Page 22 of Shifter King
She tried to pounce him again. This time he huffed at her and then rolled back, dragging her with him.
Laughing she climbed on top of him. "See. I can move you."
"Hmmmhmmm." He rested his arms above his head lazily. "And what exactly do you plan to do now?"
"You'll see." She halted then, drawing in sharper and faster breaths before she could move herself into position. Her endurance really wasn't where she wanted it to be. She'd wanted to vestov even if just to defy the death that had nearly claimed her, but it felt as if it was reminding her just how far she had yet to go.
"Amelia?" He propped himself up on his elbows, his brow creasing. "This is not—"
"I'm fine." She managed a crooked grin as she slowly pressed him back with both hands. "Can't you believe I'm just savoring this?"
His eyebrow tweaked a little higher. "Really."
"Hmmm." She leaned back, resting her weight more fully on him. Slow vestoving could be fun as well. "Really."
"You understand, this isn't necessary," he said. "It's all right if you need—"
"No." She placed her palm firmly on his chest, meeting his gaze. "This is important. We need this.Ineed this. It's just…it's different. Not bad. Just different."
"All right. Take your time." He rubbed her arms, his gaze still concerned. If he wasn't so worried about her, he would have been on her without hardly any concern at all. And that—somehow that meant more to her than almost anything he had ever done. Because he did want her. That was obvious in every sense, both from where she sat and in the hunger in his eyes.
She pulled her dress off and dropped it beside them. It landed in a pile of slick fabric, bright against the dark terrain. Then she stretched out over him and kissed up from his throat to his lips. "My veskare," she whispered.
His arms tightened around her, a tremor passing through him. "My veskaro." His hand pressed harder against the back of her head as he kissed her forehead, her cheeks, her lips. Then he pressed her lips apart and deepened the kiss, a low groan rising from him.
Tears pricked her eyes as she returned those kisses. It shouldn't be possible to love someone this much. And after a few moments of kissing and stroking, she succeeded in mounting him.
His hands at once went to her hips, a rumbling moan escaping him.
Her entire body clenched and went liquid at once. Yes. This was what she needed. Even if she was already breathless and struggling to find her energy.
He thrust up against her, matching her rhythm and holding her tight.
She let her eyelids slide shut.
It was different this time. In some respects, more like making love than ever before. He kept such a tight grip on her that it felt as if he was trying to seal her to himself. Even his thrusts were steady and slower, never creating any more room between them than was essential until she collapsed against him.
"Shall we switch then?" he asked.
She nodded, managing to laugh as if it wasn't because she'd almost run entirely out of energy. "If you like."
His arm curled around her waist as he rolled onto his side, pulling her with him. Then, gently, he leaned over her.
She kissed up the column of his throat and to his ear until he swept his mouth back over hers. His tongue thrust around hers, and his heat consumed her. The threads within her mind reached into his as the tapestries wound together. They twisted and twined, merging into one and yet remaining entirely distinct and visible, better and stronger for the connection and the bond.
Somehow, this was real. It mattered more than it ever had. They were together, reclaiming something that belonged only to them. And nothing would take it away.
Even when his weight crushed her and she struggled to breathe, she clung to him, not wanting him to pull free even for a moment. It was good. He teased her and claimed her, anchoring her to the earth with his hands and his body, the rhythm intensifying yet still controlled. Faster. Deeper. Harder.
She tightened around him as he thrust deeper still, then cried out as they both found their release. The bright tendrils of the threads in her mind glowed with contentment, still distinct and intertwined.
He groaned as he leaned over her. "My veskaro. You survived." He kissed her lower lip and started to move.
She pulled her arms free from his hands and wrapped them around his neck. "Don't let me go," she whispered hoarsely. "Just don't let go."
He kissed her harder, resting more of his weight against her. "Never," he whispered.
But soon he would have to. It was simply a reality of life. Of existing. Of functioning. Especially here. There was so much that had to be done that night. Especially when they were out here just beneath a tree with the camp not even that far away.
