Page 61 of Thawed Gladiator: Cassius

“Me too,” I whisper, my voice barely audible over my pounding heart. “So much.”

His hands find the hem of my shirt, and he pulls back just enough to slip it over my head. The cool air hits my skin, but it’s his gaze that makes me shiver—hot, hungry, latched onto every inch of me as if I were a feast laid out before him.

“You’re beautiful, Diana,” he says, his voice hoarse with emotion. “Every part of you.”

Ifeelbeautiful under his gaze, cherished, desired. I reach for him, pulling him back to me, desperate to feel his skin against mine. His chest is warm and solid, a stark contrast to the cool wall behind me. I can feel his heart racing, matching the rhythm of my own. He captures my mouth again, his hands exploring my body with a reverence that makes me ache.

“Too many clothes,” I murmur against his lips, my fingers fumbling with the drawstring of his sleep pants. He chuckles, a low sound that vibrates through me, as he helps me push them down, kicking them aside with impatience.

I take a moment to appreciate him, the way the moonlight streaming through the window plays on his muscled form, casting shadows that highlight every ridge and valley. He’s magnificent, a living statue of strength and grace. And he’smine.

His fingers hook the waistband of my jeans, tugging me forward. I go willingly as he unbuttons my jeans, his knuckles brushing against my skin, sending jolts of electricity through me. After quickly unzipping my pants, he slides them down my legs, his hands trailing a path of heat as they go.

I step out of them, kicking them aside to join his. We stand still for a moment, breathing each other in, our bodies barely touching, but the heat between us is palpable. His gaze roves over me, hungry and appreciative, and I feel a surge of power, knowing that I’m the one who put the look of a half-crazed animal in his eyes.

“Come here,” he says, his voice a low growl as he pulls me into his arms. Our bodies press together, skin against skin,heat against heat. His mouth descends on mine, hungry and insistent, and I melt into him, my body molding to his as if we were created to fit together.

He lifts me, my legs wrapping around his waist, and carries me not to the bed, but dances me around the small cabin.

“Shall I tell you what I want to dotoyou?Withyou? Tell you in perfect detail what I’ve dreamed about both waking and asleep for the months we’ve been separated?”

“Mmm.” I smile against the heated skin of his neck as his words cause arousal to jolt through me. “Yes. Tell me. I want to hear every detail of what you imagined doing with me. Perhaps someday I’ll share my fantasies with you.”

“I dreamed of dancing with you like this, our bodies pressed together, your skin hot against mine. I dreamed of spinning you around, your laughter filling the air as your hair fanned out behind you. I dreamed of dipping you low, my mouth finding yours in a kiss that left us both breathless.”

He demonstrates, spinning me around the small cabin, my giggles echoing off the walls. Then he dips me, his arm strong and sure behind my back, his mouth capturing mine in a searing kiss.

“I dreamed of laying you down on a bed of silken pillows, your hair spread out around you like a halo. I dreamed of exploring every inch of your body with my hands, my mouth, my tongue. Tasting you, teasing you, making you writhe and moan beneath me.”

He walks us to the bed, his intentions clear that he’s ready to lay me down gently and cover my body with his, but I’m not ready for that. I want to hear more.

“Keep talking, Cassius. Tell me what this big, strong gladiator imagined doing to me during all his lonely nights.”

“Oh, Diana,” he murmurs, his voice a low rumble as he holds me close, our bodies swaying gently to the rhythm of our shared desire. “I imagined taking my time, worshipping every curve and line of your body. I dreamed of running my fingers through your hair, tilting your head back to expose the delicate line of your throat.” He trails kisses down my neck, punctuating each word with a soft, warm press of his lips.

“I imagined tracing the scar that runs across your lip,” he continues, his thumb gently brushing against the mark, “and kissing it softly, reverently. It’s a part of you I cherish, a testament to your strength and resilience.”

I shiver at his touch, his words sending waves of warmth through me. He lifts me higher, my legs still wrapped around his waist, and carries me to the small kitchen table, setting me down gently on the edge. His hands grasp my hips, pulling me closer as he steps between my legs.

“I dreamed of exploring your body with my hands,” he says, his voice husky as his fingers trace patterns on my skin. “Of cupping your breasts, feeling their weight and softness in my palms. Of teasing your nipples with my thumbs, making them harden and peak beneath my touch.”

His words paint vivid images in my mind, and I can feel my body responding, my breath coming in quick, shallow gasps. He leans down, capturing one taut nipple in his mouth, swirling his tongue around it as his hand plucks the other tip. I arch into him, a soft moan escaping my lips.

He chuckles, a low sound in his chest. “Just like that, Diana. I imagined you leaning into my touch, your body responding to mine like an instrument played by a master musician.”

His hands leave my breasts, trailing down my sides, my hips, my thighs. He kneels before me, his gaze locked onto mine as his fingers hook into the waistband of my panties. I lift my hips, helping him, eager to be bare before him. He tosses them aside, his gaze raking over me, raw hunger in his eyes.

“And I imagined tasting you, Diana. Gods! I dreamed of burying my face between your thighs, of licking and sucking and driving you wild with my tongue. I missed the taste of you, though I could conjure it in my mind when I tried. I remembered the feel of your hands on me, your nails scoring my back as I moved inside you. I dreamed of the sounds you’d make, the gasps and moans and whispers of my name. I dreamed of the way your body would feel, hot and tight and perfect around mine.”

A jolt of lust spikes through me, causing my channel to clench around nothing. His words are making me spiral so high, I wonder if it will take more than one heated touch to send me over the edge.

“I dreamed of feeling you shatter against my mouth, your pleasure my reward,” he murmurs, his finger tracing the length of my slit, making me gasp. “

He crouches between my thighs, his broad shoulders pushing them apart. His breath is hot against my core, making me squirm as I grip his blond hair. He looks up at me, a wicked smile playing on his lips.

“Is this what you want, Diana? Do you want me to taste you? To make you come undone?”

I nod, my breath hitching. “Yes.”

---