She shouldn’t obey.
After all, if there was one thing Sol didn’t need to convince her of, it was how much her body craved his—how right the universe felt when he was inside her. Even if it was wrong.
They were undeniably perfect in bed. That was not and would never be the problem. She had to end things. Had to quit him.
But not quite yet.
Because she wasn’t brave or good. No, she was, at her core, rather wicked, as the gentiles said. And the way he crooked his finger at her, a sly grin spreading over his handsome features, almost made her believe that he was the same. And if only they had been born in a different world, under different circumstances, they might have been able to allow whatever burned between them to come to fruition.
However, they lived in reality, so she would have to take what she could get. Even if a better person would resist, given his injuries, the danger he was in, and the very real possibility of the women downstairs catching them. But again, she was not a better person. And for once, at least part of her was thankful for that fact.
Taking a deep breath, she untied her cloak and let it drop to the floor. Hands only shaking a touch, she moved to undo the buttons on the back of her dress, allowing that layer to also fall away.
“There we go, gorgeous,” Sol whispered, leaning forward. With a swallow she began untying the laces in the front of her corset. “Let me see you.” His eyes glowed with desire in the firelight, emboldening her. And for one shining moment, she not only heard his words but believed them.
She wanted to revel in them. Tease. She lifted the hem of her chemise and unrolled her stockings, taking off one and then the other. “Like this?” she asked in her best facsimile of innocence.
It was his turn to roll his eyes. “You know, I was going to make you feel very good, very quickly, but you’re convincing me to take things slow.” He wagged a finger. “I could bring you so very close and…” He stared at her with what could only be described as wolfish desire. “Stop.”
Her throat went dry as need filled her body. Not that she could reveal his hold on her just yet. This was too much fun.
Instead, she raised both brows. “You think you have that much control?”
“Is that a challenge?” he asked. “The ones between us haven’t gone very well for you.” He waved a hand at her chemise. “That too, Hannah. Get it gone. Now.”
And something about his voice had her reaching for her hem with barely a thought.
“There she is,” he whispered as the worn garment fell into the pile with the others. He crooked a finger at her. “Now, come here and let me make you feel very good.” He grinned. “Provided you do as I say.”
It took everything in her to hold back and not run to him immediately.
“You’re injured,” she argued, glancing at the blankets. “Aren’t I supposed to be doing the work? Nursing you or some such thing?”
“I’ve been fussed over and coddled plenty. That is very much not what I need right now from you.” As if to demonstrate his point, he threw the quilt to the floor, revealing his nearly nude body—and very ready penis.
Still, she took in the bandages around his torso, the gauze on his arms and legs, rage and something small and hurt she did not want to name distracting from the heat.
“Hannah. I’ve had enough of thinking about my own body.” His strong hands clasped hers. “Trust me.” She nodded, unable to resist, and he guided her onto the bed, her skin flush against his. “I want to play with your body now,” he commanded. “Straddle my waist.”
She startled as his mouth came down on one of her aching nipples. “Oh my,” she gasped, throwing her head back when he took her other breast in his large palm, firm but gentle, until he began to alternate between using his teeth on one breast while caressing the other, then laving at one nipple with his tongue while pinching the other. The blissful combination made her nearly scream with desire.
“You do like that, do you?” he said more than asked in a way that ought to be obnoxiously smug but she only found utterly charming.
Nonsense was all she managed to say in response, her senses completely enveloped by him and only him.
“Yes or no, Hannah?” the momzer asked, pausing as her body hovered on the threshold of pleasure.
All smart quips fled her. “Yes. Please—”
“There we go,” he cooed, caressing her breasts again, his touch softer, slower, nearly sweet. “This is good too, isn’t it?”
And she could only nod as liquid heat pooled in her core.
“Would you like something even better?” he whispered before kissing the side of her neck, causing her to groan with desire.
“Will I survive it?” she finally managed to ask with a small laugh. Reluctantly, she pulled back enough to wag a finger of her own at him. “I’m not quite as young as you, you know?”
“You’re perfect,” he told her with such sincerity, emotion nearly felled her. He took her hand, threading her fingers in his, and brought it to his lips, kissing her knuckles. “And I’ll never hurt you.”
