Page 34 of The Gathering Storm

If he had, she probably would’ve killed him by now.

The thought should’ve scared him, or resigned him to his fate, as their first stolen kiss had done. Instead, it only pushed his need for her higher.

He drew away from her, exasperated. Hadn’t he already charged in too quickly, fucking her when he’d meant to take his time, draw her out, enjoy the attention she’d granted him?

Her hand caught his in a firm grasp. “What’s wrong?”

His mouth thinned. “I shouldn’t have pushed.”

“When did you push?” The words were mild, uninflected by anger or emotion. “I hoped you would make your passion known.”

“It’s too soon.”

He stood, too restless to sit, and paced into the bathroom. Draped the washcloth over the edge of the bathtub, remembered his own state of undress, and cleaned himself, then yanked his boxer briefs and slacks back into place. When he returned to the bedroom, she was exactly as he’d left her, wanton and beautiful, an ice queen no more, but a woman well loved.

His dick stirred to life behind the fly of his slacks and he cursed under his breath, cursed it and the An forsaken need he’d held for her since the moment she walked into The Omega, every inch the warrior she was.

He’d fallen for her hard, tumbling into a confusing tangle of love and lust and emotion so unfamiliar, he’d struggled to breath under its weight.

And she’d ignored him. For two long, lonely years, he’d watched her come and go, always and forever out of his reach.

Until now.

She stretched her hand out to him, holding it in the air above the bed. “Come to me, Will. Rest beside me for a while.”

It was an invitation he couldn’t resist.

He flipped on the bedside lamp, a delicate crystal creation, and flipped off the overhead light, then crawled onto the bed and settled down next to her. “We should probably go clean up the kitchen.”

“In a while.” She turned toward him, as she had earlier, and rested her palm on his cheek. The elegance of her perfume washed over him, something light with the faintest undertone of lilies. “I’ve never allowed a man to take me as you did.”

That surprised the hell out of him. “You don’t strike me as a Daughter who lets any man take advantage of you.”

“You took nothing I didn’t willingly give, but you mistake my meaning. No man has ever overwhelmed me with his strength and passion, with his courage and kindness.” Her hand drifted down his throat and chest, and delved under his undershirt, caressing his stomach, arousing him in spite of his good intentions. “Do it again.”

The world narrowed to him and her and those three little words. He eased on top of her and buried his face in the soft curls of her hair, and gladly shared his courage and kindness with her until she was sated and satisfied, and in no doubt whatsoever as to the strength of his passion.

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