“We’ve been through this. I’ll stay as long as I can.” He leans closer. “Now, tell me where it hurts the most, Baby.”
I gesture to my stomach. He pulls me so I’m sitting between his legs, then lifts up the simple white shift I have on.
“Wait, I’m not wearing, uh, I’m not wearing anything underneath and—” I cut off, and I can practically hear Caspian’s laugh in my head,An aversion to underpants, Princess?But it just so happens, there is limited clothing given to the gladiator contestants of the arena, and I have to ration what’s clean.
“Don’t worry,” he says. “I’ll be the perfect gentleman, and not touch you anywhere else, all right?”
“Okay,” I say. But it’s hard to believe when I feel the hard shape of him against my back.
“Just relax,” he tells me.
I lean against him as one of his large hands comes to cover my stomach, and he begins to rub soft circles. I remember Kel did the same thing when my mate bond brought me to him in the north through my dreams. But that had a different ending, one where we got carried away. I can’t let that happen here … I can’t …
Butoh, his hand feels so good, soothing the ache inside of me. His other hand wraps around me, rubbing my shoulders. His lips are by my ear.
“How’s that feel?” he asks, continuing his caresses. “Does it help? I can’t stand seeing you in pain. I want to help you, Baby. I want to help you so damn much.”
“I feel so good.” My whole body relaxes against his chest, and my bare legs fall open, brushing against his.
He inhales sharply, a deep rumble sounding in his chest. Is mywilde courtshipmaking him able to smell my arousal? He shouldn’t be here …
“This is a bad idea, Day.”
“You know me, I’ve never been one for a good idea.” His circles around my stomach get larger, fingertips brushing the top of my center.
A wave of unabashed pleasure courses through me, and I dig my heels into the mattress and buck against him, feeling him. Feeling his need.
His other hand caresses my face, pushing the hair back, before grabbing my jaw. The move screams possession as he pulls me back against his muscular chest. His wet lips brush my ear. “Tell me to stop, Rosie. Fucking tell me to stop.”
I bite my lip, my mind muddled with an insane amount of pleasure. Every sweep of his hand is like fractured stardust across my skin. Every sweep is more and more dangerous as his circles get larger and larger. He slows each time at the base of my belly button, rough fingertips brushing my midriff. Each small movement has my body convulsing with ecstasy.
He spins me, and I steady myself on his forearms, eyes whirling with stars. His golden hair falls in thick waves over the pillow. His chest heaves, dotted with sweat. My fingertips dig into his skin, nails scratching pink lines. I’d crawl inside him if I could. My hair falls loose, a dark curtain over my face.
God, I hope it’s concealing my face. I know my expression is nothing except pure desire and want and … love.
“Rosie, don’t you feel this?”
And I do. His desire through the thin wrap. The desperation in his voice. It echoes in every part of me.
“Dayton, we can’t.”
“You think you’ll die without Kel tonight?” he growls, golden hair wild, eyes a storm. “That’s how I feel about you. It’s how I’ve felt about you every damned day since you were taken. It’s tearing me apart.”
I need to stop him, stop this. But I’m barely tethered to the earth. I’m swept away by every piece of him. “Day …”
“I’ve never felt more at my beast’s mercy than when I’m around you.” He tosses me onto my back, fingertips digging into my shoulders, pressing me deep into the bed. “The wolf inside of me is desperate to claim you.”
My shift rises up, revealing every part of my body. My legs brush his. I need to push him away.
He grabs my calf and runs a hand up my leg to my inner thigh where he drums his fingers. His other hand brushes my stomach, up to my ribs and below my breast, which heaves up and down in a desperate cadence. His large hand caresses my face, parting my lips, cupping my jaw, as if he’s trying to memorize every part of me.
Then he leans closer, and the feeling of his chest pressing against mine is the most intense sensation of my life. I feel his heartbeat reverberate in my own chest.
“Even if it’s not right,” I whisper, “Day, there’s a part of my heart that will always belong to you.”
Tears pool in his eyes, and he smiles. It’s so beautiful, like the sun breaking through the clouds.
“Stars, I know, Rosie. I fucking know. I want this. I want you. I choose you.” His eyes shine. “It’s why I saved you instead. Why I saved you in the storm.”
