“I will be resting after I make the bed. Sleeping on an old, used mattress kind of grosses me out.”
“At least you get a bed,” he jokes.
I toss the old pillows to the corner of the room, frowning. “You’re right. There are a lot of little things I’ve taken for granted. Like showers and not turning to stone when I sleep.”
Thomas laughs and I slip a corner of the fitted sheet around the mattress. It pops off when I pull it to the other side. Too lazy to go around, I climb onto the mattress and try again.
“That’s an interesting concept.” Thomas brings his large frame into the room.
“Interesting is a good word to use.”
“What’s the purpose of it?”
“It keeps the mattress clean.” I get the last corner of the sheet on the bed. “Come here.” I sit and pat the space next to me. “This mattress isn’t the best, but it’s probably better than anything you’ve experienced before.”
I watch how he moves his wings as he sits, and the look of surprise on his face makes me smile.
“Comfy, isn’t it?”
“Better than the couch,” he says, and lies back. A few seconds pass before he grabs my arm and brings me back with him. My head settles on his chest and he trails his fingers up and down my spine. “You need to learn how to relax. I’ve seen many strong men drive themselves to a breaking point by trying to do it all. You’re different, Ace. Obviously not a man, but it’s so much more than that. So much has happened to you in the last two days and you haven’t hesitated once.”
“I have a few times, just not long enough for anyone to notice.”
He brushes my hair out of my eyes and smiles. “I like you, and it’d be a damn shame if anything happened before I got to know you better.”
A wave of heat goes over me, and I find myself craving his touch from last night. But more of it.
“Same with you.” I run my fingers through his wavy blond hair. “Besides, I have so many questions. If I died now, I’d come back as a ghost and annoy the shit out of all of you.”
Thomas laughs and rests his hand on the small of my back, fingers inching toward my ass. “As long as you looked as good dead as you do alive, I won’t complain.”
Laughing, I hook my leg over his. “Your skin isn’t gray anymore.” I trace a vein with my finger on his muscular chest. He shudders from my touch, and he quickly brings his hand up, fingers wrapping around my wrist. For a split second I think I crossed a line, that my touch offended him for some reason.
And then I see the lust in his eyes.
In a sudden movement, he rolls over, moving on top of me. My heart is in my throat and heat burns between my thighs. He looks at me with such intensity it makes me squirm beneath him, and he likes it. I gently push his golden locks out of his handsome face and inhale deeply, crushing my breasts against his chest.
His wings are slightly spread above me, shielding everything from sight. Heart racing, I part my lips and slide my hand to the back of his neck. My eyes fall shut as he lowers his lips to mine. Every nerve in my body comes alive the moment he kisses me.
Soft.
Wet.
Warm.
Desperate.
I widen my legs and feel his cock begin to harden against my stomach. Red-hot desire washes over me, and if he was wearing a shirt, I probably would have ripped it off. Thomas mirrors my desperation, kissing me with a fierceness I’ve never experienced before. His tongue slips into my mouth and he wraps his arms around me, sliding one hand under my shirt.
His kisses move from my mouth to my neck, and I throw my head back, a moan escaping my lips. I curl my legs around him and feel every inch, every ridge of muscle on his torso. With deft fingers, he undoes the buttons on my blouse, pulling back the material and gazing upon my breasts.
“It’s a bra,” I pant, sitting up just enough to unhook it.
“It’s quite nice.” He leans away, licking his lips. “I prefer it off, though.”
“You and me both.” I scramble to get the clasp undone and let the straps roll down my shoulders. Thomas takes it off and tosses it on the floor, then dives back on top of me, kissing my lips again before working his way down, taking one of my breasts in his mouth. His tongue swirls over my nipple, sending waves of pleasure right through me. I’ve never been one to particularly get off from nipple-play, but whatever the hell he’s doing to me is just about enough to make me come right here and now.
Out of habit, I go to wrap my arms around him but my hands hit his wings. Instead of moving my hands to another, smoother part of his body, I run my hands along the rough bones of his wings, remembering how he said he thought they were ugly and unattractive.
