Page 73 of Possession Under the Southern Stars

Obediently, he lifts up onto his hands and thrusts with purpose. Oh my God, it’s so different from last time, when he took me in a dozen different positions, completely in control until right at the end. This time, he’s feral and aggressive, completely in charge. I know it’s all tied up with feeling out of control and powerless in the rest of his life. The public side of him is passive and mellow, and I feel a thrill at this glimpse into the real Fraser, the secret part of him that he keeps hidden from the world. The uncivilized part of a man, which is seen as unacceptable by the rest of society—the part of him that takes what he wants, that’s unrepentant and demanding.

He thrusts hard, and it’s all I can do to hang on for the ride. He angles his hips so he’s grinding against me, and I’m helpless to fight against the ripples of ecstasy.

“Are you going to come?” he demands, not stopping.

“Yes…”

“Tell me.”

“I’m going to come,” I whisper, my chest heaving with the blissful sensation building inside me.

“Tell me again.”

“I’m going to come for you, Fraser. It’s all for you…” I can’t say anymore, and I close my eyes, frowning as all my concentration focuses on the fantastic, exquisite sensation of everything tightening inside me.

“Open your eyes,” he says. “Look at me.”

Oh God, I don’t think I can, I’m coming, but I force my eyes open a crack and stare up at him with blurry vision as the pulses sweep over me and everything clenches deep inside. “Oh, oh, oh,” I cry out, and all I can see are his blazing eyes as he watches me, drinking in my pleasure.

I gasp and fall back onto the pillows, my body spent, but there’s no time to relax as he continues to thrust, reaching for his own climax. Carried away on a wave of bliss at the thought of him finding his own pleasure in my body, I stroke his body, draw my nails lightly down his back, and lift my face to accept his punishing kisses. I nip his lips with my teeth, and meet each thrust of his tongue with one of my own, feeling exultant as he groans.

Reaching down, he holds the condom as he withdraws, and then he rolls me onto my front. Enjoying myself now, I laugh as he struggles to find his way beneath my skirt, and soon we’re both chuckling as he tosses the layers of chiffon around, trying to bare my legs. Eventually he discovers them, and then he pushes up my knee, and seconds later he’s buried inside me from behind.

“Hallie,” he says, his voice little more than an exhalation. He wraps his arms around me, sliding a hand into my bodice to cup my breast, and I suck my bottom lip as he squeezes it and tugs on the nipple.

He fastens his mouth on the delicate skin where my neck meets my shoulder and sucks, and I shudder.

“That’s to show everyone you’re mine,” he says, his voice hard.

His? I blink, not sure what to make of his possessive tone. I’m not his—he doesn’t own me. I think then about the champagne that flowed like water, and wonder whether it has anything to do with him losing control with Isabel, and again with me.

But there’s no time to think more on it, because he’s lifting up again, and I clutch hold of the pillow as he begins to thrust with purpose. I widen my thighs, giving him better access, and it doesn’t take long before it’s obvious he’s losing control.

And then he stills, his hands clenching the duvet beside my shoulders, his body turning to rock as he spills inside me, his hips jerking with each jet. I bury my face in the pillow, and it’s impossible not to think about what it would be like if he wasn’t wearing a condom. He’d be filling me up right now, his little swimmers heading inside me for the finish line. I’ve never felt broody before, never really given much thought to getting pregnant or having children, but at that moment it’s all I can think about—his seed joining with mine, creating a spark like Venus in the sky, the miracle of life.

Then he gasps and lowers on top of me, and the mad mist that had descended on me dissipates. Babies? Really? Get a grip, Hallie.

He kisses my back, my neck, my shoulder, the place where he bit me so tenderly. He withdraws and disposes of the condom. Then he comes back and wraps his arms around me.

“Can I stay?” he mumbles.

“Yes,” I reply.

And we lie there looking out at the moon, as we slowly drift back to earth.

Chapter Eighteen

Fraser

In the end, I stay in Hallie’s room all night.

At some point we strip, have a drink of water, and visit the bathroom, but by eleven we’re curled up together, wrapped in each other’s arms.

I mustn’t, I shouldn’t, I can’t. But I do. I want to be with her, and at that moment I don’t give a fuck what anyone else thinks.

She’s soft in my arms, her skin like velvet, her hair like satin, and she smells divine. But more than that, I’m warmed by the way she took pity on me and tried to comfort me with her body. I thought that, once she discovered what had happened, she might mock me, or scold me for my behavior—Ginger would have done, and in fact I can’t think of any girl bar my sister who would have been so gentle with their forgiveness.

But Hallie just used her mouth and her hands to show me that she loved me, and for that I’m thankful.

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