Page 73 of Total Eclipse of the Moon
Angling her mouth toward his, he brushed his lips against hers, testing her reaction. When she didn’t pull away, he kissed her. Happiness sparked through him as he pulled her closer, molding their mouths together. He opened when her tongue swiped against his lower lip. His hands climbed up her back to her neck to tangle in her thick hair.
Her hands slid up his shoulders to the back of his head to hold him in place, angling better for her to explore him. He wished he had all the time in the universe for this, but he didn’t. His control was on a on a fraying leash that was about to snap.
Deep in his soul he recognized the fates crashed them together for a reason, not just in Puerto Rico, but also perhaps in the beginning of the curse. This magnetism between them confirmed that notion.
Slowly, he backed her into the room, never leaving her mouth. She became more demanding. He wanted to be the one to take charge but was lost in her tongue dancing across his. When her hand crawled under his shirt, it was he who moaned. It was she who hooked her fingers into his pants.
He wanted her. All of her.
He wanted her body. Her quirky, smart-mouth remarks. Her beautiful courage. Her big heart.
"God, Shane," she said when his mouth moved over her jaw.
"You taste amazing," he said as he kissed across her collarbone, tasting her skin.
"Do lycans bite? I mean do they want to bite when they do this? You didn’t before, but I felt like you held back."
"Sometimes."
"I want that. Mark me."
Not needing a second request, he pushed the silky fabric off her shoulder and kissed her skin, sucking and nibbling. He wanted to claim this incredible, irresistible woman so everyone knew she belonged to him.
Her hands dug into his shoulder when he bit hard enough to leave tooth impressions, but not to break skin. She gasped and arched toward him. Breaking skin could happen in the heat of the moment, but not while he was coherent enough to retain control.
He moved back up to her mouth, which parted deliciously for him. The electric connection with her was unique…powerful…consuming. And jolted him out of the vortex of sensation.
He pulled away, not wanting to take advantage when she might be tipsy, even drunk.
"Why are you stopping?"
"Kisses have never been like this before," he said. "Nothing with you is like it was with anyone else."
Vulnerability and uncertainty flashed in her eyes. "Me too."
He brought her knuckles to his lips and pressed a soft kiss into them.
When he dropped her hand and started to walk away, she whispered, "Please don’t leave me. We don’t have to…if you can resist then we don’t have to do anything naked, but can you stay? It’s hard for me to be still when I’m alone. I feel the need to escape. To run. With you, I don’t feel like I have to be on high alert. I know between you and the demon you’ll keep me safe."
"I’ll make sure nothing gets you. Come on, you’re exhausted. Lie down."
He settled on top of the covers fully clothed and encouraged her to lie next to him. She snuggled into him and put her head on the crook of his arm. "Tell me if your arm goes to sleep."
"I’ll be fine." He wouldn’t move even if it felt like his arm would fall off. His entire body was on fire for her, but he didn’t dare move out of fear he’d start something he couldn’t hold back from finishing a second time. He rolled his head to stare out the dark window. The clouds were clearing from the earlier rain. Pieces of light from the moon peeked through the clouds.
Curse the moon and its effect. But he whispered, "You can sleep."
"Promise you won’t leave," she whispered.
"I promise."
* * *
Hours later,Madeline jolted awake. How long had she been out? Shane made a small noise, more a complaining hiss of breath as he shifted position. His arm clamped her tighter against him with a hand on her hip. The touch sent pulsations down her legs and up her back. Her head was still on his shoulder and her arm now lay across his abdomen. The heat pouring off him was intense, but she wanted to snuggle further into it. How she longed to wake him up with her mouth. But he breathed deeply, as in deep sleep. Pleased to see him sleeping, she didn’t want to wake him.
A shiver wracked through her shoulders. A dragon distress call? That’s what woke her. This was a cry she couldn’t deny answering. Cora's pronouncement that her destiny was with the dragons danced in her mind.
She slipped out of Shane’s arms and walked toward the terrace to open one side of the French double door. A quick glance back found Shane hadn’t stirred. Good.Sleep.
