Then she moved.
It was only a small shift of her hips, but the urgency pulsing through his veins overwhelmed him. He caught her mouth with his and began to move, finding a rhythm that made her cry out again and again. Her body tightened around him with every thrust, her fingernails digging into his shoulders, and when she broke apart beneath him, he followed her.
The world went white with pleasure and sensation but he retained just enough control to pull out before the ring at the base of his kotra expanded, holding himself above her until the final shudder passed through him. Then he collapsed to oneside, bringing her with him, and she settled against his chest with a contented sigh.
A few minutes later, she lifted her head and looked at him. Her eyes were bright, her cheeks flushed, and a satisfied smile played around her mouth. He thought she had never looked more beautiful.
“I’m glad you stopped being patient.”
“I didn’t hurt you?” he asked.
“Not even a little bit.”
“Good.”
She gave an experimental wiggle, then added, “But I might be sore tomorrow.”
He ran his hand gently down her back.
“I’ll be here to make it better.”
“I’m counting on it.”
She nestled back into his arms, her body relaxed in a way it had never been before, and he realized he was smiling like an idiot.
He didn’t care.
“Stay with me,” he whispered.
“I will.”
He waited for more, but she didn’t add anything. He wanted her to say that she wanted to stay every night, but he refused to ask for what wasn’t offered.
“Sleep well, little one.”
She yawned and snuggled closer. “You too.”
He lay awake long after her breathing went slow and even, staring at the ceiling and praying that every night would end with her beside him.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Polly woke slowly, luxuriating in the warm nest of furs. Njkall’s arm was heavy across her waist, his body a furnace at her back. She shifted slightly, then stopped.
Everything ached. Not in a bad way, but in a way that reminded her exactly what she’d done last night. She smiled into the furs. She’d made love with Njkall. Completely. Thoroughly. And she wasn’t sorry.
She’d braced herself for this moment. For the cold dawn light to bring regret crashing down, for her body to remember fear, for the familiar urge to flee to send her scuttling back to her own small sleeping cave before he woke. She’d done it so many times before—slipped away in the grey hours, retreated to the safety of solitude, rebuilt her walls before he could see how much she needed them.
But the regret didn’t come.
She lay still, cataloguing the sensation of waking up beside him, and found only a quiet, steady warmth spreading through herchest.I chose this,she thought.Every part of it. And I would choose it again.
She smiled.
He stirred behind her, his arm tightening briefly, a low rumble of contentment vibrating through his chest. “You’re awake.”
“For a little while now.”
“And you stayed.”
