Her eyes widened, and surprise squeezed a spark from her hair. “You poor man.”
He chuckled. “I survived.”
She took a deep breath. “No more waiting.” Swallowing, she shifted onto her back, opened her legs, and tried to tug him on top of her. “I’m ready.”
Carver tamed his smile as he swept a hand down her body, gripped her hip, and rolled her back in to him. “As grateful as I am for the encouragement, and the consent, you’re not ready for this”—he thrust his shaft against her naked belly—“and I don’t want to hurt you.”
“Oh.” Her eyes rose, meeting his. “Then what do we do?”
“This.” He captured her mouth again for a long, slow kiss and then flicked his tongue against her smoke-and-cherry lips. “And this.” Smoothing his hand over her, he caressed her from shoulder to hip. His thumb dipped into the crease of her thigh, and her breathing sped up. He kept lightly stroking as he said, “And whatever you want. You choose next.”
After a moment’s hesitation, she leaned in and offered a kiss that was all Bel—aggressive, straight to the point, and lip-scorchingly hot. With a low growl, he curved his hand aroundher backside and pulled her flush against him. They rocked, their bodies swaying in rhythm. Their mouths almost clashed, vying for dominance in an arousing game of give-and-take that echoed their history more perfectly than any soft touch ever could. Tension built, on his skin, deep inside. He clenched her flesh, his fingers pushing into firm muscle. Moving restlessly, Bel brought her leg up over his hip, and her slick, feminine heat teased his shaft. His mouth fell open on a groan of pleasure, his pulse shooting off fast.
Breathing raggedly, he rolled her onto her back, this time settling between her legs. “Is this okay?” She nodded, lifting her knees. He thrust against her, finding her hot and silky and untameably inviting. Slipping his arms around her back to protect her from the lumps of the forest, he kept gently rocking, spreading her dampness onto his shaft and around her slit. “I can’t wait to be inside you, to feel your hot body hugging my cock.”
Her heavy moan sank deep into his soul. “Yes.” She lifted her hips, and the tip of his shaft skimmed her opening. The head hitched there, and Carver saw stars.
“Yes, what?” he demanded roughly.
“Yes, inside me,” she breathed out.
“Good girl.” His hum of approval vibrated in his chest as he kissed her, still slowly pumping his hips. She touched him everywhere, his back, his neck, his shoulders. She tugged on his ear, andfuck, did that feel good. He breathed heavily, heat and need tearing thick layers off the control he fought to maintain.
“Carver.” She angled her hips again, seeking him out. “I’m ready.”
Moving one hand up, he fisted her glowing hair. “I’ll say when you’re ready.”
Her eyes went hazy, bright but unfocused. He rocked, pressing down and using his body to drive her toward climax. “Ifeel…” She swallowed then gasped out, “I feel like I shouldn’t lose control.”
His hand tightened in her hair, tilting her head back. “You need to let go.”
“What if I burn you?”
He shook his head. She felt so damn good underneath him that he feared his control might unravel before hers did. His nostrils flaring, he slowed. “I trust you. We’re meant to be together, two halves of the same whole. Nature wouldn’t make us incompatible. You can let go and not burn.”
A hard laugh escaped her. “I kind of want to burn. It makes everything more intense.”
He groaned. “Gods, woman. You make a manwantto catch on fire.” Still working his hips, he watched every emotion and sensation blaze across her face. Little flaming ribbons danced in her hair, more inside the strands than out. He breathed in the warm cherry scent of her magic. Decadence and lust. His mouth watered for her, and he ached to slide into her heat.
Kissing her like he’d never stop, he shifted enough to touch her again. He lingered on her breast, the small mound fitting perfectly into his hand and the beaded nipple rubbing his palm. He slid his hand down, caressing her lower belly, her hip, and then between her legs. He closed his eyes, relishing the dampness slicking his fingers. It proved that Bel was exactly where she wanted to be—with him. She stopped moving at first, assimilating the new sensations as he lightly stroked her heated core and teased her opening with his fingers. Then she started pushing up to meet his touch, and he worked a finger inside her, his eyes never leaving her face.
“You’re so beautiful.” Drowning in her bright eyes, he slid his finger in and out.
Bel’s mouth opened as if she wanted to say something butonly a strangled sound came out. Her head fell back into his hand. Gripping his shoulders, she moved her hips. The twisting roll of her body drove him out of his mind with want, and he added another finger, pressing deep. Her breathing accelerated, and she visibly reached for that pinnacle he hoped barreled toward her because, right now, not getting inside her was killing him.
“You’re like a dessert. Sugar and cherries, all heated up.” He lowered his head and inhaled deeply against her soot-streaked neck. “I can’t wait until it’s my tongue between those slick folds.”
She let out a sharp breath. “After a bath.” She writhed against his hand, squeezing her legs.
He flicked his finger over the sensitive nerves at the apex of her sex, quickly brushing back and forth. “Fuck baths. I’ll take you any way you are.”
“Covered in smoke and blood?”
Carver groaned. “Sweet-talk me some more, and I’ll come before I’m inside you.”
Fire flashed in her eyes. Her skin warmed. “And I always thought I was the feral one.”
“Oh, darling, you’re with a tribesman now.” He gripped her near-burning hair and worked his fingers over her in light but relentless strokes.
