He reined in, allowing her to catch up. She was smiling and flushed when she rode alongside. She stared at him and held his gaze a beat too long. “Dismount,” he said tensely.
“And make it fast?” she suggested, understanding his needs absolutely.
He grinned as he sprang down from his stallion. Lashing their horses’ reins to a tree branch, he turned. “Get over here.”
Celina’s eyes darkened with arousal and challenge. “You get over here,” she commanded.
They met somewhere in the middle in a clash of arms and kisses.
“Fast,” Celina urged as she yanked at his clothes.
“I brought you here to admire the scenery,” he teased as buttons flew everywhere.
“Really?” she demanded as she ripped his shirt from his shoulders.
Grabbing the edges of her top, he yanked it apart.
“What am I going to wear when I ride back?”
As she was working on his jeans, he was surprised that she cared. He told her so.
“You might care,” she countered with a look.
“So tie the edges under your—” He broke off to hiss between his teeth as she freed him and cupped his balls. “You’re a witch. This will be over before it begins if you don’t—”
She stroked him persuasively. “You wouldn’t dare. If I believed you, I’d stop.”
“You will stop,” he promised as he lowered her to the ground, “because I want you now.”
There was no foreplay. No finesse. None needed. Celina lay on her back, and he sank to the hilt with a groan. The day was warm, the grass was soft, and their hunger was as fierce as ever. She threw her head back with pleasure. He thrust firm and fast, bringing them the release they still so desperately needed. The more he gave, the more she wanted. Her body seemed to grow more sensitive each time they made love. “More! Faster!” she insisted, and the harder he took her, the better she liked it.
~~o0o~~
Celina reckoned she must have passed out for a while. She came to in Diego’s arms to find him kissing and soothing her from the most spectacular bout of lovemaking. “Hey, look at that,” she whispered, staring around. “Snow-capped mountains and a beautiful riverbank. The scenery here is spectacular.”
“I did tell you,” he murmured, smiling into her eyes.
Could anything be better than this? “How long have I been asleep?” The angle of the sun suggested late afternoon. Shading her eyes, she looked at him, then shivered.
Smiling reassurance, he drew her close. “You’ve been asleep some time. Understandable, don’t you think?”
“Do I look worried?”
“You shivered when you woke up.”
“Then you can’t have been holding me tightly enough,” she teased. Why now, of all times, did she feel so anxious? “Hold me tighter still,” she begged as Diego’s arms closed around her.
“What’s wrong?” he asked as she shivered again.
I love you, and I need to hear you say you love me too.“Nothing,” she protested with a smile.
Diego hummed, obviously not convinced. He shifted position so he could see her eyes, and his expression gentled, warmed. This was the moment, she thought, holding her breath. He was going to say something for sure.
He didn’t.
The moment passed, and nothing was said. She guessed the rumors about him were true. Diego wouldn’t commit himself to loving anyone, because he was totally devoted to his work for Blood and Thunder.
And that’s a good thing, isn’t it?Celina’s inner demons insisted.No risk, no pain. No love, no loss.But then, when she was least expecting it, he said, “I think I love you.”
