Page 15 of Tide Touched

I shoot him a glare. ‘Excuse me?’

‘I just mean…’ His hands run through my hair as something strange wells inside me.

I lean back, out of his reach. ‘Carter.’ I swallow every ounce of pride to form my question. ‘Do… do you think I’m ugly or something?’

Carter blinks. ‘No.’ He leans over me, pressing a cool kiss to my cheek. ‘I don’t.’ Another kiss, then another. It’s cooler, harder than I would have expected. But what do I know? I arch up to his touch. There’s an ache deep inside me, knowing he would not have chosen me. That he rejected me. That he has someone else he really wants to be with. A sniffle escapes me.

Carter immediately stops and pulls back, searching my gaze. ‘What is it?’

‘I just… I know you don’t… That I’m not…’

He nods, understanding. ‘Focus on something else?’ He kisses my neck, nibbling oh so softly.

I’ve never been kissed. I’ve never been… nibbled. I know he’ll stop if I ask him to, but my need is driving me crazy. Okay, yes, this is complicated, but Fate herself chose us to be together. The witches’ have decreed it. I squirm under his touch. I need something. I need him. I need to stop thinking. ‘Carter.’ My voice is a breathy whine.

His hand twines through my hair. ‘Do you want me?’

I groan, writhing on the bed. ‘Yes… I need… something… a distraction.’

Carter meets my gaze. ‘Katherine, look at me, please.’

I do as he asks, staring into the depths of his azure eyes.

‘If you ever want me to stop, just say so and I will. I won’t do anything you don’t want.’ I watch him take me in with his gaze, and I wonder what he’s thinking. That I’m all wrong? Does he resent that I exist at all?

I nod silently.

He slides a hand into my hair and tugs, sending a sprinkle of pain lancing to my scalp as he kisses me, and arousal floods between my legs. He’s distracting me. I reach up and wind my hands through his hair as he climbs on top of me. Immediately, I feel the bulk between his legs and I want to pull that zipper down. I want to watch his cock spring free. Instead, my hands go through his hair. It’s soft as silk. I moan as he kisses me, alternating between soft and hard.

My nipples are rocks, rubbing against the rough fabric of my dress. Carter’s free hand slides down to my neck and pulls me up swiftly to meet him, his lips pressing firmly to me. I feel him work, trusting he knows what’s he’s doing, because I sure don’t.

As though sensing my thoughts, he breaks our connection. He slides a hand up to cup my cheek. ‘Katherine.’ His voice is thick. ‘Have you done this before?’

I blink, unable to meet his gaze.

‘Hey.’ He tilts my chin back, forcing me to face him. ‘Answer me.’

I shake my head. Nope.

‘Alright,’ Carter says. ‘Do you want me to slow down?’

I shake my head again. My pussy has been aching for what feels like hours. ‘No, I don’t. I need—’

Carter nods. ‘Okay. I’ll start slow.’ He pushes me down, still straddling me. ‘You’re like… nothing I’ve ever seen, or imagined. Like an ember living within a person. Fire, heat.’ He talks to me, alternating between undoing the buttons on my dress and tugging at my hair to keep me distracted from my thoughts. I wince a little at the unpleasant sensation, but it works. If I pause to fall down the rabbit hole of how strange this is, how odd my life will be, the mistress of someone who already has a true love, I will crumble.

As though sensing my need to be further distracted, Carter’s hands palm my breasts, then pinch my nipple.

Holy fish sticks. ‘Please,’ I cry out. If I don’t get his fingers or something down there soon, I’m going to spontaneously combust, and that might even be a welcome relief.

Carter climbs off me long enough to take his clothes off. ‘Katherine,’ he barks, taking control. ‘Take your dress off. Tie your hair up.’

Blinking in confusion, I do as he asks. My dress falls to the floor. I’m naked. I gape at Carter. He’s naked too. Somehow I’ve never felt this naked before. My wolf howls inside me until it feels like she’s going to take over and burst from my skin. For a moment, I freeze.

I’ve seen shirtless men before—hello, wolf pack—but Carter—my mouth goes dry as I take him in. Some insane urge to lick his abs washes over me. His mouth kicks up in a smile as he watches my lust-dazed expression.

Carter grins as he looks down. ‘You really do need me.’ He presses his fingers to the bed spread then holds them up for me to see. I’ve already left a damp spot, my pussy soaking for him. A little wave of nerves crashes over me.

Seeing this, Carter pauses before touching my naked body. He leans over me, gathering my ponytail in his hand. ‘Katherine, breathe.’

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