Splaying his fingers through her hair, he tugged her closer, before flipping her onto her back. Lifting his head, he looked into her eyes. “Micah wanted to see you when you woke.”
She shrugged, a faint smile curving her lips. “I guess he’ll have to wait. I’m a little busy now.”
Lowering his head, he kissed her again—slowly, deeply, thoroughly tasting her. She sighed into his mouth, and he caught the tiny sound as she tangled her fingers in his hair, demanding more. But he held her at bay—continuing to take his time with her, to savor her. Every time they’d made love since she’d been back had been a hurried, desperate coupling. With Joseph involved, it had been even more frantic. Now, Asher had her to himself, and he wanted to remind her of how good it could be between the two of them. Since they were back from Pryderi, he didn’t plan on sharing her with anyone ever again.
She tugged at his shirt, pulling it up and over his head, forcing him to momentarily break the kiss. Pressing her lips to his shoulders and neck, she trailed kisses wherever she could reach. He’d been aroused as soon as he’d woken with her in his arms, but each touch of her lips hardened his cock further. But he still wouldn’t be hurried.
He plucked at the bodice of her dress, slowly unlacing it and baring her skin to his hungry gaze. Her nipples were gathered in tight, pebbled buds, poking against the soft fabric. Pushing the fabric aside, he exposed her breasts, watching as the cooler air crinkled the areolas and nipples further. He palmed circles over the distended tip, making her squirm and try to push her breast more fully into his hand. But every time she shoved into his touch, he lifted his hand slightly, refusing to give her the contact she wanted. She scowled at him and drew his head down for another kiss, thrusting her tongue into his mouth, demanding more.
Shifting, he spread her legs with his thighs and rubbed against her pussy. Her teeth sank into her lower lip as she lifted her hips to thrust against him. Dropping her hand from his hair, she trailed her fingers down his chest and stomach until she reached the waistband of his pants. Deftly, she quickly unlaced his braes and slid her hand inside. Wrapping her slender hand around his cock, she stroked purposely, up and down the length of him, squeezing firmly as she tried to hurry him along.
He shook his head. “We’re taking it slowly this time. Very, very slowly.”
Frowning, she squeezed his cock again.
“I can always restrain you if that’s what it takes,” he muttered.
Her eyes widened slightly, but she said nothing.
He hadn’t missed how hot being held down had made her. “Of course, we don’t have Joseph here to hold you down this time, but I’m sure we can improvise.”
Using his powers, he pulled her hands from both his hair and his cock and pinned them to the bed on either side of her head, binding her securely with narrow bands of energy—all without physically touching her.
She struggled against him, trying to lift her wrists from the bedding, but she couldn’t. Her eyes darkened, and she frowned at him.
He couldn’t stop a self-satisfied smile from spreading across his face. Color brightened her cheeks, and she bucked her hips as if she could toss him off her. But he didn’t miss the fact that her nipples had hardened even more and stabbed straight up in the air, begging for his lips. Bowing his head, he took the closest one into his mouth. A strangled groan escaped her as he drew hard on the tight peak.
He lifted his head. “I’m sorry,
cariad
… Did you say something?”
Neeve’s eyes narrowed as she glared at him.
He couldn’t help the chuckle that spilled out. “No? I’ll just carry on then.” Drawing her other nipple deep in his mouth, he sucked on it, pulling needy little cries from her—cries she tried to hold back, but couldn’t.
She continued to lift her hips, rubbing her pussy against his thigh. He knew that if he touched her now, she’d be wet. Reaching down, he grabbed the skirt of her dress and bunched it in his hand, baring her legs as he dragged it upward.
He groaned when he met the soft skin of her thighs, his fingers stroking her tender flesh. She shuddered beneath his hand, spreading her legs¸ silently demanding more of his touch. Sending out tendrils of power, he tugged and pinched at her nipples, teasing the tight points while she writhed beneath him.
He glanced up her body and met her gaze. “I wish I would have thought to pocket those nipple clamps,” he murmured as he inched nearer to her pussy. “I’ve never seen you so desperate to have your breasts fondled. I think I’ll have to have a pair made for you. And one for your clit.” He flicked the tiny bundle of nerves with his thumb.
Her rough gasp hit him in the pit of his stomach, and he knew that no matter his good intentions, he’d never be able to take her slowly. Shifting, he lay on his stomach between her legs and spread her lips, baring her beautiful cunt to him. Slick with arousal, her dewy flesh beckoned him, urging him forward to taste her.
He drew the flat of his tongue from her opening, upward, stopping short of her clit, his lips quirking at her annoyed moan. She lifted her hips as if she could direct his mouth to the proper place, but he ignored her prodding. When she did it again, he released several more bands of power. Two secured her ankles and the other wrapped firmly around her waist, virtually immobilizing her.
There was no mistaking the displeasure in her shriek. There was also no mistaking her pleasure. A fresh rush of cream glistened on her lips. Her body strained against the invisible bindings. Her nipples beaded even further atop her full breasts, her chest flushed with arousal. She enjoyed being at his mercy, and the gods knew he enjoyed having her there.
He traced her opening, pausing every so often to dip his fingertip inside ever so slightly before pulling out again. His lips quirked into a smile as he ignored her demands for more. He kept her on the edge, tormenting her until she was breathless with need. Finally, he plunged his finger inside her, pushing her over the edge. She cried out as her body contracted around his finger. Pulling back, he added a second then he pumped into her spasming channel, prolonging her orgasm until she slumped to the bed, drained.
