Page 57 of Veiled Yearning

My face goes from warm to burning hot. “Nevermind,” I mumble. “I’m going to”—I start to wriggle off his lap—“just go…”

“No.” It’s a throaty growl, and Gavril’s arms tighten around me. Holding my gaze, he asks, “You were thinking about being with me?”

“Yes?” I stop, and try again, more firmly. “Yes. I was. I… I have been. For a while.”

“And you want to feel me inside you?” His pupils dilate so there’s just a tiny ring of silver around them.

The growing bulge underneath me gives me the courage to say what I want. “Yes. I do.” I twine my arms around Gavril’s neck and trail a line of kisses along his jaw. “Every night, I think about it. About you. Filling me.”

His features go rigid, and he breathes, “Chiara. Are you sure?”

My lips pause over his racing pulse, and my incisors extend instinctively. “I’m sure. If you are—”

On an exhale, he groans, “Gorgeous. You have no idea. I want you so badly.”

Confidence fills me, turning my voice sultry. “Then I’m yours.”

Gavril hugs me to him, and I can feel his heart beating against mine.

Then, in an effortless move, he stands with me in his arms and gently lowers me to the bed. For several seconds, he just stands there, looking down at me with this look of absolute wonder.

I take the opportunity to admire Gavril myself—his broad shoulders and chest, his powerful legs, the large bulge below his waist—and anticipate seeing all of it for real this time, instead of imagining what he’d look like without any clothes.

Does he have any tattoos? Scars from when he was human? Does he have as many muscles as I think he does?

And why are we still fully dressed?

“Gav.”

He gives his head a tiny shake. “Yes?”

“Why are your clothes still on?”

A smile tugs at his lips. “We’re only just getting started, Chiara. I’m going to take my time with you.” He moves onto the bed, propping himself up beside me. His fingers trail across my breast, sizzling even through layers of clothing. “Touch you everywhere. Kiss you everywhere.”

“Well. Could we… do that without any clothes? Because I’ve been imagining you…”

His eyes flash a bright silver. “If you insist.”

Boldly, I retort with a smile, “I do.”

And moments later, as I’m looking at Gavril naked, I realize my imagination was a poor substitute for the real thing.

He has muscles on muscles, his chest all hard planes and firm lines, covered with a light dusting of hair that tapers down below his waist. Broad-shouldered, his powerful arms flex as he holds himself over me. And his skin is a gorgeous golden shade, unmarked by tattoos, unexpectedly soft when I touch it.

And when my fingers wrap around his arousal, it’s like hot velvet, thick and throbbing in my hand.

“Gorgeous,” Gavril groans. “I said I wanted to take my time with you.”

“But—” I’m riveted, feeling him react to my caresses, watching him grow even bigger. “I want to touch you.”

“And I love it. But let me touch you first.”

“Okay,” I huff, moving my hands to his ridged abdomen instead, tracing the lines of muscle. “Just for a little while.”

But it’s more than a little while.

Gavril follows through on his promise, kissing me everywhere.

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