“Almost.” Bel abruptly leaned over and kissed him hard. She quickly softened her lips, and the kiss turned sweet and hot. It was encouragement and understanding, and the tightness in his chest dissolved, replaced by a flood of warmth.
“Hmm.” He smiled as they broke apart, breathing more easily. “That was just what I needed.”
“See how good I am at this already?” She grinned, clearly proud of herself.
Carver chuckled. “I never had a doubt.”
Chapter 22
Bellanca slowly opened her eyes, cool, dawn quiet and thin gray light greeting her through a sparse canopy. A warm body curled around hers from behind, a heavy arm across her waist and a big hand gripping her breast over her tunic. Her senses instantly ignited.
“Carver?” she whispered.
“Still sleeping.” He nuzzled the back of her neck, and hot shivers rushed down her spine.
“Sleep talking?” Her smile was ridiculous. Ridiculous and huge.
He chuckled. His warm breath caressed her nape as he pulled her closer, locking them together on the thick bedroll shielding them from the night-damp ground of the forest. The fresh, verdant scents and still somnolent sounds of nature surrounded them, and a soft wool blanket half covered them—a layer she didn’t really need with Carver cocooning her in his warmth. “Logic has no place before the sun rises.” He kissed her shoulder, then seemed to drift back to sleep, his muscles relaxing around her.
Bellanca lay there, wrapped up in Carver and anything but sleepy. Every sensation jumped out at her in living color, and her hard-beating pulse carried a searing mix of magic, amazement, and anticipation through her. What she’d always imagined about intimacy and what she actually felt with Carver were sodifferent. Whatever virginal unease remained kept disappearing the moment they touched and a bonfire of passion ignited. Instead of wanting to escape, she wanted more, nearer,fiercer. Nothing made her feel trapped or vulnerable. Things between them had only just changed, but Carver made closeness and desire feel so natural. It was a new sort of magic—a heady one, different and deliciously untamable. She wanted to follow it until it scorched her.
Her skin tight and her heart racing, Bellanca luxuriated in the feel of a heavy, loose-limbed Carver against her thrumming body. She’d only packed one larger version of their camp bedding, which had seemed very bold and committed of her a day ago but now seemed like excellent foresight. Unfortunately, they’d both been too exhausted and sore after a full day of travel—and much of it on horseback for the first time in months—to make good on the flirting they’d managed to fit in between watchful silences, speculation about gods, and trying to plan their Power Bid for Atlantis.
Carver’s even breathing veered toward soft snoring, and she huffed, incredulous. How could he sleep when she was strung so tightly you could shoot an arrow off her?
The tension gathering inside her demanded she move, and she wiggled her hips, fitting her backside right into the curve of his body. “Carver?” She rubbed against him. “Are you awake?” Brimming with restless energy, she pressed back harder and squeezed her legs together.
He groaned, the low sound half-sleepy and half-aroused. “I am now.” He thrust back, his hardening shaft gently prodding her.
Desire thumped in her belly. “I feel you,” she murmured.
“I know.” His big palm lightly caressed her breast. He slowly thrust again. Voice husky,hungry, he rasped, “Do you like it?”
“Yes,” she breathed out. Closing her eyes, she tipped her head back and arched into him, offering more of her backside and pushing her breast harder into his hand. A molten weight spread through her, the pressure ribbon-tight and wonderful. Magic sparked beneath her skin, burning the imprint of things she never knew she wanted right into her flesh. The idea of sharing her body used to terrify her, but now, certain parts of her silently screamed for Carver. “I never imagined…”
“Never imagined what? Desire?” His lips slowly brushed the back of her neck in an open-mouthed kiss as he held her breast, softly kneading. His thumb rasped over her nipple, and her mouth fell open, heat pooling in her abdomen.
“I never really thought about my own desire.”
“Or you repressed it.” Every word he spoke kissed the back of her neck, his lips warm and almost tickling.
Tingles washed over her, spreading featherlight goose bumps. A little breathless, she teased, “Someone’s confident.”
“Someone’sright.” He flicked his tongue against her nape. She gasped, her muscles tightening and reminding her of her soreness from the ride yesterday. He licked her again, savoring her this time as he stroked her breast and rocked her against him.
The ache inside her grew heavier and more urgent. “Maybe.”Probably.Low down, a growing knot of sensation tormented her with the conflicting need to prolong the intoxicating tension and unravel it immediately. She moved against him, faintly undulating. “I just never imagined you’d desireme.”
Carver stiffened. Locking her against him, he muttered, “You must’ve blinded yourself with your own fire.”
She bit her lip, half smiling. “You weren’t exactly obvious.” Craving more of the pressure and friction, she lifted her backside to get him moving again. Carver let out a controlled exhalation and returned the pressure, slow and soft, his hips lightly thrusting.
She moaned, reciprocating.There. Better.
“No… Not obvious. I just taunted you for months, wouldn’t let you out of my sight, crossed worlds for you, and happily pretended to be your husband for… How long? Ah, that’s right. Since the day you came home from Spiro’s and told me we got married while you were at work.” He pushed his hard shaft against her as he gripped her nipple between two fingers and pinched. A fiery jolt shot through her. Her breath caught, and arousal dampened her core. “Not obvious at all…”
Her heartbeat thudded between her legs. “Are you saying I’m obtuse?”
His chuckle rolled over her shoulder like the sultry rumble of a summer storm. “Something to work on, princess.” He toyed with her nipple again.
