Page 3 of A Breath of Life
“Have you come to rescue me?”
“No.”
I pouted but didn’t much care anymore now that Diem was beside me, and I was wrapped in his arms. “You’re warm,” I said, nuzzling closer.
“You’re naked.”
“You like me naked. Besides, I’m not. I have underwear on.”
Diem hummed, sneaking a peek between our bodies and licking his lips.
“Don’t even think about getting kinky. The enemy skulks in our territory. We must stay vigilant.” I checked on the beast again. Still unmoving.
Using a gentle finger under my chin, Diem guided my attention away from the snake. His other hand rested lightly on my lower back. His touch was always tentative and gentle.
He pressed his forehead to mine, his stormy gray gaze taking me in. “Are you done playing games?”
I pursed my lips, considering. “No. I have more stamina.” Stubbornness was expected under the circumstances, and I added a pout for good measure. “You know I hate that snake. I wish you’d warned me.”
“Tallus, Ididwarn you. Three times. Last night before bed, this morning before you left for work, and twenty minutes ago when you got home. In fact, as you stripped from your clothes and flopped onto the couch to watch TV, I distinctly said, ‘Don’t get comfortable. I’m cleaning Baby’s terrarium soon,’ and you said…” He arched a brow, waiting for me to fill in the blank.
I squirmed. “I don’t like this game.”
The brow remained raised in question.
I petulantly huffed. “I said, ‘Shh, I can’t hear the TV.’ In my defense, Netflix uploaded the new season, and you know how I get with reality shows. They’re addictive. It’s Memphis’s fault. I should have listened.”
Again, I checked on the snake’s whereabouts to be sure she wasn’t sneaking up on us. Safety confirmed, I buried my face in the crook of his neck, inhaling comfort, strength, and everything Diem.
Despite the life-threatening danger mere feet away, I took advantage of Diem’s proximity. His warmth. The solid line of his muscled body.Less than a year ago, my touch-phobic boyfriend had fought with this level of connection. Those days were behind us.
Mostly.
Diem moved his hands to my thighs, stalled for a moment, and then glided them up and down once before letting them rest higher on my legs. He pressed his thumbs into the crease by my groin. It wasn’t a lot of pressure, but it suggested something he wouldn’t vocalize.
I hummed and rocked my hips, seeking friction against his body. Our position wasn’t great, so I didn’t get what I wanted.
Lifting my head, I met Diem’s gaze. A war played out behind his storm-filled eyes. To participate or pull away. It took effort for him to fight the ingrained urges to run from intimacy, but he won the battle more often than not these days. He remained in my arms, heaving me an inch closer so I could get the friction I was seeking.
Pleasure rippled through me as I rocked against him, not frantically, not with any destination in mind, but with a slow sway, enough to eliminate the chill left behind by the stupid snake.
Joining in, Diem applied faint pressure with his thumbs, massaging my inner thighs and brushing the base of my cock. The action sent a jolt through my veins.
Initiating contact was a big step for Diem. He no longer needed as much direction, and maybe, one of these days, he wouldn’t have to think so hard about it first. He would simply act.
I played with the thick hair at his nape, scratching my nails at the base of his skull, moving languidly against him, and bringing my cock to half-mast.
A distinct rumble grew in his chest. Silence prevailed as we stared at one another. His gaze moved to my mouth. He licked his lips. Indecision returned as Diem’s cogs spun. It was one of those momentswhen he was working up the courage to advance. I loathed stopping him.
“Don’t get any ideas, mister. Not that I wouldn’t love a good ravaging right here on the counter, but the threat is real, and I will never get off if there is a snake loose in the apartment.”
A flicker of humor chased the clouds away. “You’re saying no to sex after rubbing yourself hard on my abdomen?”
“It pains me both physically and mentally, but I will not expose the goods when a fanged beast is waiting to make me her next meal. What if she bit me?”
“I thought you and Baby had a truce.”
“We do, but the terms of our agreement are only effective when she’s locked in her enclosure. I can’t trust her otherwise. Especially when I’m naked.”
