Page 34 of Kiss of Steel

He hadn’t uttered outright falsehoods, but lies of omission still counted as lies. At the very least, he’d misled her into believing he was human. Would she still like him if she knew what he was? He didn’t dare confess all he’d done, but he yearned to reveal something of himself. Tell her at least part of the truth.

“A credit for your thoughts,” she said.

“I need all the credits I can get,” he joked. How could he not have added up how much a week of meals would cost? He could do calculus equations in his head, but he’d failed at the basic addition a five-year-old could do. “Thank you again for buying my meals.”

“I’m sure you’d do the same for me.”

“If I could, I’d give you everything you desire.”But what if she desired the truth?

In the cabin, they draped their coats over the kitchen chairs. His heart felt light and heavy at the same time, the air weighted with portent and promise as he dragged a deep breath into his lungs. She turned to him with a seductive half smile. He settled his hands on her shoulders and studied her face.

The honesty, encouragement, and affectionate humor soothed his ragged psyche like a healing balm while the open desire kindled an answering fire in his blood. He brushed his lips against her mouth in a gentle gesture of gratitude. Her lips moved against his, and he deepened the kiss. The way she melted against him caused a groan of yearning to erupt from deep inside his chest. His cock hardened.

He crushed her lips, his tongue moving inside her mouth, twining with hers. She stroked the nape of his neck, sending tingles down his spine. He roamed his hands over her back, cupping her ass cheeks and pressing her against his erection.

He nuzzled her throat. She moaned and arched her neck, granting him access to the pulse thrumming beneath her skin. Cupping her breast, he marveled at the softness, how the nipple hardened, and his body’s reaction to it—instant tightening in his groin. His pants felt too restrictive, but what a pleasurable discomfort it was.

She was so smooth, so pliant.

He operated on instinct, deriving unfamiliar, surprising pleasure from tactile sensations.

“Maybe…maybe…” she gasped as he slipped his hand under her shirt to touch bare skin. “We should continue this in the bedroom?” Her half-lidded eyes sought his gaze. “You know, consummate our marriage?”

A current of sizzling electricity awakened nerve endings and possibilities. Previously, his body had been a tool, a weapon. He’d deployed it in a physical manner to achieve his goal; he’d never used it to bring himself pleasure or to pleasure someone else.

Did he have the capacity to do that?

Don’t overthink. Just feel. Just do.

“Yes,” he said, and, surrendering to the moment, swept her up into his arms. She squealed, hugging his neck. What did it signify that he liked having her hang on to him?Don’t think.Do.He strode to their bedroom and kicked at the closed door—putting his foot through the panel. “Oops.”

Honoria laughed. “We’re going to have to fix that.”

“Later.”

She laughed harder. He leaned over so she could reach the handle.

He set her on her feet beside the bed. Her seductive smile shot a burst of heat to his groin. Her gaze remained on him as she disrobed, unbuttoning her shirt and letting it fall to the floor. Underneath, she wore a band with shoulder straps. Fascinated, he reached out and fingered a strap. He’d never seen nor cared what women wore beneath their shirts before. The woman he’d been forced to have intercourse with for the good of the mission had been wearing a filmy nightgown. He blocked her from memory and focused on Honoria.

Buttons flew as he ripped at his shirt.

She grabbed his hands. “Your eagerness is flattering, but let me help you. You don’t have so many shirts that you can afford to destroy one.”

She undid the buttons with excruciating slowness, torturing him.

Finally, his shirt fell away, and she smoothed her hands over his chest and shoulders. “You are seriously ripped,” she said before perching on the mattress to remove her shoes and socks. Then she stood, unhooked the chest band, and dispensed with the rest of her clothing.

He stared transfixed, as if he’d never seen a naked woman before. He had, but not one he was interested in, not one he cared about, not one he lusted after. Honoria had cute rose-tipped upstanding breasts, womanly hips, and a triangle of curls pointing the way to her sex. His balls tightened, and his cock ached.

She gestured at his pants. “Did you stall out?”

“I’m watching,” he replied, but unzipped his pants and shoved them down. His erection sprang free. Pants around his ankles, he shuffled two steps to the bed, sank onto it, and tried to kick off his shoes.

Honoria giggled. “Let me.” She yanked on his boots, while he enjoyed the sight of her bouncing breasts. When she tugged his pants off, he grabbed her around the waist and pulled her onto the bed.

He groaned at the sensation of her naked flesh against his bare skin, his cock pressed to her smooth stomach. Nothing in his life had ever been as sensual. Legs entwined. Those soft, enticing breasts squished against his chest. Cupping her face, he pressed his lips to hers in a desperate kiss. Tongues danced. Lips slid against lips. Breaths mingled. Noses bumped.

Eager to explore, he palmed her breast and squeezed the soft mound, still enthralled by how her nipple had hardened.

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