Humbled by her words, Declan released her hands and turned to face her.
Chapter Fifty
Willow restedher palms on Declan’s chest when he cupped her face and bent to kiss her. She’d ached for his touch, the warmth of his mouth, and the taste of him, but she hadn’t realized how much until his lips claimed hers again. While he was unconscious, a piece of her was missing, and now she had that piece back.
No matter where life led them, and no matter what she had to do, she would makesurehe only knew love for the rest of his life. She would never again allow him to question whether he was a good man or not. He’d made mistakes, there wasn’t a living being on this earth who hadn’t made mistakes, but he’d paid for those mistakes.
Few could have held themselves back from becoming a monster the way he had for centuries. No matter his demons and the mistakes of his past, he deserved love, and she would give it to him.
Declan slid his fingers through her hair as he tasted her in long, slow thrusts. Holding her again was awakening his hunger. He may not have realized it, but his body was starving for her while he was unconscious.
He took her shirt off and tossed it aside. Energy coalesced between them as he ran his palms along her silken flesh. They could spend every day of eternity together, and he would never get over how amazing she felt.
Willow slipped her hands around his back and gasped when her breasts flattened against his chest. It was the first time she’d experienced all his bare flesh against hers, and it didn’t disappoint. Being with him was amazing, but she didn’t realize how much she missed their connection until now.
She marveled at the differences between their bodies as she ran her hands down the small of his back to his taut ass. Next, she explored the carved muscles of his abdomen while the thick evidence of his erection poked her belly.
When he grasped her ass and lifted her off the ground, Willow encircled her legs around his waist without breaking their kiss. He carried her over to the pile of straw and broke their kiss as he laid her down.
Kneeling between her legs, Declan untied her boots and removed her socks. His fingers trembled as he undid the button of her jeans and pulled them down. They’d done this before, but something was different now, and because of that, he was more nervous than when he was fourteen and experiencing a woman for the first time.
He’d only known Willow for a short time, but in that time, he revealed more of himself to her than anyone he’d ever known. In the time they’d been together, they’d saved each other, relied on each other, and grown to trust each other more than he ever would have believed possible.
He’d felt the connection between his friends and their mates, but he’d never realized how profound and life-altering it was until Willow. He’d revealed the worst parts of himself to her, and she hadn’t turned away; instead, she accepted him without hesitation.
Not only did she accept him, but she also welcomed him with open arms as he reclaimed her lips. She was more than his mate; she owned a part of his soul, and it was the best part of him.
When the head of his cock prodded against her entrance, Willow wrapped her legs around his waist and lifted her hips to give him better access. The last time they were together, he’d teased her until she couldn’t take it anymore, but now they needed each other too badly to wait.
The wonder of their joining caused her body to arch beneath him. Her fingers dug into his back as she savored the exquisite sensation of his naked body moving against hers.
She traced the edges of his scars as she clasped his head and pulled him down for a kiss. The scars didn’t bring her sorrow this time. Instead, love swelled within her until she could barely contain it. He was so different from anyone she’d ever met, and he washers.
When Declan broke the kiss and leaned away from her, she clasped the sides of his face while he gazed at her in awe. The black and red color still covered his flesh, and he remained more demon than man in some ways, but his silver eyes were tender as they held hers.
“I love you,” he whispered.
Her eyes widened. “I was thinking the same thing.”
A sexy smile curved his mouth as he bent to nibble her ear while continuing to move within her. “You were thinking thatIloveyou.”
She laughed as she played with the strands of hair falling against his nape. “No, I was thinking thatIloveyou.”
He growled as he nipped her ear. He couldn’t recall the last time he heard those words or if he’deverheard them. His mother probably said them to him as he remembered her hugging him and laughing while she kissed him, but if she’d said them, then it was centuries since he last heard them. And now, this beautiful woman with the soul of a warrior had given her heart tohim.
“Say it again,” he said as his fangs grazed her throat.
Joy swelled within her as her fingers entwined in his hair. “I love you.”
He lifted his head to gaze down at her. “Again.”
She released his hair to clasp his cheeks. She’d say it a million times if it made him happy. “I love you. I love you. I love you.”
He groaned as he turned his head to nip her thumb. “Forever.”
“Forever,” she agreed.
His striking, silver eyes were the most beautiful she’d ever seen. As she rose to meet each of his thrusts, she lost herself to the flames of passion he stoked within her.
