Page 114 of Kingdom of Shadows and Wings

His lips brush mine, and I sigh into them. “We both know something being a terrible idea hasn’t stopped me yet.”

His bark of laughter morphs into a groan when I nip his lower lip. Grabbing my hips, he inserts a battle-hardened thigh between mine and rocks against me, matching the rhythm of his tongue as it plunges into my mouth. With each thrust, heat builds in my core. My legs start to shake and my release hits while I cling to him and cry out.

Afterward, he undresses me first, and then removes his own clothing. I drink in the sight of him. The first time I saw Instructor Sterling Thorne, I thought him beautiful. I was wrong. Beautiful doesn’t begin to describe him.

He’s…magnificent.

His body is all hard planes and toned muscle, honed from years of…what exactly, I don’t know. Training? Fighting? My gaze dips lower to his rippling abdominals, and then lower still. My heart stutters.

“See something you like?” His teasing words pull me back to reality.

Heat creeps up my neck as I tear my gaze away from his arousal. “Apparently,youdo.”

“I do.” His eyes roam over my body like a caress. “Very much.”

The reverent way he regards me, like I’m special, beautiful even…makes me long for something I know I can’t have.

Don’t go there. Just enjoy what’s happening now.

Later, there will be plenty of time to analyze my feelings about what’s happening between us.

His hands trail down my bare arms, and tiny goose bumps erupt on my skin. “Beautiful.” He captures my hands and brings my right one to his mouth, pressing a kiss in my palm. “You’re so damn beautiful.”

“I—”

Thorne’s mouth possesses mine. Urgent. Hot. Demanding my active participation.

I loop my arms around his neck, exploring, tasting, memorizing him. My fingers map the curve of his shoulders. They move on to trace his vertebrae and the taut muscles of his back, the action causing my breasts to brush against his chest.

His moan vibrates in his chest. “Fuck.”

“Isn’t that what we’re doing?”

He shakes his head. “One of these days, that smart mouth of yours is going to get you in trouble.”

I can’t stop my grin. “I think it already has.”

He laughs, a throaty, velvety sound I could get lost in. “Can’t argue there.” He lowers himself on the bed, tugging me down with him.

In a matter of seconds, Thorne’s body is over mine as I lie on my back, head propped up on a fluffy pillow.

Reaching between us, I wrap my hand around his hard length and guide it to my entrance. “I need you.”

His molten gaze locks on mine. “You have no idea what those words do to me.” He rocks his hips, eases his way inside, and then stills, cradling my face in his hands. “You okay?”

I nod. It’s tight, full, and a little uncomfortable, but not painful.

“You sure?”

“Yes.” My answer comes out as a whisper. “Are…you?”

His fingers trail down my left cheek. “Perfect.”

He shifts, then thrusts, and discomfort is the furthest thing from my mind.

It’s…incredible.He’sincredible.

As he drives into me over and over again, instinct has me rocking my hips to match his rhythm. The only other time I’ve done this was awkward and hurried…an experience I never wanted to repeat. Until now. Untilhim.

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