“B-but you’re n-naked too,” she protests weakly.
“I know,”Isay gruffly.“Can’tbe helped.We’rejust going to have to wait until everything dries and you warm up enough not to freeze to fucking death.”
I adjust my hold on her, pulling her closer, making sure she’s fully pressed against me.Iunderstand why she’s worried andIwant to make her feel safe with me.
“Just let me warm you up,”Imurmur.“Nofunny business—Ipromise.Just…trying to keep you safe.Okay, baby?”
She nods faintly, apparently too cold to argue, andIwrap my arms more securely around her.
“Good girl,”Imurmur.“Justrelax—I’vegot you.”
Her body fits against mine too well.She’sso soft and now that some heat is returning to her skin, it’s no longer like holding a corpse—thank theGoddess.Mycurvy little priestess feels alive against me—alive and extremely tempting.
I can feel the curve of her breasts against my chest…the line of her hips pressed to mine…the way she instinctively curls closer, seeking warmth.Ican even feel the curls of her soft little pussy mound pressed against my shaft.
I grit my teeth and try to ignore how good she feels against me.Iswore—to her and myself—thatIwas just going to warm her up.I’mnot going to do anything else—not going to let myself react to her nakedness in my arms.
But my body doesn’t seem to care about timing or circumstance.Nowthat the fear has eased—now thatIknow she’s alive, that she’s breathing, thatIdidn’t lose her—something else rises in its place—something just as dangerous.
I clench my jaw, focusing on the rhythm of my hands asIrub warmth into her back and shoulders, trying to ignore the way my body is reacting…trying to ignore the slow, inevitable hardeningIcan’t quite stop.
This isn’t about that,Itell myself sternly.Thisis about keeping her alive.
“Stay with me,”Imurmur again, more to myself than to her this time.“Focus.”
But allIcan think about his how good she feels in my arms…and how badlyIwant to do more than just warm her up.
35
ELOWEN
The heat hits me instantly—Theron’sbig body is scorching—hisDrake’sfire pulsing beneath his skin, chasing the ice from my bones.
In my frozen state, it feels incredible.Ipress closer, shivering still, but the shudders ease into something else—awareness.Embarrassmentfloods me—I’mnaked against him.ButI’mtoo cold to pull away, too grateful for his warmth to ask him to stop.
“Feeling better?”he murmurs, his breath hot against the side of my neck.
“Y-yes,”Istammer, my teeth no longer chattering.Slowly, deliciously, sensation returns—feeling floods back into my numb fingers and toes.Myskin tingles—no longer icy but soft and alive.Theriver’s roar fades to background noise—crickets chirping in the willows, night-blooming jasmine scenting the air sweet and heady.Andstill,Icling to him.
But with the warmth comes need.
It starts low in my belly, a familiar, cursed ache—the witch’s doing, flaring hotter than ever.Beingthis close toTheron’sbig, muscular body only makes it worse.Hisscent surrounds me—smoky spice, leather, raw male—making my head spin.Ibecome acutely aware of his thick shaft, branding my belly like a hot poker.It’shuge, even only semi-hard—long and heavy, nestled against my soft skin.
My pussy throbs in response, swelling hot and achy, slickness gathering between my thighs as it rubs against me.
I moan softly, shifting against him, unable to help myself.Thefriction sends sparks through me, my clit pulsing.OhGoddess,Ineed him so badly!
“What’s wrong, little one?”Theronasks, his deep voice low and concerned, his arms tightening around me.
I bite my lip, mortified that he might find out whatI’mfeeling.
“N-nothing’s wrong.I’mfine,”Ilie.
But it seems he can sense the falsehood.
“It’s the curse, isn’t it?You’rein need,” he rumbles.
“How…how did you know?”Iwhisper, heat flooding my face because,Goddess, it’s embarrassing to be so sexually needy all the time!
