ALARIC
Alaric lay next to Hanna in their bed, the darkness of the night heavy around them like a thick blanket of want. Of need.
Fuck,he needed this woman so badly, it hurt. His heart ached, his cock throbbed. It was absolute torture of the worst kind.
Today, she had smiled at him over the kitchen table.
He shifted beside her slight form, rubbing his chest absently at the thought. It had been a real smile, and then Hanna had ducked her head as if surprised that she had a smile available to give.
Hanna slept loose and warm beside him, her breath coming slow and even. It made Alaric feel good to know that she trusted him enough to sleep beside him so, their limbs touching, feet curled together in the morning when they woke.
Baby James slept in his crib across the room, behind a screen and close to the banked fire where the warmth would linger. All was good. This house felt like a home again at last.
So much progress had been made, and Alaric hoped Hanna trusted him a bit now. Saw that he meant every word he had said to her in that lean-to in the forest when he offered her his suit.
Alaric wanted to be her husband, her man. The one who looked after her, provided for her, and protected her from everything that prowled outside these four walls.
He knew she needed time, but the kiss they had shared yesterday, so spontaneous, so sweet, had brought all his basest desires to the surface.
Alaric rolled, tucking his arm around Hanna’s waist and pulling her into the heat of his body, breathing deep of her sweet scent as she murmured sleepily, cuddling closer.
Each time she did that anew, each new night of touching, of hands roving in the dark, drove him closer to the edge.
“Alaric?” she murmured sleepily, turning her face towards him with a sigh, her bottom hitching closer, as he dared to rest his lips against her shoulder, bare where her chemise had slipped down.
The onehehad provided. And he would give her so much more, anything that he could.
“Hmmm,” Alaric breathed, tightening his arm around her middle, keeping her tight against the hard ache of his erection.
“I want to kiss you again,” he murmured, brushing her hair to the side and pressing his mouth to the line of her jaw.
Still half asleep, it seemed she arched her neck, and he took the silent invitation, kissing her slowly along the side of her cheek, the soft skin below her ear.
Hanna’s breath hitched, and Alaric grew braver, tasting her skin with his tongue, moving closer and closer to the side of her mouth until she half turned in his arms and their lips met.
The soft kiss made his heart thump, his head spin as they slowly, carefully explored each other in the dark. No eyes to see, only hands touching, tongues tasting, lips opening as the kiss deepened. Hanna started to squirm against him in a way that sent his blood running hot.
Fuck. Need. He needed her so badly.
But he needed her to want him even more.
“Can I touch you, Hanna? I want my hands on your skin …” Alaric managed to grit out, unable to stop himself from nipping the side of her neck, so tempting and sweet under his mouth.
Her hand ran up his shoulder to cup his face as she pulled away, her breathy gasp sending a jolt to his cock that was sinful.
Slowly, she brought her face to his, resting her forehead against his for a moment, her breath ghosting over his lips as she finally answered him.
“Please.”
Alaric’s mouth went dry as his hand found her hip, cupping the swell of it and then dragging down the line of her thigh, hitching it up over his with a swift movement that left no room for argument.
Quickly, he threaded his leg through hers, wanting her plastered against him, the feel of her full breasts crushed against his chest.
His hands roved hungrily, skimming the linen of her chemise as he found his way under the hem, dragging his way back up over the silk of her skin to palm and squeeze the round curve of her bottom, exploring the elegant line of her spine until he cupped the back of her neck, pulling her head back for him as he rolled slightly over her, pressing his thigh against the moist heat he could feel at the apex of her thighs.
All the while, Alaric sipped on her lips, tasting every small noise she made in response to his touch, savouring each moment as if it were something precious. A gift.
“Should I stop?” he asked at last, his breath rough as his lust started to flare too hot. Threatening to overwhelm him.
