He glanced down at his bloody leg. “I’m well aware of that,mate.”
She wanted this. They both needed the strength of being ableto heal themselves, and the only way to do that was to finally take the plunge.Even without that factor, she’d say yes. It wasn’t just curiosity...it wasAthan. She’d seen beneath his solid core of calmness and control more and more overthe years. Now, she wanted to dive right in. Completely. She definitely wantedhim.All of him.
So, she jumped for him, wrapping her arms around his neck,clamping her legs around his waist, and smashing her mouth down on his.
Chapter Ten
Desire deepened in him as he caught her, holding her aloft.She’d jumped into his arms of her own volition. Wanting him. Offering herself.In that second, he wanted to devour her.
His feelings for her, his rawneedfor her, hadbeen building decade by decade, and now she was finally pressed against him. Itwas important that she’d made the first move, and now he could take over. Takeherthe way he’d wanted for so long. He wanted to taste her sweet skin, andthen he wanted to do it again until he owned every soft inch.
He let her direct the kiss for a few more seconds, enjoyingthe feeling of her silky lips against his. Then he took over, pressing her headback while holding her aloft. Lust poured through him on the heels of somethingdeeper. A sensation he’d only ever felt for Ivy O’Dwyer. Protectiveness,possessiveness, and raw hunger. The feeling slaked him, clawing through hisnerves and burrowing beneath his skin with a demand that was so close tofinally being appeased.
God, he wanted her.
It had been nearly impossible the last decade to leave hereach time he tasted her blood, but the wait had been worth it. She was in hisarms, her mouth open beneath his by choice.
Her blood tasted like ripe honeysuckle, and her mouth waseven sweeter. Like honeysuckle mixed with smooth vanilla. Murmuring, he releasedher mouth and kissed across her high cheekbones to nip her beneath the jaw,turning and walking toward the master bedroom of the place. He’d stayed hereseveral times through the years and was familiar with the layout. Even so, hetuned in to the world around them, making sure there were no threats waitinginside or coming for them outside. The elevator locked automatically, and hedidn’t scent anybody else in the place, so he could relax and concentrate fullyon Ivy.
Finally.
She tunneled her hands through his hair, her nails scrapinghis scalp with an erotic bite. He reached the bedroom and let her slide downhis body, tucking his fingers beneath her skimpy tank top and pulling the softmaterial up at the same time. The backs of his knuckles brushed the swells ofher breasts as he tugged it over her head and dropped the material carelesslyon the plush carpet. Then he leaned back and indulged himself by looking hisfill as she stood in front of him, so small and fragile but frantically tryingto rip the buttons on his shirt free.
Her bra was pink with a front clasp. “How convenient,” hemurmured, snagging the hook open with one finger. The lace flipped wide, and hegrowled, lust landing hard in his groin. A cute smattering of freckles coveredher creamy breasts with their light pink nipples. His girl was a true Irishrose with the coloring to boot. She’d burn to a crisp in any sunshine. “You’rebeautiful.”
As he said the words, a lovely damask flush started in herspectacular chest, climbed up her neck, and filled her face. He watched,fascinated. “So lovely, Ivy.” This was her first time, and he wanted it to bespecial for her. The moment she decided to give herself to him, it had becomebeyond special to him. But he had to be careful not to hurt her. “If I scareyou, let me know.”
She rolled those stunning green eyes. “I’m modern, Athan.I’m not scared of you.”
Good. She shouldn’t be frightened of him in this context.Not when they were together and intimate. He’d deal with her lack of concernfor his temper and her newfound penchant for shooting him later. Right now, sheneeded to know that she was safe—and wanted.
If he wanted her any more, he’d fucking explode.
For the first time in his entire life, his hands trembled ashe slid them down her chest to cup her breasts. As a male always in control,the idea shook him, but he couldn’t stop now. Her honeysuckle scent wrappedaround them both and slid down to prod the dangerous beast at his center. The secondhe touched her, those succulent nipples peaked, hardening to the texture ofdiamonds against his palms.
They both groaned.
He caressed her and added a bit of bite, noting herquickening breath. His mate liked a bit of pain as well as a show of dominance,which was a good fucking thing because he didn’t know how to be any otherway—not in the bedroom or anywhere else in his life. Her path would be an easyone outside the bedroom if she remembered that. If not, there would be lessonsto be learned. But not here. Here, she was safe and responding as well as hecould’ve ever dreamed. Paying close attention to her breathing, he gentlytweaked both nipples.
She caught her breath and leaned into his hands, her heartpounding loud enough that he could hear it.
Perfect. She was absolutely fucking perfect. He tuggedgently again, and she gasped, pleasure pouring from her. Even so, her eyeswidened. She was overwhelmed and starting to appear a mite panicked from themultitude of sensations.
So, he planted one hand on her upper chest and pushed heronto the bed.
She bounced twice, gasped in surprise, and then burst outlaughing. Good. She needed to know that this was fun, too. He smiled and lethis hands go to his belt.
Her gaze followed his movements, and her eyes widened. Shelicked her bottom lip.
Yeah. She was everything he could ever want. Slowly, hewithdrew the belt from the loops, noting her quickening of breath. Nice. Thenhe shoved down his bloody jeans, making sure to partially twist to the side soshe couldn’t see the bullet holes. He was fully erect and ready, and her eyessomehow widened even more, pure panic in them this time.
“You’re all right,” he murmured, setting one knee on thebed. Then he moved slowly, efficiently unbuttoning and then unzipping her tornjeans and tossing them easily over his shoulder to make her laugh. His gazecaught on the barely there triangle of material covering her sex, and hegrowled low, unable to help himself.
* * * *
That low growl licked across Ivy’s skin. She could barelybreathe but didn’t much care. Athan Maxwell was in front of her, utterly nude,fully erect. He was one incredible and slightly intimidating male. Make thatfull-on intimidating. His chest was raw muscle, cut hard. His abs were strongand countable, and below those...his cock visibly throbbed.
Everything inside her softened with need. An edge of cautionrode her hunger, and wetness coated her thighs. Her nowbarethighs.She’d never cared much about her physical appearance since she changed it withevery lifetime, but right now she did.