“I want to touch you,” she whispered.
He wanted it, too. He wanted her hands and mouth on his body. He wanted her laughter, her tears, her joy. He wanted everything about her for the rest of their lives. Peace like he’d never known settled in his soul. The words of joining chased around his mind. He’d said them at the ceremony that had mated Micah and Elizabeth. And he heard them now as he stared at Neeve.
Along with many other outdated laws, Micah had lifted the ban against guardians taking mates. Asher could be joined with Neeve forever. He continued to chant the words in his mind, not quite ready to utter them aloud and give them power.
He kicked off the rest of his clothing and releasing the magical bindings, he helped her remove her garments as well. As soon as they were both free of their clothes, she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down, cradling his body between her thighs. His aching cock brushed her damp folds. It took more restraint than he would have believed not to plunge into her willing body.
She dug her fingertips into his ass and urged him forward. “I want you inside me.”
He wouldn’t budge. Instead, he dropped a gentle kiss on her frowning lips. “I love you, Neeve.”
Her lips parted, and shock darkened her eyes, fear and concern swirling in their brown depths, but she didn’t speak. Instead, she shook her head, tears filling her eyes. They stayed suspended in that moment, frozen in time. Finally, she lifted her hips, begging him without words to take her. His heart ached with her rejection, but he wasn’t about to walk away from her now. Hell, he couldn’t even if he wanted to. Giving in to her urging, he thrust forward sharply, pushing the air from her lungs.
His heart was breaking, but it didn’t matter. He’d give her what she wanted. A hard fucking. He pounded into her, nailing her to the bed as she clung to him—her arms around his neck and her legs around her waist. She clutched him tighter with every thrust. Her body shook with exertion as she gripped him. He pushed aside his pain. She still owed him a year. He’d spend that time convincing her they belonged together.
Neeve closed her eyes against the tears that gathered there. He’d said he loved her. It had been nearly impossible not to respond in kind. She
did
love him. She’d been in love with him since before she’d left Maelgwn with Elizabeth all those long months ago. She couldn’t lie to herself, but she could definitely lie to him. It was the only sane course of action.
After everything they’d been through in the last few days, she wasn’t surprised he was confused. It would be so easy to let herself believe that he meant it—that his feelings were true—but they weren’t. The heady rush of terror and relief were bound to confuse emotions—add breathtaking sex to the mix and his misunderstanding was inevitable.
“Look at me,” he practically growled at her as he stopped moving.
Slowly, she forced open her eyes. Raw pain shone in his deep green gaze. Her heart dropped. She’d done that. She’d made him feel that hurt.
“If this is all you want,” he punctuated his words with a hard thrust, “I want to see your face while I fuck you.”
She swallowed hard around the ache his words caused. It was better this way. He’d realize soon enough that he’d been mistaken. Better that he learn this way than having him send her away later when he realized he was wrong. Holding his angry gaze, she refused to look anywhere else.
With painstaking slowness, he withdrew, dragging his thick heat through her sheath. Nothing felt as good as having Asher buried inside her—not even Asher and Joseph together. She tightened her thighs around her lover’s sides. This was going to be the last time—it had to be—and she didn’t want him to hold back.
“You don’t want my love, but you want my cock?”
She had no answer to give him. The truth was, she did want his love, but that wasn’t going to happen. “Please,” she murmured.
“Please, what?”
“Just fuck me.” Her voice cracked as she forced out the words.
His eyes glittered dangerously as he stared into hers. He drew his hips back even farther then pushed forward, slamming into her as hard as possible. He thrust into her mercilessly, which was fine with her. She didn’t want his mercy. She just wanted to capture this moment, to memorize the feel and scent of him. She never wanted to forget the sensation of him inside her body or experience of his heart hammering against her chest as they moved together. She clenched around his cock, convulsing around him as he drove himself deeper.
Tangling his fingers in the hair at the nape of her neck, he held her still, demanding her mouth in a punishing kiss. He pushed his tongue into her mouth, tasting and stroking her. She loved the masterful way he claimed her. She blinked back another rush of tears as she realized she loved everything about him.
Her body took over, and she stopped thinking. Her hips met his, lifting into every thrust, taking him as deeply as possible. Her over-sensitized nipples tightened further as his chest hair abraded them, and a moan slipped from her lips.
A thin sheen of sweat dotted their skin as their bodies strained together, their movements rough and almost animalistic. A coil of need tightened ominously in her belly, and she tried to ignore it. She didn’t want this last time between them to be over so soon. She wanted to savor it, but as the knot of desire twisted tighter and tighter she knew she didn’t have a choice but to ride it out.
From Asher’s near grimace, she could tell he was close, too. His steady rhythm faltered, and he thrust wildly. The twisting tension inside her snapped, and she was lost. Waves of molten need crashed over her and threatened to pull her under its tow. She clung to the only solid thing in her world. Asher.
His head dropped forward, his face pressing to his neck. His shuddering breath rasped against her skin as he spilled thick and hot inside of her, branding her completely, whether he knew it or not. Though she’d leave him, likely before the night was through, she’d never be without him. While not in the physical sense, he’d always be part of her.
Slowly, he lifted his head and stared down at her. She pressed kisses to his lips, cheeks and neck. Now that it was over, it was painfully apparent he wasn’t about to kiss her back, but what did she expect? She’d told him to just fuck her. She’d rejected him. She’d rejected his love.