Briefly, I marveled at the fact that I could tell he was agitated, despite knowing him for such a short amount of time. It had only been a few weeks?—
Yeah, but you’ve spent a lot of time together in those few weeks. Planning the wedding. Planning this event. Teaching him about Christmas traditions…
Hmm.
Maybe Ididknow him better than I thought.
“Joshy? Joshy!” A boy’s panicked cry broke into my thoughts, and all the adults remaining at the bonfire turned to see Aswan’s oldest son searching frantically about. “I can’t find Joshy!”
“Who’s Joshy?” I murmured as Giza grabbed the boy.
“Ben’s little brother, Hannah’s youngest.” Rissa was frowning in worry as she stepped closer to the fire. “I’m sure he’s around. He just has a tendency to get into trouble.”
“I’ll check in the woods,” I immediately offered, and darted to my left. I don’t even know if she heard me, I was in such a hurry.
Rissa was likely right; he was too young to wander far, but I’d rather be safe than sorry. I jogged through thedarkness, lit by the occasional lantern, calling softly for the boy. “Joshy? Joshua honey?”
Suddenly, I became aware of the pounding of feet behind me. I glanced over my shoulder but of course couldn’t see anything.
I’m not sure why I began to run faster, throwing my strength into my legs, but…it seemed instinctual.
Whoever chased me sped up too, and I found an extra reserve of strength, speeding through the trails, past lanterns and hanging boughs of mistletoe. I thought I heard the sounds of couples in the shadows—moans and panting and whimpers of pleasure—but I didn’t stop.
Couldn’tstop.
I remembered what Rissa had said aboutprimal urgesand realized that’s what this was.
And then, with a grunt, a big body slammed into me, lifting me off my feet. Before I could scream, he’d flipped me around and pressed me against a large oak.
A large oak with a large dangling bough of mistletoe, inexpertly tied above us.
My heart was pounding overtime, and my lungs couldn’t work and?—
He pressed his body against mine, lifting me, and his mouth crashed into mine with a loud groan.
And I knew then.
Sylvik.
I didn’t bother hiding my answering moan of surrender as I wrapped my arms around his neck and urged himcloser, deepening the kiss. His lips were smooth and wide and fit mine perfectly. When his tongue slid over mine, I whimpered in shock—it wasridged. Good God, it was ridged? How would that feel if he moved it over my body?
I groaned again as his big hands closed around my waist, lifting me further. If I hadn’t been wearing my winter coat, the bark of the tree would have scraped me, but he used his body to pin me there.
Primal.
Was this what the Mating Hunt was about? This frantic desperation? The urges to do something entirely primitive, like sink my teeth into him and not let him go?
Sylvik’s mouth moved across my skin, my jaw, my throat, and then his big hand slid beneath my coat and closed around my breast, and I bucked against him as pleasure shot straight to my core. I lifted one leg and wrapped it around his hip, urging himcloser closer closer…
The thick bar of his erection pressed against my belly as he squeezed my breast, sending a sharp spike ofneedthrough me. My pussy flooded with desire, and he growled and flexed his cock against me. I nearly crowed with joy.This! This is what I’d been dreaming of all these weeks! Knowing he wanted me as much as I wanted him!
Didn’t he?
Wait.
Dread settled in my stomach as I realized what I was doing, responding to his touches like a desperate bitch in heat.
Sylvik was polished, controlled, logical, methodical.
