She restlessly shifts her legs. The shirt I gave her has twisted around her waist, baring one hip and a long stretch of thigh. I trace the curve of her hip, eager to relearn the sounds she made when she came apart in my hands. The small taste I had of her last night wasn’t enough. The painful hard-on I went to sleep with returns with a vengeance.
I drag a breath through my teeth, forcing my hand to stay where it is—clutching her hip. Her skin is warm but not burning. No metallic tang in the air. No hoofbeats.
Safe. For now.
I should wake her, tell her what the spreading mark means before it reaches her shoulder. Or her heart.
Anxiety thrums through my veins as I watch the slow rise and fall of her ribs, the way the glow of the curse lights her skin from within.
How am I going to fix this?
She shifts, a low murmur slipping out. Her heel slides down my shin. My body answers before my brain catches up.
I bend my head until my lips brush the edge of her hair. “Emery,” I whisper.
She stirs but doesn’t open her eyes. “Mmm?”
The sound vibrates against my chest. I could tell her to go back to sleep, pretend for one more hour that we’re just two normal people enjoying each other.
Instead, my hand slides from her hip to her stomach. She shifts, leaning back against me as if inviting me to continue exploring. I skim my fingertips against soft skin, over her ribs to the underside of her breast.
Heat rolls under the tattoos across my chest, the Rider’s leash tugging in time with my heartbeat. It wants more contact, but the air stays clean. No iron. No threat.
My pulse pounds.
Her breathing stops as if she’s afraid to do anything that might break the spell.
Without another thought, I cup her breast, the soft weight filling my palm. She’s a package I’m desperate to unwrap. I stroke two fingers against her hardening nipple, lightly pinching the tight peak. Her body shudders against me and I let out a satisfied groan.
“Declan,” she whimpers.
“Good morning.” I bury my face against her neck and kiss the spot below her ear while my fingers continue teasing her nipple.
“Declan.” Her voice is more desperate now and she tries to turn her body my way, further twisting the shirt, exposing more skin.
Reluctantly, I release her nipple and tug at the shirt. “I want to take this off you. Ineedit off.”
“God, yes. Please.” She wiggles and shimmies her arms out of the sleeves and I help her pull it off the rest of the way.
“Damn,” I breathe out, pulling back to admire her. Skin flushed a perfect shade of pink, a slight dusting of freckles over her chest. Breasts round and perfect. Big enough to fill my hands. My pulse accelerates. “Sit up.”
Dark lashes flutter. “What?”
“Sit up. I want to see you.”
She studies me for a moment, then tucks her legs under her and kneels next to me, resting her hands on her thighs. The blush creeping up her cheeks deepens but she doesn’t try to hide herself.
“You’re…beautiful.”Fuck, really? I can’t come up with something better than that?
She ducks her head, a shy smile curving her lips. “You’re pretty damn handsome yourself. Probably the hottest guy I’ve ever—” She bites her lip, her eyes going round with embarrassment.
A shocking jolt of possessiveness thunders through me. “Don’t tell me about anyone else who’s ever seen you like this. I’ll have to hunt them down and end their time on Earth.”
Her eyes widen even more.
Yeah, that was an insane thing to say. Can’t help it.
I curve my lips into what I hope is a charming enough smile to reassure her I’m not a menace. My gaze drops to her breasts. “God damn, your breasts are spectacular.”
