Dread filled him. Despite knowing it would happen, he kept her need in mind. Lifting both hands, he cupped her breasts. “Do you know how much I enjoy the taste of you?”
Her breathing sped at his touch. “No, but I know how much I enjoy your kisses.” She leaned forward, surprising him.
Not one to question a boon, he quickly took one taught peak into his mouth to gently suck, even as he twirled the hard nub in his hand. She arched her back, pushing her body toward him, not just accepting but asking for more.
Running his hand down her stomach, he reached the warmth between her legs and coated his finger with her readiness before circling her most sensitive spot.
“Yes.” Her word came out on a hiss, causing a spike of need to run from his sac, straight up his spine.
In response, he sucked harder on the nipple in his mouth.
Her moan of pleasure urged him on and he tugged at the hard peak, even as he kept his touch light below. He needed to stay focused on her.
“Marcus, I need you.” Her words came out in a whisper.
He understood, and pushing back the darkness hovering just beyond his consciousness, he moved his hands to grasp her hips and bring her above him.
The screams started in his ears, but he kept his gaze on Mariel. Her eyes closed, her face flushed, and her body warm beneath his hands. Still, the images flashed. Cobby’s grin. Limp bodies.
“Marcus, I need you closer, inside me. I’ve never felt like this. Please, love me.”
Her confused, anxious words pulled him from the images, and he squeezed her hips. “Lower yourself onto me.”
She moved down his shaft an inch, her strong muscles against him, proving her own ability. Then she moved a bit lower. He closed his eyes, the screams still surrounding him, but the images were fading.
Her warm, tight, softness called out to him, enticing him inside, but he held his hips still, allowing her the control she wanted. When she continued down, slowly sinking onto him, the images in his head vanished.
Too stimulated to help himself, he pressed his hips up, sinking to his hilt inside the woman he loved with his entire self.
The screaming stopped.
“Oh, yes.” Mariel pressed her hands upon his chest and began to ride him in earnest. She needed no further coaching as her body pulled at him to release his seed deep inside her.
He held back, determined to allow her to finally understand what it meant to find ecstasy.
Just as his control slipped, she arched against him, her hips grinding into his as she screamed her release. He found his at the same time, filling her, loving her, grasping her to him as they rode the wave of fulfillment together.
Their hearts beat out a staccato rhythm against each other while their breathing finally began to slow. Mariel lifted her head. “Is that how it’s supposed to be?”
He brushed her long hair back behind her ear. “Yes. When two people love each other, that is how it’s supposed to be.”
“Thank you for showing me. I wasn’t sure you could.”
He moved his hand to her back. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, you told me you couldn’t have children, so I wasn’t sure if it was an injury from the war that made you sterile or if you could no longer function in that male capacity.” She smiled. “I’m so pleased you can still function, even if you can’t have an heir.”
At her words, he froze. He did it!
He’d made love to her, something he hadn’t been able to accomplish in years. The ramifications were life changing and happiness of a whole new kind, exploded within him. Rolling them over, still inside her he looked upon her in awe. “You saved me. I should have known. It makes sense. I’ve been an idiot.”
She scrunched her nose. “Marcus, you aren’t making any sense, except maybe the idiot part.”
Her grin had him laughing. “No, I don’t suppose I am making sense. I must explain myself, but first I must thank you properly.” He leaned down and gave her a thorough kiss before raising his head and finally slipping from her.
Rolling to her side, he lay back and pulled her against him, cradling her head on his shoulder. “I will spare you the details, but while in the war I witnessed an atrocity against humankind that affected my performance as a man, as you put it. Because of that, I thought I would never be able to have children.”
Her arm came over his chest, even as her leg found its way between his. “But you just performed, so why did you think you couldn’t?”
