I was desperate to feel every inch of him, to wrap myself in his warmth. His breathing became more labored, and that excited me even more. I would die if he continued to torment me.
I delayed as longas I could to give her as much pleasure as she was giving him. Her response made it impossible to wait any longer. I knew she was ready. My mouth covered hers, and I moved between her thighs and slowly sank into her liquid heat. She was so tight, so hot, I groaned from the sheer bliss. I stayed completely still inside her, panting as I whispered her name.
When I came to her, she cried out. The ecstasy was overwhelming.
“Ah, Nora.” I breathe her name. “Damn.”
She wasn’t content to let me catch my breath. Every nervein her body was clamoring for release. I lifted her knees to take me deeper and began to move.
Oh, how she wanted to please me, to make me as crazed as she was. She bit my shoulder, kissed my mouth, and moved to my neck. She was panting now. I pulled back and thrust deep, and tears filled her eyes. She was staggered by the intensity of the feelings gathering inside her. My movements became more powerful, more all-consuming, more demanding. It was exquisite.
Even in the throes of raw passion, I had always been able to control my actions and set my pace. But I couldn’t control anything right now. I thrust into her again and again, powerless to slow down.
She was every bit as passionate as me. I saw the tension building within her, ready to burst with the need for release.
Wave after wave of sensation washed over her. She let it sweep her away like a roller coaster plunging to the ground and jolting every nerve, the waves of pleasure coursing through her. I thought she might cry. I could see everything she was feeling written on her face.
I kissed her, then buried my face in the crook of her neck, slow to recover, “Damn,” I whispered.
A curse word…andyet, I felt as though I’d just been caressed.
Wolf was panting against my ear. Or was that me panting? I was so shaken, I couldn’t hold a thought. The man had turned me into a blithering idiot.
I didn’t want to let go of him. Not ever. Crap, I knew I was screwed.
He rolled onto his side and pulled me with him. Wolf held me and stroked me, his touch now tender. Neither of usspoke, both content for the moment. The minutes ticked by, and I fell asleep in his arms. In the middle of the night, I awoke. Wolf was still there. I was surprised and content. I closed my eyes and went back to sleep.
When I woke up again, he was gone. Then I heard the shower running. I threw my legs over the side of the bed and joined Wolf. He smiled as he pulled me to him, and we made love in the shower. He kissed every scar on my body. He wanted to kiss away the pain I had gone through. We stayed in the shower until the water turned cold.
Wolf reached out and pulled me to him. He kissed me until I was breathless. When our eyes met, Wolf bent and kissed me again.
The night unfolded gently.
Hands.
Murmurs.
Laughter softened by kisses.
Wolf moved like a man deeply aware of what he was being trusted with—not ownership, not protection—but intimacy.
When he finally held me afterward, wrapped around me like I fit exactly there, he pressed his lips to my hair and whispered:
“I love you. I’ll tell you every day if you ever doubt it.”
I smiled, eyes heavy, heart full. “I don’t think I’ll ever doubt it.”
Downstairs, the tavern rested.
The town slept.
And upstairs, with the door unlocked and the future finally unafraid—
I knew.
We were going to be okay.
Epilogue
