Page 57 of Poet & Protector

I appreciated how careful he was being, but I was also losing my mind now that I understood his intent.

Reaching between us, I unbuckled my belt and unbuttoned my jeans. “I’m sure.”

Nev pressed his forehead against mine. His hand slid down my stomach, lower, disappearing into my boxer briefs, and his fingers wrapped around me.

Holy shit.

“Holy shit,” Nev breathed. “Mason.”

I’d never felt anything like this. A slow, deliberate exploration intent on giving me pleasure, gauging my every shiver and groan, leading me to the edge of control then backing off. His hand was so strong, but so gentle…then not so gentle…then…

“Nev.” My body shook; my pulse reached a breakneck pace as I drowned in need. “No one has ever…I’m not going to last.”

“Then I’m doing this right.” He kissed me hard and pleasure crashed through me like a tidal wave.

I sagged against him as surge after surge of release sent me into a haze of ecstasy.

He held me close. Kissing my temple. My cheek. He whispered words I couldn’t make out through the haze in my brain.

When the world came back, Nev was nuzzling my cheek.

“Hey,” I said.

He pulled back to look into my eyes. “Hey. Good?”

“So good,” I sighed. “Honestly, the best thing ever.”

He smiled and pressed a tender, lingering kiss to my mouth. Rolling onto his back, he levered himself up to rest on his elbows and stretched his legs out. When he crossed his ankles, he looked a little smug.

“Do you need help putting yourself back together?”

“I’ll let you know if my fingers don’t work anymore,” I told him and sat up, laughing. “They might not.”

I quickly cleaned myself up with the bottom of my shirt. It wasn’t ideal, but hey, small sacrifice. Nev watched as I refastened my jeans and buckled my belt.

Leaning over, I kissed his cheek. “Thank you.”

“So polite,” he teased.

“Sometimes.” I grinned before I grabbed his arms and pinned him to the earth.

“Mason, what the⁠—”

More.

I needed him to feel the primal euphoria I’d just experienced. To share the intimate secrets that would belong only to us.

Nev’s question died as I pushed his shirt up and began to kiss my way down his torso. He gasped when my teeth grazed his lower abdomen. His skin was hot and trembling beneath my tongue. His eyes widened, then went heavy-lidded when I unbuckled his belt.

“You don’t have to,” he whispered, but I could see the raw ache etched on his face and feel the way his entire body was taut with desire.

“I want to,” I assured him, and unzipped his jeans. “You’re about to find out how much.”

My blood heated as I watched his throat work when he swallowed.

“I would have if you asked me,” he whispered hoarsely. “I want to. I want everything with you, Mason.”

The wolf inside me howled, confirming what my heart already knew. I’d found my mate. This was the beginning and there would be no end for us.