? She shoved the memories of her past away and grasped her future with both hands, even locking her leg around his to get that much closer to him. His muffled groan sent a surge of happiness through her.
Yeah, she could do this.
Aeros seriously almost came in his jeans when she took hold of his face and guided his mouth to hers. To have the leisure to let go, have someone else running the show for once, while he lay back and just experienced something, had him gritting his teeth in pleasure. Would his little shy witch give him this? Gods, the idea took root and he was panting.
Not now, though. Now he needed to get a grip and take things slow.
She blew that thought out of his sex-starved mind when she broke the kiss with a smile and stepped hesitantly towards his bed. Doubt clouded her expressive green eyes. She dropped her gaze.
He took over. No chance he’d let her stop now. She wanted him. He could see it in her eyes.
“Come here, baby.” He needed those jeans off her. And his. His cock was killing him it was so damn erect. Would he scare her with his size when he pressed to her sweet opening? Only one way to find out.
“I want to make you come.” He watched her eyes widen in surprise but she didn’t pull away. Instead she nibbled her lip, appearing to debate the idea.
He smiled. “Ah, baby, I want to do a lot more, but first? I need you naked. Completely naked, like before. I’d like that. To see you. To pleasure you. Remember the pool? Remember how we touched?”
Still looking more than a bit scared, she blinked a few times and seemed to come to a decision.
“I remember. But this time I want to watch you undress. You first.”
He was halfway out of his jeans before he realised she’d just dared him. The little… Thoughts flew out of the window when she simply watched him, a smile on her beautiful face.
She liked the way he looked.
His cock jerked.
“Oh.” She made a small sound, almost a giggle, he thought. Whatever it had been, the sound was happy.
“Oh? That’s all you have to say?” Standing tall before her, he dug his thumbs under the waistband of his boxer briefs, enjoying teasing her. He’d not dared to push her before but now something had changed, a subtle change, but there all the same.
She grinned and nodded. “Well? Show me the goods.”
He laughed. How could he help it? Grabbing her up in his arms, he spun her in a circle, so happy he laughed. She squealed, hitting him on the head once, but he knew he’d pleased her. He stopped and their eyes met. She grinned down at him, a genuine smile on her face as he kissed her once more and set her down.
“Take off your jeans, woman, and I’ll give you the goods.”
“Aeros! You are too much.” Blushing furiously, she tried not to smile up at him.
His heart felt so big it might burst. He felt invincible. If he could ease her into this, he would. He’d make certain she was so happy she never hurt herself again—even if he had to tie her to the bed.
Tapping his arm, she said, “I like your tattoos.”
“Do you?”
He reached out and ran a finger down the tattoo winding down her slender waist. The vines were unusual, sensuous. They had small buds, flower buds he assumed. He wanted to trace them with his tongue.
“I like yours as well.”
Her body softened even more when she exhaled. Had she been holding her breath?
Surprising him, she ran a hand up his side. His cock grew heavier, fuller with the need to have her. He needed to go slow. He was big, big all over, and she was tiny. Perfect, he realised. Not simply because she was Tabithia, and his, but because he suddenly knew he liked her smaller, liked how delicate she was, how much smaller she was to his size. Hell, he was a chauvinist and hadn’t known.
“Tabithia, take those jeans off before I come in my damn shorts.”
She sucked in a breath, eyes shining, and grinned. She held onto him with one small hand, but her other unbuttoned her jeans and released her zipper. She shimmied her hips like a belly dancer, and the damn things fell off, revealing bright pink lace panties to match her amazing bra.
“Tabithia… Gods, you’re so damn perfect, that’s it. Come on, baby, let me make you come.”
Manoeuvring her backwards, he pressed her back onto the bed with his bigger body. She sat a bit abruptly, but she didn’t protest when he practically ripped his boxer briefs down his thighs
and kicked them away. He didn’t give her time to panic at his size. Instead, he pressed her to her back, hands on both sides of her head. Leaning in, he took her rosebud mouth in a kiss. Sweetness flooded his senses. He fisted his hands on the bedding to hold back from rubbing himself against her like a dog.
“Got to touch you.”
She looked so damn sexy. Her lids were at half mast, her hair a wild tangle on his bed—his bed. She was in his bed. A surge of cum hardened his cock to the breaking point. Down, boy. Down.
“Tell me if you’re not liking anything I do. Tell me, okay, Tabithia?”
She nodded, clearly uneasy. Before she could slip from her passions, he kissed her again, reassuring her with his mouth. She opened for him, her tongue running along his before he even had to show her what to do. The taste of her, just a hint of coffee and sweet vanilla from her drink, was intoxicating. Electricity shot up his arm from his fingertips to his heart as he grazed his hand along her side. She sucked in a breath. Glancing up, he saw her looking down between them. His bets were on his cock.
“I won’t do anything you don’t want me to. This is for you, baby. Now relax and let your man love you.” The words spilled out before he could stop them and then he didn’t want to. He would never lie to her. She was his. Instead of panicking, as he thought she would, she relaxed down, settling more on the bed. One sexy leg bent at the knee as she slowly drew it up.
She could have waved a flag at a bull and got the same results. Her panties, silky pink, were wet. Holy Hades save him. A rush of lust exploded along his body. “So damn beautiful.”
He couldn’t hold back. Sliding his hands along the softest skin he’d ever felt, he didn’t stop until her plump pink-covered breasts overflowed each hand. Her breath caught. He managed to remove one hand from their prize and unclasp her bra without too much stumbling.
Meeting her eyes, he unwrapped her like a present. “Baby, always wear these…like this. So damn pretty, god damn.”
“Aeros!”
“Gods, I’m sorry, sorry…” He trailed off when she moaned and lifted her chest off the bed. Her breasts bounced and quivered. Fuck. He dived in. There wasn’t any stopping now. His mouth found its place in this world right between the lush mounds. He took hold of one and sucked the soft, inside curve. He wanted a nipple, but hell, he didn’t trust himself.
