But she was entirely certain that she wanted him. Wantedthis.
And equally certain that he was about to run.
Chapter Fourteen
Tristan froze,his body trembling while his dark, primal center railed against him, howling to plunge deeper, take her. Own her.
She had been so hot, so tight, clenched around him like a vise. And he’d been lost in her. In her scent, all warm woman and something softly sweet that was uniquely Nim. Lost in her taste—still in his mouth—and the way her body undulated beneath his.
It had taken him a moment, seeing the flicker of discomfort cross her face, to properly understand.
He had had many women. From the moment he became a soldier, they had thrown themselves at him. And it only got worse when he was made Captain of the Blues. They had chased him with fervor. A game where everybody won. And he had loved playing it, not hesitating to take what was offered. Right up until the squad was relegated to the forty-ninth.
But every single one of those women had been experienced. He had always made sure of it. Worldly, knowing, clear on what he was offering. Which was nothing. He had been completely honest upfront, scrupulously careful to always use a sheath.
And he had done none of those things with Nim.
Gods. What would Val say? She was his baby sister. His friend would kill him, and he probably deserved it.
He had to get off her. He knew. He had to make this right, somehow. Talk to her. Ask her forgiveness.
But just as the thoughts flashed through his mind, he saw her walls go up. His muscles bunched, about to pull away, but she beat him to it.
She dropped her legs to his sides, her hands falling off his arms as she turned her face away.
And the beast inside him roared to life. She washis.She belonged tohim. And he would have her.
He moved his weight onto one arm so that he could free a hand to cup her chin and pull her back to face him as he growled, “What the fuck did I say about pulling away from me?”
Her eyes flew open, startled, suspiciously wet, and he knew that she had somehow known everything he’d been thinking. She’d expected him to run.
And he also knew with no doubt whatsoever that he would never run again.
His cock was still hard inside her. The only woman who had ever made him feel anything. And he wanted her more than he wanted to live.
“Tell me now, Nim, do you want this or not?”
“Yes.” Her voice was a whisper. “I want this. I want you.” Her eyes were wide and gleaming, still uncertain of him, silver flecks dancing like stars over the ocean.
He rolled them to their sides, holding her as if she were infinitely precious, then lifted her leg over his hip so that he could slowly nudge deeper inside her, watching her carefully the whole time.
Finally, once he was seated fully inside her, he lowered his head and took her mouth, kissing her with long, luscious strokes. All while running his hand slowly down her side, taking his time on her smooth skin, dragging his fingers over her breast, circling her nipple with his thumb as she slowly relaxed beside him, around him.
The tension in her slight frame melted back into languorous heat as tiny goose bumps chased along her smooth skin. He dragged his fingers over her, touching her, molding over her ribs, careful to avoid where she’d been hurt, circling her puckered nipple, following the heavy thump of her pulse along her neck as her breathing deepened.
Her wing came around and over them, encasing them in a heavy cocoon, and his skin beaded with sweat as he held himself still, concentrating entirely on her pleasure. Running his tongue inside her mouth in time with his fingers as he tugged her nipple, his cock pulsing inside her as her walls fluttered.
She moaned, tightening her leg, pushing herself down, and he dragged his fingers over her breast, down her belly and onto her swollen clit. His thumb drew lazy circles through her folds, where they joined, around the swollen nub as she started to pant, her hips thrusting toward him, seeking more.
Slowly, finally, he began to move. Pumping into her in time with his stroking fingers, adding pressure with each circle of her clit as she pushed further into him, her breath coming in short gasps as she moaned against his mouth.
He lifted her leg higher, changing the angle, knowing he had reached exactly the right position when she shuddered, clenching around him as he stroked her, pumping more firmly deep inside her.
He maintained that relentless, steady, rhythm, the pressure in his fingers, his mouth on hers, until she arched, moaning, her nails digging into his arm, and shattered around him with a half sob, clinging to him as her inner walls milked and sucked him until he couldn’t hold himself for one more second.
He thrust into her, hard, needing to feel her, once, twice, and then, almost too late, he pulled out and came in huge spurts all over her belly and breasts.
She opened her eyes slowly, looking at him, completely focused on him despite the slowly receding haze of release. Waiting, he knew, to see what he would do.
