Page 38 of Legacy's Destiny

“I think tonight,” she said evenly, “I’d like to attempt to have sex with you.”

Deacon blinked, surprised by her bluntness, but the corners of his mouth lifted into a slow smile. “Bandit says you’re okay?"

She nodded, her lips quirking in a small, self-deprecating smile. “He said I’m fine as long as I don’t overdo it.”

Deacon rose to his full height, towering over her while radiating nothing but warmth. He pulled her into his arms, his hands resting on the small of her back as he studied her face. His dark, intense eyes searched hers before he leaned down and pressed his lips to hers in a kiss that was far from innocent. It was slow, deliberate, and utterly consuming, leaving her breathless.

When he finally pulled away, Echo was left trembling, her heart racing. She looked up at him, her thoughts in disarray. How had one man come to mean so much? Deacon consumed her—her thoughts, desires, and plans for the future. Everything revolved around him.

He slightly tilted his head, his gaze steady.

“What?” she softly inquired, her voice barely above a whisper.

“I’m trying to figure out how many different ways I can take you,” he said, his voice a low rumble filled with mischief, as a wicked smile spread across his face. “It’s been a long two weeks.”

She laughed, the sound light and genuine, and shook her head at his audacity. “And here I was afraid to bring up the idea of sex.”

“Why’s that?” he asked, his brows lifting slightly.

Her smile faltered for a moment as she met his gaze. “I didn’t want to think that what happened changed things between us, but it’s been on my mind.”

Deacon brushed a stray strand of her hair behind her ear. She’d left it loose since he’d untangled her braid. The waves fell to the small of her back. His fingers lingered in her hair, and she shivered at the warmth of his touch.

“I understand your concern,” he said gently. “But I’ll tell you again—nothing has changed for me. I know things have changed for you, and that’s why I didn’t bring up the possibility of sex. I didn’t want to push you or influence you.”

She rolled her eyes. Her lips curved into a teasing smile. “And by not bringing it up, you made me think you didn’t want me anymore.”

“God, woman,” he said, his voice filled with exasperation and affection, “I want you so badly I have the bluest balls in the country. But I wasn’t going to force you. I wasn’t going to be that guy.”

Her hands slid up his arms, fingers brushing over the strong muscles beneath his shirt until they wrapped around his neck. “For future reference,” she murmured, her tone light yet sincere, “you beingthat guyis perfectly fine with me. We both know we enjoy sex with each other. And expressing our desires to one another is healthy.”

Deacon chuckled, his grin wicked as he leaned closer. “If that’s healthy, I’m about to introduce you to the perfect physical specimen—twice because that’s all the condoms I have.”

Echo’s soft laugh ended with a small cough that made Deacon’s expression shift. Concern flickered in his eyes before they softened, his hand sliding to cradle the back of her neck as if steadying her was second nature. Slowly, he drew her closer, his lips grazing hers in a whisper of contact that sent a jolt through her. His voice, low and reverent, rumbled against her skin.

“Tonight will be slow,” he murmured. “Tonight, I’m going to memorize every inch of you. Tonight is about discovering every nuance that makes you come alive.”

The promise in his words sent a full-body shiver coursing through her. His words and tone ignited her like a live wire. She rose onto her toes, closing the delicate distance between them to capture his lips in a kiss that smoldered with anticipation. Deacon’s touch was deliberate and reverent as his fingers skimmed her body, undoing the fabric barriers between them piece by piece. He undressed her slowly, each kiss against her newly exposed skin drawing her deeper under his spell.

Outside, the humid monsoon air hung heavy, wrapping around their shared breaths and muffling the quiet sighs that escaped her lips. He put on a condom and his lips charted a path down her body, their heat leaving invisible marks that branded her. His hands were both tenderness and strength, driving her to the brink of madness with every touch. Just as the tension mounted to unbearable heights, he shifted, teasing her senses with another aching, deliberate caress.

As her hands gripped his shoulders, she felt the raw power in the muscles flexing under her fingers as he moved. When his eyes met hers, they locked gazes with an intensity that took the breath from her lungs. She could feel the depth of his caring. Deacon entered her, his measured pace a silent vow of his promise to go slow.

She arched toward him, her body responding instinctively, but she forced her eyes open, needing to see him—this man who’d laid claim to her heart. Deacon cupped her face, threading his fingers through her hair as he kissed her with a passion that transcended the physical. His touch was like a symphony, each measured stroke building to a crescendo that left her teetering on the edge of bliss.

Her skin burned with unrelenting need, her body taut and trembling as he moved with precision, reading her every response. And when he reached down, his fingers finding the sensitive bud between her thighs, she gasped, her control slipping entirely. The world fell away as her body clenched, spiraling into a release so profound it bordered on pain. She shattered beneath him, each wave of ecstasy pulling her further along until she could do nothing but hold onto him.

Deacon followed her over the edge, his body tense as he found his release. The raw power in him was breathtaking, yet the way he cradled her afterward spoke of a tenderness that unraveled her even more. He disposed of the condom quickly before pulling her into his arms, their bodies still slick with heat.

“God, that was good,” he breathed against her hair, his voice filled with wonder.

She tilted her head back to meet his gaze, a teasing smile curving her lips. “Just good?”

His mouth twitched as if suppressing a grin. “Exceptional. The real question is, can it be recreated?”

“Is that a matter of curiosity,” she asked, her tone light, “or are you conducting a scientific study?”

Deacon raised a brow, feigning serious contemplation. “Hmm … scientific studies take years, right?”

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