He pushed her against a tree, careful to make sure they were completely hidden, and then his lips crashed onto hers. A fever broke against his skin as he pressed himself against her, and she responded as willingly as she had that night in the cabin. She surrendered completely, melting against him.
It was invigorating, the way she could make all thoughts, fears, and anxieties flee from his brain. There was only Thalia, withher supple lips that parted so obediently for him and released mesmerizing sighs and moans of pleasure. They hit his ears and went straight to his growing erection.
He could take her here. She would be willing and so, so perfect for him. But he had to resist.
He pulled away, marveling at the way her eyes fluttered open as if she were unable to express anything but her utter ecstasy. He cupped her chin in his hand, running his thumb over her bottom lip.
“Can ye imagine what it feels like to burn to make ye mine?” he growled. “To have to keep a safe distance? I daenae think ye realize what ye’re doin to me, lassie. Perhaps I should show ye.”
“Show me,” she demanded, her voice barely above a whisper.
Her pupils were blown as she watched him sink to his knees. The ground was cold against his legs, and it helped him focus enough to check once more that they were alone before he lifted her skirts.
She tried to help at first, gathering her skirts up and holding them above his head, but the minute his mouth was on her thighs, her grip loosened, and the fabric fell around his head. That was just fine for him. He was exactly where he wanted to be.
She trembled against him as his mouth trailed higher and higher. It wasn’t like the first time they had been together; she had been frightened and overwhelmed by the new sensations, and he had needed to coax her into a sense of safety. Now she knew what to expect, and she was encouraging it.
“Finlay,” she moaned, her fingers tangling into his long hair.
She spread her legs, telling him with her body exactly where she wanted him to touch her.
She let out a moan as he lowered his face to her sex, and felt her gasp above him as his breath brushed her wet flesh. He smirked. She was so responsive, he didn’t know if he would ever get enough of it.
With one hand, he cupped her thigh, hooking it over his shoulder so she would be open and ready for him. She panted above him, and he could feel from the way she was gripping his hair that the anticipation was gnawing at her.
He wanted to tease her just a little more, so he pressed his thumb against the small bundle of nerves at the apex of her sex. She gasped, her whole body arching as he rubbed small, slow circles against her heat.
She moaned again, her hips bucking as she silently begged for more. He held out as long as he could, giving her just enough to please her, but not enough to satisfy her.
“Finlay!” she cried out. His name came out as a plea, and he knew what it was she was asking of him.
His mouth was on her in the next moment, tongue and lips sliding through her heat so that all she could do was lose herself in the feeling. Her leg wrapped further around his back until the back of her heel pressed against his back, pulling him even closer. He was more than happy to oblige.
The leg that remained on the ground wobbled as if it were about to give out. He lifted it too so that both of her legs wrapped around his head as his mouth continued ravishing her.
She moaned loudly, her breath coming faster. Her legs tightened around him, fingers tugging at his hair. She was close, and the feel of her tensing around him made his own moans grow louder.
Here, in this moment, she was his. No one but him could undo her like this. No one else could make her feel as good as he did. His arousal flared as hot as any flame in his stomach. He wanted to stop what he was doing, to stand up and take what was rightfully his.
It would hurt her for a moment, but he knew it wouldn’t hurt her for long. She could take it. His Thalia was brave and strong, and he would make her feel so much pleasure that she would forget there had even been any pain at all.
He wanted to be with her. The desperate need overtook his thoughts as he imagined it. He wanted to be inside her. To feelwhat it was like when she reached her limit. To know how she would feel around his?—
She gave one final cry as her body clenched, and then loosened as if she were a taut rope that had been sliced through. She whimpered as he gently brought her back down, the sweetness of her pleasure coating his tongue. He hummed against her as she stopped quivering, pressing one final kiss to each thigh before he lowered her legs back to the ground.
She staggered for a moment, as if she were a drunken fool, before she was able to regain her balance. He swiped his sleeve over his mouth as he rose to his feet. She sighed, happy and content.
Finlay’s arousal flared anew, and he forced his mind to clear.
“Do ye see?” he asked, tucking a loose curl behind her ear. “I cannae control meself around ye.”
She shook her head, her eyes closing as her brow furrowed in confusion. “I understand even less than before. Why cannae ye make me yers if that’s what ye want? It’s what I want, too.”
“I want so much more from ye,” he hissed, cradling her cheek and forcing her gaze to remain on him. He needed to convince her. He needed to convince them both. “Thalia, I cannae give ye everythin’ ye need. Ye are mine only for a year. I may be yers forever, but our paths willnae cross after our betrothal is over.”
Her face fell, and the disappointment and sadness in her eyes tugged at his heart. He could not face it anymore, so he turned away from her. He picked up her bag and the fabric he had dropped to the ground.
One day ye’ll see why this was the right choice. One day ye’ll find someone who can give ye everything I cannae.
