Mine.
The thought comes unbidden—andIshove it away just as quickly.
She’s not mine—not really and not for long.
I reach for the tie at her robe, my fingers brushing lightly against the fabric and see her eyes widen.
There’s uncertainty in their sky blue depths—a flicker of nerves.
“It's all right, baby,”Imurmur, keeping my voice low and steady.“Notgoing to hurt you or take more than you're ready to give.Justlet me see you.”
Her cheeks go pink immediately, the color spreading across her face in a way that makes something low in my belly tighten.Fuck, she’s so fucking gorgeous!
“Well…” she says softly.“Iguess you've, er, seen me before.”
I let out a hungry breath that sounds more like a growl.
“Which is whyIwant to see you again—becauseIfuckinglovethe sight of all your luscious naked curves,”Itell her.
She nibbles her lower lip—the small, nervous gesture doing absolutely nothing to help my self-control.
“All right,” she says softly.“Butyou know, the girls at the dorm always saidIwas, um…you know,toocurvy.”
Something sharp and protective flares in my chest.
“No such thing,”Itell her firmly.
AndImean it.I’vealways loved curvy women—with a male my size, you don’t want to be with a tiny, delicate flower.I’malways afraidImight break them by accident.Ilove a woman with some substance—love the feel of soft curves against my hardness.
I untie the robe slowly, giving her time to change her mind if she wants to—but she doesn’t stop me.Thefabric parts beneath my hands, revealing her.
My breath catches at whatIsee.Shewas naked last night, of course, but that was by firelight.Now, in the dappled sunlight coming through the vast leaves above,Ican see her more fully andIlikewhatIsee.
Her skin is soft and creamy—touched with a faint flush that spreads across her chest and down her stomach.Herbreasts rise and fall with her quickening breaths, her nipples already tight, pink, and sensitive-looking in the cool air.
My gaze drifts down, taking in the soft curve of her belly, the gentle swell of her full hips and thick thighs…and the mound of ruby curls between them.Itmatches the color of her head perfectly.
Gods.
The sight of her hits me hard—hard enough thatIfeel it all the way through my body—a deep, aching pull that settles low and heavy.
She’s fuckingperfectand she doesn’t even know it.
Elowen shifts slightly under my gaze, clearly aware of how intentlyI’mlooking at her.Shelooks nervous…vulnerable.Thatalone is enough to snap me back to myself.
“Hey,”Imurmur, lowering myself down beside her, one hand coming to rest lightly on her hip.“Takeit easy, baby.I’mjust admiring you.”
“Really?”Shelooks up at me, her eyes searching mine.
“Really.Everythingis going to be all right,”Itell her softly.“I’llgo slow—we have all the time in the world.”
Which is a good thing, becauseIneed it.Ineed the time to hold myself back…to do this right.Tomake sure she doesn’t feel rushed.
I want to take my time with my curvy little priestess—want to savor her.
TheDrakeshifts beneath my skin again, restless but contained, watching through my eyes asIlook down at her.
“Ours,”he murmurs, quieter now.
