Page 68 of Mud

The panic that came over me could have been funny.

“No,” I said, voice breathless, head shaking like I needed to make extra sure he understood.

“Good. Don’t look away from me,” Taland said, then gently pushed my legs off his shoulders and stood up at the side of the bed.

He began to unbutton his pants, pull them down, and then his boxer shorts followed. Thirty seconds later, I was looking at a completely naked Taland, cheeks flushed, heart thundering in my chest, but I didn’t even blink for a second.

Iris, he was so perfect it wasn’t fair. Every inch of him was made out of toned muscle. Lean and strong, with softly defined abs and a V between his hips that made my fingers itch to touch him.

Then his cock. A moan ripped out of me, and if I didn’t die of embarrassment in those moments, I never would. Like I said, not very experienced here, and his was the first cock I’d seen aside from those few times I’d watched porn, butwow.Long and thick and smooth andhard,the tip curved up as if it was reaching to touch me, too.

Just like that, I discovered a new level of heat that I could feel inside my body without actually combusting into flames.

Taland came closer, eyes on me, then leaned down to grab me, I thought, but he reached for my shirt instead. He pulled me up with it and took it off me, then unclasped my bra. I’d forgotten I still had them on.

Then he was on top of me again, his lips on my neck, right over my pulse. He moved his hand down my chest, gently touching my boobs, and whispered in my ear, “Do you think you’re ready for me, sweetness?”

I thought he was still asking me just to torture me, but he really was trying to make sure he wasn’t taking advantageof me. For all his wicked grins and the way he looked to the outside world, Taland might be the best person I had met yet.

“I am,” I told him, reaching out to touch his hand where he touched me, running it up to his shoulder. It felt so good to be so comfortable with him. To have all of him to see and touch and feel.

“Are you sure? Because I’m going to ruin you a little bit…”

His voice trailed off as he planted kisses up my jaw and pressed his lips to mine just as he slipped his hand between my legs. When I moaned, he seemed to swallow the sound, then bit my lip with a moan of his own.

“Goddess, you’re perfect. Every little bit of you,” he said. “Tell me you’re sure about this, sweetness. But understand that once you’re mine, you’ll be mine for the rest of your life. Mine and nobody else’s—ever.”

Did he actually think that was a threat? Because it soundedexactlyright to me.

I brought my hands to his face and held him there for a second so I could kiss him, not entirely sure what to do with these fuzzy feelings that took my breath away. I knew what they were—love,raw and unapologetic, consuming every little bit of me, but right now I kept it to myself. Right now, when I kissed him, I pushed him back a bit and asked, “Will you be mine, too?”

He was shocked by the question, but then found it funny. His chuckle came second only to his moans.

“Can’t you see I’m already on my knees? I’ve been yours since the day you smiled at me.”

Not enough air in the world, and not enough space for my smile to stretch wider on my face. “For the rest of your life?”

“For the rest of eternity,” he said.

I believed him.

“Then, yes, I’m sure,” I said breathlessly.

He closed his eyes and kissed me as he settled between my legs.

Meanwhile I was already a nervous mess.

This is happening. Iris, this is actually happening…

“Will it hurt?” I asked, even though I knew it did. I’d heard stories, and the girls in our chambers overshared. They had no idea I was still a virgin, so they talked about their first time freely—and often.

I knew it hurt, but I neededhimto reassure me. Everything sounded different when he said it.

“A little bit,” Taland said, dropping half his weight on me, and it felt mighty good. “I want you to hold onto me as hard as you can, okay? And I need you to breathe, to try to relax your muscles. It will hurt, sweetness, but I’ll take the pain away fast. I can promise you that.”

Again, I believed him, so I nodded and wrapped my arms round his neck, and I held on tightly like I was about to jump off a plane without a parachute. Iris, I was shaking so badly…

“I’ll be gentle. Trust me, Rosabel. You can trust me.”

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