Page 22

He dipped a finger inside her, and she jolted, her fingers curling into his flesh.

"Tell me to stop," he whispered close to her ear, his warm breath stirring the wisps of her hair.

She buried her face in the crook of his shoulder and took a deep breath. His scent was pleasant, with a salty tang, but mostly raw, clean male, with a hint of the outdoors and a trace of soap.

"No," she whispered back. "Do not stop."

He added a second finger, moving in and out of her. Then he gathered the wetness he found there and spread it over her folds.

Her hips moved, chasing every pleasant feeling, clinging to it, afraid she would never feel it again.

Then she felt him shift, felt the blunt heat of him press where his fingers had been, and she opened her eyes.

He had positioned himself at her entrance and paused.

His eyes moved to her lips and held there for a long moment. So long that she was certain he was going to kiss her.

And she wanted it. She craved it.

Her lips tingled with the desperate need to feel the press of his mouth against hers. The slow sweep of his tongue. The bite of his teeth.

She was willing to do anything for a touch from him that was not necessary to "prepare" her. A touch that was just for pleasure.

His or hers. Both. It did not matter.

She only wanted to feel wanted.

But he did not kiss her. He looked away, and something in her chest tightened.

Sutton pushed slowly into her tight heat.

Temperance gasped, her nails digging into his skin, into the hard muscle of his back. He froze, a grunt of effort escaping him as he held himself still, letting her body adjust.

"I have you," he murmured against her temple, his beard a soft, unfamiliar rasp against her skin. "You are all right."

She nodded as her inner muscles relaxed, softening around his thickness.

And she wanted more.

"Yes, I am ready, please," she whispered, and he gave a hoarse laugh.

Then he withdrew a little and drove in to the hilt.

A cry left her throat unbidden.

It felt so good, so full, so right.

He moved again, and the feeling grew.

Moans escaped her with each thrust, entirely beyond her control.

She threw her head back, wrapping her legs around his hips to keep him closer, urging him to move faster, to take her harder.

Her breathing grew labored, and the scent of their sweat mixed with their arousal heightened every sensation until the room seemed to narrow to the two of them and the sound of their ragged gasps.

Harder. Faster.

She felt the tension building, spreading from her belly to⁠—