“Is that what you want? For me to leave you alone so you can give up entirely? If it is, say it again. But this time, mean it.” I pushed in further and he relented. “Say it and I’ll leave you alone so you can rot here. I’ll try to figure a way out without you. But I’m telling you now, I don’t know if Ican.Not alone. But just say the word, Arlo, and I’ll fucking leave.OrI can be here. You can throw whatever you have at me. But then we need to pick up the pieces and get out.” It was true. It wasn’t just that I needed his help. I needed him. Needed to know he was still in there. That he would still be there after this.
His eyes fell to my hips, reminding me of the tight, red silken shorts and matching top I wore to training. My thick thighs on full display, exposed like my midriff. Arlo’s hungry look reminded me of what had simmered between us from the start. What he had been avoiding so we didn’t lose sight of saving his men.
Now that they were gone, fuck it.
His jaw flexed, eyes darkened, and he didn’t ask me to leave.
This. I could work with this.
Devouring the space between us, I marched forward. He inhaled sharply at the advance, eyes closing for one brief second.
“You can be angry. You can be furious, even, but you cannot give up. I won’t let you.” This could be the way to bring him back. To keep him anchored to reality and not lost in hopelessness.
Inches away from my face, he let loose a breath.
“I don’t know if I can, Elowyn,” he said in a whisper.
I shoved him hard into the wall.
“Wecan.”
He needed it. The force. The pain. The anger. He needed to be shaken from the sad daze and slammed into earth.
Slammed intome.
His eyes met mine, crosshatching my face.
“You don’t want to give up and you sure as Infernum do not want me to leav—”
He grabbed my waist and pulled me into a bruising kiss, deep and greedy. Straining on tiptoe, I pushed into him and parted my lips as he sent in a sweeping tongue. His taste of salt and wine was intoxicating as I angled my mouth wider.
Together we would feel.
His grip clamped onto me, persistent, driving my body into the hard lines of his.
I felt him grow hard as his searching hands explored me. Breasts, waist, hips, ass, again and again as he claimed every part of me.
I pulled away from the kiss, pressing my forehead into his. “We will get out of here, Arlo,” I said, stroking him long and slow, admiring his length and that blessed hardness.
“Fuck,” he moaned.
“Say it,” I demanded, slowing my touch.
“We will get out of here,” he repeated.
Urgently, I tore at his buttoned shirt, exposing his strong chest. I continued down in kisses past his chiseled stomach, hips, and the glorious, deep V of his muscles that led me straight to all of him.
I fell to my knees, working at the lacing separating us. With one pull his length was freed, exposing him completely. Smooth, hard perfection.
Captain Arlo Fynn was naked before me, in all his glory, looking down atme, completely and utterly transfixed. We both needed this.
I took him in both hands and licked him shaft to head, fiendishly slow. His mouth parted open and wanting as his hands tangled in my curls. Our eyes locked, watching one another. That look alone rushed between my legs, making me hot and wet for him.
Rising, I met his gaze and found my hand around his jaw, forcing his head to one side. Forcing him to be here and now. I licked the strong column of his neck slowly, just as I had his cock.
He released a throaty moan from deep within his chest that vibrated through my body. “Tonight we do this,” I whispered into his ear. “Tomorrow we fight.” He nodded slowly, those long lashes fluttering. Then, forcing his chin back to me, I kissed him again. Deeper. Hungrier. He kissed me back, desperate for more. His strong hands gripped around my thighs, lifting me up and guiding my legs around his waist with ease. His rough, sea-worn hands cupped my ass as he carried me to the bed.
Collapsing on the bed, our limbs tangled as we centered ourselves without sacrificing a breath apart. He slipped off the minimal fabric that still separated us with ease. His lips were on me, sopping kisses over my neck, chest, breasts. Gorging on me.
