Page 89 of Blood Bound

“That I never told you how much you mean to me,” she finishes, her voice almost too low to hear.

“My God, you mean so much to me too.” The words feel like they’re torn from me. I gaze into Rowan’s eyes, seeing the vulnerability and desire swirling in their depths. My hand cups her cheek, brushing away the last remnants of her tears.

Unable to resist any longer, I lean in, capturing her lips with mine. The kiss is tender at first, a gentle exploration, but quickly deepens as longing and fear melt away. Rowan’s hands slide up my chest, wrapping around my neck to pull me closer.

I trail kisses along her jawline, savoring the softness of her skin. When I reach her throat, I pause, my lips hovering over the faint scars left by my previous feedings. Rowan tilts her head, offering herself to me in a gesture of complete trust.

Instead of biting, I press a gentle kiss to each tiny mark, my tongue tracing the silvery lines. Rowan gasps in surprise, her body trembling against mine.

“Darick,” she whispers, her voice thick with emotion. “You’re weak. You need to feed.”

I lift my head, shaking it as I meet her gaze. “You’re everything that I need, Rowan Blackwood. Everything.”

Her eyes well with fresh tears as she pulls me back in for another passionate kiss. With hands that rove feverishly, she traces the lines of my shoulders, my arms, my back, as if confirming that every part of me is present and accounted for. Her fingers find the hem of my shirt, tugging it up; I help her by pulling it over my head, and it’s discarded in an instant. Then her exploration begins again, over bare skin this time. Every touch leaves a trail of fire in it is wake.

I trace my hands down her sides, marveling at the silk of her skin, the curve of her waist, the swell of her hips. With a gentle tug, I pull her against me, needing to feel the length of her body pressed to mine. Her hands skate up my chest, sliding over my shoulders, and I shiver as her touch sets my skin alight.

“Oh God, I can’t believe you’re here. That you’re okay,” she breathes as she continues to explore every inch of me. I respond by closing my mouth over hers, inhaling her sweet scent, loving the warmth of her.

“Come here,” I say against her mouth and then step back, drawing her with me, our bodies never parting. My hands roam over her as I guide her toward the bedroom. We stumble, our mouths never breaking contact. Her fingers tangle in my hair, and I angle my head, deepening the kiss. Her lips are soft and pliant beneath mine, and I taste the sweetness of her mouth.

I walk backward, never taking my eyes off her. The backs of my legs hit the bed, and I sit, pulling her with me so she straddles my lap. Our kiss intensifies, becoming hungrier, more demanding. My hands move to the buttons of her dress, working them open. I want – no, need – to feel her skin, to taste every inch of her.

“God, you’re so beautiful,” I say hoarsely as the front of her dress falls open, baring her breasts. And I mean it in a thousand different ways that go beyond her lovely eyes and perfect skin and gorgeous body.

Her hands find the muscles of my shoulders, her fingertips tracing the contours of my collarbones. I groan, the sound vibrating between us. My hands slide up her thighs, under the soft fabric of her skirt, and her legs part, inviting me. I slide my hands higher, my thumbs brushing the lace of her panties, and she arches into my touch.

I pull away from her mouth, my breathing ragged. “Let me taste you,” I murmur, my voice hoarse with desire.

She doesn’t respond, just nods, her eyes dark and hooded.

I lower my head, my lips brushing the pulse point at the base of her throat. I savor the rapid beat of her heart, my tongue tracing the path of her pulse. Her hands tighten in my hair, guiding me where she wants me. I skim my lips over her collarbones, my breath ghosting over her skin, and she arches her neck.

I nip gently at the sensitive skin, my teeth grazing her flesh. She gasps, her hands clutching at my shoulders, and I feel her body respond to mine. I trace a path down her neck with soft, wet kisses, feeling her heartbeat under my lips.

My hands slide up her thighs again, under her skirt, and this time, I don’t stop. I glide my palms over the smooth skin of her ass, pulling her closer, grinding the thickening length of my cock against her. I slip my fingers under the elastic of her panties, and she lifts her hips, helping me slide them off.

Her eyes are heavy-lidded, her lips swollen from my kisses. Her chest rises and falls rapidly, and I know she’s feeling the same urgent need as me. My gaze travels lower, drinking in the sight of her. The pale globes of her breasts are a temptation I can’t resist.

I lean forward, capturing a tight nipple between my lips, swirling my tongue around it. She moans, the sound sending a bolt of desire straight to my groin. I suck gently, drawing the sensitive bud into my mouth, and her fingers tangle into my hair, holding me to her. I worship one breast while my hand cups the other, my thumb brushing the taut peak.

“Darick,” she breathes, her hips rocking against me.

I switch my attention to her other breast, lavishing it with the same attention, my hand roaming over the soft curve of her waist, down to her hip. I feel her shiver as I slide my hand between us, and my fingers dip lower, tracing the line of her sex, feeling the soft bristles of the hair covering it.

“So beautiful,” I murmur against her skin. “All of you.”

Her hands move to the fastenings of my pants, fumbling slightly in her eagerness. I lift my hips to help her as she tugs them down, freeing my straining cock.

Rowan’s eyes widen slightly as she takes in the sight of me. Her gaze rakes over my body hungrily, and I feel a surge of masculine pride at her obvious appreciation. She settles back onto my lap, the heat of her core pressing against my length. I groan at the sensation.

“God, Rowan,” I breathe. “You’re perfect.”

My hands glide up her sides to cup her breasts. I brush my thumbs over her nipples, watching in fascination as they pebble under my touch.

“Oh God, yes,” Rowan moans, the sound sending a jolt of desire straight through me.

I lean in to capture her mouth in a searing kiss. Our tongues tangle as passion builds to a fever pitch. When we finally break apart, we’re both breathing heavily.

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