Those words toppled her emotionally. How could anyone hold on to that for all this time? Especially Nibo the feckless?
“I know you better.”
“Aye, you do. It’s why I was never attached to any other woman. They weren’t you.”
That succeeded in making her cry. This time when Nibo drew her into his arms, she welcomed him with the same passion. Never had she thought a mere kiss could be such a wondrous experience.
And when his warm, calloused hand closed around her breast, she sighed in blissful contentment. Absolute pleasure pierced her as heat pooled itself in the center of her body. She couldn’t imagine craving anyone else. It absolutely consumed her. It was electrifying. Tormenting, and it left her wanting more of him.
Nibo left her lips to kiss a trail down her throat to the breast he cupped. Valynda swallowed at the sight of his dark curls brushing against her pale breast, at the feel of his tongue teasing her taut nipple. His tongue was rough and hot, his lips soothing and tender.
She cupped his head to her and let the locks of his hair tease her fingers.
He was so beautiful there, tasting her, teasing her. His beautiful face showed the pleasure he received just from touching her like that, and she sighed in contentment as she let the incredible earthy sensations sweep her away until she was nothing but an extension of the man holding her in his arms.
She would forever be his.
Nibo had never tasted anything like her body. She was so warm, so inviting. More so because he knew she was sharing with him what she’d never shared with anyone else.
He was her first and only.
In this life and her other.
Why she would choose his worthless arse, he couldn’t imagine. He was so unworthy of what she offered. So unworthy of her, period.
She was lightness and joy.
He was darkness and sorrow. Tragedy. Nothing good had ever come from him.
Yet he was glad that, for this one moment and for whatever reason, she was with him now.
Valynda tugged at his shirt. Eager to oblige her, he pulled it off. Biting her lips, she ran her hands over his tense arms. He clenched his teeth as his head reeled from pleasure.
The things her touch did to his body …
It was incredible. Invigorating. It made him feel virile and wild. Made him hard and aching. Most of all, he felt vulnerable to her. She was his one and only weakness.
But he couldn’t pull back. Nay, he needed more of her. Needed to touch every inch of her body and to claim it as his own.
Forever.
Valynda smiled up at him as he gathered her into his arms and carried her to her bunk, where he threw her playfully and then covered her with his long, languid body. Her thoughts scattered at the glorious feeling of his skin against hers. Of his heavy weight that felt good instead of oppressive.
Nibo took her hand into his and guided it back to him. “I love when you touch me.”
Valynda ran her hand down his shaft as the tip of it probed her. It made her even more tender toward him. “I love when you’re inside me.”
He kissed her again, then drove himself deep inside her.
Nibo whispered sweet endearments in her ear while he used his tongue to toy with the tender flesh of her neck.
She panted in pleasure as he coaxed her. And in this moment, she reveled in the strength of his arms around her and the sound of his deep voice in her ear. Valynda wrapped her arms around his shoulders and buried her face against his muscled neck where she inhaled the warm scent of him. It gave her courage and strength because here, she knew she was home.
This was all she wanted. To share her body and soul with him. If they lost this fight and this was her last peaceful moment, she wanted this memory with him. She needed it.
Nibo wanted her in a way unimaginable. She surrounded him with heat, and her breath against his neck sent a thousand chills over him. She felt wonderful and he never wanted to let her go.
He smiled at her courage and at the sight of her lying underneath him, her body bare and perfect.
