I haven’t taken a single breath. My body is rigid with tension.
“Please,baby,” she croons, gazing up at me like a goddess, forged in soft snow and jagged ice and raging waters. Forged in goodness and stubborn resolve and the blazing fire that heats her soul.
Forged forme.
I blink. My restraint splits clean in half, shot through with the lightning in her gaze.
She squeals as I haul her up and toss her onto her back. The silk of her nightgown slides between my fingers as I grip the fabric in a tight fist.
One loudripdown the middle, and it falls to her sides, leaving her completely bare before me. My mouth goes dry as I drink her in, eyes roving over her creamy skin. I can’t decide what to devour first.
I’ll never forget this moment as long as I draw breath—gentle slopes, the sharp dip in her waist, the rounded curve of her hips. The rosy flush painting her from cheeks to chest, the frantic rise and fall of her shallow breaths.
The love in her eyes.
I can’t pull off my trousers fast enough before covering her body with my own and sealing my mouth to hers.
I’m not gentle.
I’m not patient.
I kiss her with all of the frustration, desperation, and longing that’s plagued me every second of every day since she slapped me across the face and stole my heart.
“Mine,” I whisper against her lips. “Lightning strike me, Mayah, you’remine.” I kiss her again like a starving man. I might die if I can’t have her.
But only if she wants this. Wantsme.
With an exceeding amount of effort, I break our kiss, forehead pressed against hers.
“Tell me you want this.”
She nods vigorously, tugging me back down, nails raking my shoulders. A ragged groan escapes me, and I gather her wrists in one hand and pin them above her head.
“I need to hear you say it, baby.”
“I want this, Zev. Please,” she whimpers. “I want you.”
I stare at her, waiting, chest heaving against hers. I wait two extra heartbeats to be sure.
No prickles.
Cool, crackling relief cascades through me.
She wants me. She wantsme.
My lips crash down against hers, tongue licking into her mouth. I reach down, notching myself against her. She tenses in my arms, brows pinched tight.
I nudge her nose with mine, whispering, “Breathe for me, baby.”
My wife listens and obediently sucks in a deep breath, body relaxing against me. My arms bear my weight as I inch forward, just a hair’s breadth and—
A sharp knock rattles the silence.
We both freeze.
“If we’re quiet, maybe they’ll leave,” she whispers, dragging her hands down my back.
“If they don’t, I’ll kill them,” I growl, nipping at her lower lip.
