He pushed the thought aside. Not yet. Not until she understood what that word meant, what it would cost her, what it would bind her to. She deserved a choice made with full knowledge, not one born of passion and inexperience.
But gods, she was making it difficult.
“Show me everything,” she whispered against his mouth. “Now, before we leave.”
He pulled back just enough to look at her. Her cheeks were flushed, her lips reddened from his kisses, her eyes bright with a mixture of curiosity and desire that made his blood burn.
“Why here?”
“Because it feels right. Like an ending and a beginning.”
The last of his restraint crumbled.
He swept her into his arms before she could react, one arm beneath her knees and the other supporting her back. Shelaughed—that bright, surprised sound that always caught him off guard—and wrapped her arms around his neck.
“Where are we going?”
“Somewhere more comfortable than a greenhouse floor.”
He carried her back down to the bedroom and lowered her onto the bed.
“I want to see you,” she whispered. “All of you.”
Even though she insisted she didn’t mind his scars, he still hesitated. His body bore the marks of a lifetime of fighting and he didn’t want anything to remind her that he was a weapon honed by violence.
“Baylin?” Her hand came up to trace the neckline of his shirt. “You’re not hiding from me, are you?”
“I’m not hiding.” But he was, and they both knew it.
She sat up, her knees brushing against his as she reached for the hem of his shirt and tugged it over his head. Then she reached for the lacings of his pants, her small fingers making him shudder as they traced the waistband. “May I?”
“Yes,” he said hoarsely.
She worked the laces free, then looked up at him through her lashes. “Take them off.”
He shoved his pants down impatiently, watching her eyes widen as she took in the size of his erection.
“You’re so beautiful,” she said. “Like a sculpture. Like something carved out of stone and brought to life.” Her hand pressed flatagainst his chest, right over his racing heart. “But warm and alive.”
He caught her hand and brought it to his lips, pressing a kiss to her palm.
“You’re the one who’s beautiful,” he said. “You have no idea how beautiful you are.”
She blushed—that pink flush spreading across her cheeks and down her throat—but she didn’t look away. “I’ve never had anyone to compare myself to. I don’t know what beautiful means, really. But when you look at me like that...” She swallowed. “I feel beautiful. Is that the same thing?”
“It’s better.”
She smiled at him and dropped her hand to just above his erection. “May I touch you here?”
He couldn’t form words, so he nodded. The first brush of her fingers against his cock made him gasp. She looked up at him, her expression a mix of fascination and pride.
“You like that?”
“Fuck, yes.”
“Good.” Her touch grew bolder, exploring him with the same methodical curiosity she brought to everything. “What about this?”
He groaned as she circled the head of his cock with her thumb. “Very good.”
