“You can touch me,” she murmured against his skin. “I want you to.”
His hands found the clasp of her bra, fumbled briefly, then released it. When he cupped her breasts in his palms, she gasped into his mouth.
“Perfect,” he breathed, thumbs brushing over her nipples. “You’re perfect.”
She arched into his touch, wanting more. Wanting everything. “Less talking. More?—”
He bent his head and took one nipple into his mouth.
The sensation shot through her like lightning. She cried out, her hands flying to his hair, holding him in place. He licked and sucked and teased until she was trembling, then switched to the other side and did it all over again.
“Bed,” she managed. “Now. Please.”
He lifted her, and she wrapped her legs around his waist. The new position pressed her core against the hard length of him, and they both groaned at the contact.
“Dragon hearts beat differently,” he said against her throat as he carried her toward the bed. “Slower. More efficient.”
“It’s speeding up.”
“You’re pressed against me.” His voice dropped, rough with want. “Of course, it’s speeding up.”
He draped her over the mattress and followed her down, bracing himself above her. For a moment, he just looked at her—hair spread across his pillow, skin flushed, breathing hard.
“What?” she asked.
“I’m memorizing.” His voice was reverent. “In case I never get to see you like this again.”
“Don’t.” She pulled him down, kissing him hard. “Don’t think about tomorrow. Just be here. With me. Now.”
He kissed her back, deep and slow, his body settling over hers. She felt his weight, the heat, the barely leashed power. She wanted all of it.
The sex wasn’twhat she expected.
She’d braced for chaos—their magic colliding, the cabin shaking, lightning striking close enough to shatter windows. Every time they’d kissed before, something had broken. Property damage was practically their love language.
But this was different.
When Aero settled his weight over her, when his mouth traced a path down her throat, the charge between them didn’t spark destructively.
“Oh,” she breathed, as his hands mapped her skin. “That’s?—”
“I know.” His voice was wonder-struck. “I feel it too.”
Outside, the storm that had been building all day gentled. The wind eased. The lightning that had been flickering on the horizon faded into distant flashes.
Aero took his time. Centuries of patience applied to the singular goal of driving her out of her mind. He learned her body like he was collecting data—cataloging every gasp, every shiver, every whispered plea. His mouth found sensitive spotsshe hadn’t known existed. His hands, those capable researcher’s hands, mapped territories no one had explored so thoroughly.
He worshipped her breasts until she was arching off the bed, then trailed lower, teeth grazing her ribs, tongue tracing patterns on her stomach. Every touch was deliberate. Purposeful.
“You’re studying me,” she accused breathlessly.
“Thoroughly.” His mouth found her hip bone, and she felt him smile against her skin. “Object to my methodology?”
“Ask me when I can think again.”
His laugh was low, satisfied. Then his mouth moved lower still.
He stripped away the last of her clothing with reverent hands, leaving her bare beneath him.
