He reached forward, running a finger along my jaw. “What is it you want, Nairu?”
I pulled my lip between my teeth. “You.”
“I’m yours.” He leaned down to whisper the words against my lips before pressing a lazy, almost drunken kiss to them. “I want to take my time with you. I want to be gentle with you, but fuck, I want you too. I don’t know that I can.”
My permission came in the form of closing what minuscule gap remained between us until I could feel every inch of him pressed to my skin. The sensation of his skin against mine lit a fire deep in my chest, traveling lower and lower until every bit of me tingled with desire—need.
Alandris’s lips trailed down my neck, nipping at the skin, as his arm snaked around my waist, gripping my hip. He hoisted me up, my legs wrapping around his waist, my arms curling behind his neck to steady myself. The cold bit my skin the moment he lifted me out of the water, and I gasped at the sudden change of temperature.
“I’ll keep you warm. I promise.”
I let out a strangled moan as he took my breast into his mouth, his tongue swirling around the peak of my nipple. I dug my nails into his back, leaning my head back as he flicked his tongue back and forth, licking and biting up my neck until he made his way back to my lips.
No longer was his kiss that of a restrained male. No, he was devouring me, and I, him. Hands tangled in my hair, he tugged me back to deepen the kiss. The slight sting of pain, paired with pleasure, had me gasping for breath.
More. I needed more. “Please, Alandris.”
Alandris chuckled, dark and deep. “Patience, love. I’m not even close to done with you.”
He released his hold on my legs and drove us back to the edge of the hot spring. My back pressed against the rocky perimeter, and I brought my hands to his chest. I was ready to beg him again. Every part of my body was screaming for him, but he wouldn’t relent on teasing me.
A knowing smirk played on his face. “What is it you want, Nairu?” His fingers trailed up my inner thighs, stopping, waiting. “You’ll need to be specific.”
My voice came out breathy and raw. “Touch me. Please.”
His fingers drew circles against my thigh. “Show me.”
I curled my fingers around his hand and dragged it farther up until he was cupping my pussy. That sensation alone was almost enough to shatter me, and I had to bite back a whimper from escaping my lips.
“Good girl.” Alandris circled my clit agonizingly slowly, before moving down and pushing one finger inside of me. He looked up, gauging my reaction, and I nodded. He pumped in and out before adding another, and I lurched forward, grinding against his hand.
He crashed his lips to mine as his thumb worked my clit, and I could barely return the kiss, moaning sloppily against his mouth. I chanted his name like a prayer. “Alandris. Fuck.”
His rhythm increased ever so slightly, and I felt the pressure build to impossible heights. With his fingers alone, he already had me melting in his hands. I couldn’t imagine how much more intense it would feel with all of him inside of me. He was going to be the death of me.
Fingers curling inside me, I felt that pressure burst and buried my head into his shoulder to muffle my screams. My heart was exploding in my chest, my vision going white as he slowed his movement, easing me down from my high. He kissed my forehead and brought his eyes to meet mine.
“Can you trust me?”
I nodded.
Before I had a chance to ask what he meant, he was out of the water, holding a hand out for me to join him. I took his hand without hesitation, letting him lift me up to join him in the snow. I expected to be freezing the moment my skin touched the air, but I felt nothing at all. Instead, there was a wave of warmth cloaking me from head to toe.
“What is this?” I asked.
Alandris waved his hand in front of him, a small wisp of fire swirling between his fingers. “Just a bit of magic. I did tell you once that I knew a few useful tricks.”
I smiled at first, but quickly frowned, remembering how he’d failed to mention this earlier. “You certainly didn’t use it to help me get into the water.”
“I’ll admit, I wanted to tease you a bit.” He grabbed my hand, leading me back to the house, our clothes left stranded in the snow. “Why don’t I make it up to you inside?”
I bit my lip, cursing internally.
The death of me.
I followed Alandris to the bedroom, letting him lead me to the giant plush bed covered in extravagant silk and furs. The firelight cast the room in shadows, which danced along his skin in a way that framed his sharp, angular features, making him look like something of another world. Beautiful in a way that seemed impossible. I wanted to be familiar with every part of him. Every curve and freckle and scar. I wanted everything. I wanted it forever. And even if that wasn’t possible, even if our survival was a slim chance at best. At least for tonight, I wanted to pretend.
It was with that confidence that I pushed him down to the bed, crawling over him.
