Page 60 of Forbidden

“But all I want to do is kiss you. Nothing else.”

“At this point, Dearheart, I’ll take whatever you want to give me.”

“Then kiss me, too.”

“Oh, God.” Taber groaned the expletive as his lips descended to hers. She wanted to utter her own, but all she could do was whimper. His lips touched hers tentatively, then more firmly but still with exquisite gentleness. At first only their lips slid against each other, but Akahana instinctively darted her tongue out and into Taber’s mouth.

The need and lust coming from Taber fueled her own desires, and in that instant she knew Gamin could not have been her mate. At least, not as she had always been taught to believe. She had never felt this building and feeding of her own emotions off the thoughts and feelings of another.

It felt like lightning sparked between them. She felt like she’d been punched in the chest, but at the same time, she couldn’t get enough. Her insides heated, yet chills raised the fine hair on her body and puckered her nipples to stabbing peaks. She ached to have Taber take one of those nipples between the lips that were so expertly playing across her own.

She clung to him, tangled her fingers in his shirt before trailing one hand up his neck to the back of his head. The skin there was slick and slightly damp with sweat, and she found she rather liked the feel of it on her fingertips.

He held her closely, yet never doing anything more than kissing her, just as she’d requested. His body was hard next to hers, and she felt his cock harden and press tightly against her abdomen.

Everything combined to leave her breathless and wanting. Her breasts felt heavy and tender, her pussy tingly and damp. For the first time she could ever remember, she not only wanted sex, she needed it. Craved it. There was no fear or doubt. There was only this overwhelming sense of belonging.

Akahana wrapped both arms around Taber’s neck and shifted her body as close to him as she could get, even hooking a leg around his hip to better align him to her.

Taber’s hands dropped to her hips, and he gripped her flesh there, but still did no more than kiss her. But somehow it was exactly what she needed.

She was just about to suggest they explore each other a little more when the door opened behind them and someone cleared her throat. Mara had returned.

Embarrassed, Akahana set her leg down and tried to pull away, but Taber held her hip with one hand and wrapped his other arm around her back. He chuckled as he kissed the top of her head. “It’s okay. Relax, Dearheart.”

“I’m glad to see you finally accepting Taber, Akahana,” Mara said. When Akahana peeked over Taber’s shoulder, the other woman smiled warmly at her. “I think his connection to you saved your life. Your brain waves were decidedly more active, and you seemed to have a stronger will to live than before.”

“We were just…” She trailed off, not knowing how to explain her current situation to Mara, but the other woman waved her off.

“I know exactly what you were ‘just’ and as your doctor, I strongly approve. I think you should ‘just’ more often.”

For the first time in many, many years, Akahana giggled. Joy bubbled up inside her, and she buried her face in Taber’s shoulder and laughed until tears streamed down her face. Life was suddenly worth living, and she’d be damned if she’d give into Gamin’s will even after his death. Not anymore.

This was her life.

And she was taking it back.

?* * *

Taber couldn’t believe this was happening. Akahana insisted he stay with her that night, and now he lay naked in her bed waiting for her to join him. He wasn’t sure he’d been this nervous when he was a virgin. He wanted tonight to be perfect, special. God! He wanted her so fuckingbadly! How could it be possible to need someone so badly?

And it wasn’t just her body he wanted. Oh, he wanted to bury his cock in her cunt or ass or mouth -- wherever he could get to first -- but it was more than that. He wanted her heart as well. Not to control her, but because he’d earned her love and trust. He had to know she would always be with him.

When she emerged from the bathroom, she was wrapped in a bathrobe. The abundance of terrycloth should have been anything but sexy, but Taber couldn’t stop wondering what was underneath.

It wasn’t long before he found out.

She smiled shyly at him as she untied the belt and let the heavy robe slide from her arms and pool at her feet. She was the most exquisite woman Taber had ever seen. Her skin, a creamy caramel, made her white hair stand out erotically. Her eyebrows arched delicately over green, almond shaped eyes, and her pubic hair -- neatly trimmed -- framed her sex in the most tantalizing way. Her breasts were perfectly proportioned to her body, rounded and high, with dark pink nipples puckered tightly in her desire.

She took a step forward. “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous about this, Taber.”

“I know you’re nervous.” He smiled and reached a hand to her. “But I also know you’re just as excited as I am, and that you’ve let go of your doubts about me.” She reached for him, and he gently guided her onto the bed, her hair framing her face as it fanned out on the pillow. “I promise --” he propped himself up on one elbow to look down at her, “-- not to make you regret that decision.”

“You won’t, Taber.” Akahana reached for him as she spoke and directed his lips to hers. “It’s simply not in you.”

Her lips were silky and moist as they met his. He groaned and covered her upper body with his own, kissing and licking at her lips. Her tongue played over his, and her sighs and whimpers with every stroke into her mouth were glorious music.

He skimmed the side of her breast with one hand, tracing her generous curves and savoring every inch of her sweet body. Her hand slid up his arm and around his neck, and she pulled him closer. Arching her back, she purred her enjoyment.

---