Page 34 of Willow and the Wraith

Wraith nodded curtly.

“We’re close to Radlin. We’ll stop there tomorrow to restock.”

Without another word, he stood and left the room, leaving her staring after him, her heart a confusing tangle of hope and disappointment. One brick at a time, she reminded herself.

They played another round of cards and then she tucked Sooni into bed, smiling as the little girl’s lips started moving as soon as her eyes fluttered closed. When she returned to the common area, it was empty. Malacar must have gone to bed as well. She picked up the datapad and tried to concentrate on her lessons, but her eyes kept drifting to the door. Minutes ticked by, stretching into hours, but Wraith didn’t appear.

She finally sighed and admitted defeat. No doubt he was back in the cockpit, but she wasn’t going after him again tonight. She’d try again tomorrow.

As she prepared for bed, she kept thinking about the previous night, a low pulse of arousal humming through her body. She hesitated before climbing into bed, then switched on the small light she’d left on for him the night before. Its soft glow cast comforting shadows across the room. She lay there, wide awake, hoping that he would join her.

Her heart leapt at the door finally hissed open and he entered, but instead of joining her, he remained by the door. His posture was rigid, his face set in hard lines, but he couldn’t hide the vulnerability in his eyes.

“There’s no future for us,” he said, his voice low and strained. “I’m collecting a bounty for taking you to Farlain.”

“I see,” she said quietly, studying his face.

No matter how much he tried to hide it, she could see the conflict raging behind that stoic facade. Without a word, she held out her hand.

He looked so shocked she almost laughed.

“Come to bed, Wraith.”

His fists clenched.

“I… I am not sleepy.”

“Neither am I.” She sat up, and let the covers fall to her waist, revealing her naked breasts. He immediately focused on them, the purple fire burning in his eyes, but he remained by the door. He looked so hesitant that her heart ached for him. “Come to bed,” she repeated softly.

He remained by the door a moment longer, then he crossed the room in the blink of an eye, snatching her into his arms and kissing her with the same frantic urgency as the night before. Her arms wrapped around his neck, clinging to him as his mouth slanted across hers, their tongues twining together.

When they finally broke apart, she was breathless, but she smiled up at him as he lowered her back against the bed.

“I can’t fight this any longer,” he said hoarsely, his fingers tangling in her hair. “I want you. I want to feel you beneath me.”

She kissed him again, her tongue slipping past his lips to tangle with his.

“I’m right here,” she murmured, her voice low and husky. “And I want you just as much.”

A low growl rumbled in his throat as his head descended, his mouth ravaging hers as his hands moved frantically over her body, leaving a trail of fire behind. Her head spun as his fingers moved to her breasts, rolling and teasing her nipples into aching peaks.

When she could hardly stand the sweet torment of his mouth and hands, she pulled away, reaching for the fastening of his clothing.

He watched her, his eyes burning, as she quickly removed his utility belt, then unfastened his tunic, pushing it over his shoulders to reveal the broad expanse of his chest, the subtle colors in his skin gleaming in the soft light. She ran her fingers over the powerful muscles, delighting in the way his skin quivered beneath her touch.

When she finally reached his waistband she freed his erection, her mouth going dry as his cock sprang free, thick and heavy and glistening. It was the same mix of shades as his skin, but the frills that lined it - five of them, equidistant apart - were a rich, dark purple. She ran a tentative finger down one of them and he shuddered. They glistened as well, silky beneath her fingers. She leaned forward, touching the edge of one with her tongue. He tasted as delicious and spicy as his scent.

He groaned as her mouth touched him, and then he pushed her back.

“Not like this,” he growled.

He stripped off the rest of his clothes with that astonishing speed, and then he was looming over her, his massive body dwarfing hers, but she was far from afraid. Arousal surged through her, leaving her feeling dizzy and intoxicated as she watched him.

His cock throbbed, the frills fluttering wildly, but instead of thrusting into her, he dropped to the floor next to the bed, grabbed her hips, and buried his head between her legs. His tongue found the swollen nub of her clit and she cried out, her hips arching against him, and he growled again, a deep rumbling sound that vibrated through her and made her entire body quiver.

He licked and sucked, his tongue thrusting inside her as she squirmed and panted beneath him, her fingers tangling in his hair as pleasure flooded her. She was almost embarrassed at her enthusiastic responsiveness, but when he finally raised his head to look at her, his eyes blazed with triumphant satisfaction.

He slid her back on the bed and rose over her, watching her face. She parted her legs in silent invitation, and he thrust into her in one long, hard stroke, filling her so completely she could barely breathe.

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