Page 37 of Raven's Nest
“Not nearly enough.” Saylor palmed his jaw, her eyes still glassy. “Make love to me. Just like this.”
“Sweetheart, you don’t have to prove?—”
“I’m not trying to prove anything. I’m trying to heal.” She tilted her head to the side — eyes wide. Trusting. What looked dangerously like love staring up at him. “Well, soldier? You up for round two?”
CHAPTER TEN
Either Saylor had lost her mind, or this was love.
Based on the way Zain stared down at her, his gorgeous blue eyes burning bright, all that heat she’d thought they’d extinguished flashing to life, she had no doubts it was the later. Even if she only admitted it to herself.
Zain dropped another kiss on her mouth, dipping inside when she sighed, reveling in the taste of him. Sweet with a side of fierceness. He didn’t rush, drawing the kiss out as he slowly eased over her, bridging his weight on his elbows.
Her muscles tensed as her breath caught, a hint of that night bleeding through, until he nipped at her ear.
“Right here, sweetheart. We’ll take it slow. If it gets too much, just say the word.”
She focused on his voice, on how her body molded perfectly to his as she wrapped her legs around the small of his back. He waited, kissing her, again, beforeslowly inching inside until he bottomed out and everything clicked into place.
He grunted, the rough sound edging on pain. “I forgot the condom.”
Those few words shouldn’t have affected her the way they did. Had her heart racing from the thought of feeling all that silky skin move within her.
She reached up — smoothed out the furrow above the bridge of his nose. “I’ve been on the pill religiously since…” She took a breath. “I know there’s always a chance, and we can stop and grab one, but…”
Zain squeezed his eyes shut, and for a moment, she wondered if she’d crossed some line. Assumed a level of trust that wasn’t quite there. Like when she’d been tasting him. The way he’d said her name and paused, the clench of his muscles suggesting he’d been a breath away from asking her to stop. Taking the safer route and pleasing her. Allowing himself to maintain a connection to the room — to her safety. When he’d bowed his head…
Something inside her had settled into place. Like a key tumbling over a lock. She hadn’t needed him to reveal how he preferred to stay engaged. That he rarely allowed himself that form of pleasure. The fact he’d taken that leap…
It had touched her in a way she couldn’t describe. Given her back some of the control she’d had ripped away over the past year. First with Watson, then with her mind. Feeling grounded from that simple act, meant more than token words.
It proved she was more than just a passing fling.
That maybe, he’d fallen, too.
Saylor looked up at him, waiting to see if he’d pull away — grab another condom — when he crushed his mouth over hers as he started moving. Not quite as frantic as before but not slow. What he’d likely intended when he’d told her they wouldn’t rush.
The thought only heated her skin more. She’d pushed him to his limits. Had all that precious control hanging by a thread. He shifted his weight to one side and slid his other hand under her ass — hit that sweet spot.
She inhaled, all her nerve endings burning white-hot. Taking her to the edge of that cliff, close but not quite over. How she knew he wanted her. Desperate. So insane with need nothing from that night would survive the inevitable implosion.
Zain kept moving, inching lower until he brushed her skin with every thrust. Every breath. A hint of whiskey and sweat wafted around her, a ghostly version of her name sounding inside her head.
“Saylor.”
Her chest heaved as she stared up at Zain, heart racing, a hint of panic clawing its way in.
He shook his head when she looked away. “Eyes up here, sweetheart. It’s just us. I’m not gonna let him near you, again.”
She palmed his face — held that blue gaze — as he stopped, muscles strung tight. His body pressed against her. He tilted his head, obviously waiting for some kind of sign as the memories faded. Lost amidst the heatsimmering between them. What she swore was love shining in his eyes.
She drew him closer, smiling as it pushed him just a bit deeper. “More. I need more.”
Another grunt, like when he’d realized he’d forgotten the condom, then he started pumping. Long, deep strokes that stole her breath. Left her hanging off that edge, again. She wrapped her arms around his back, using him as an anchor as she rocked into every thrust. Matched his need stroke for stroke.
He clenched his jaw, that muscle in his temple pulsing before he lowered his head — mouthed her shoulder. “You’re just so damn beautiful.”
She broke.
