“You’re sexy when you scold me.” I clasp my hands behind my head.
“Put some clothes on.”
“No.”
“Do it.”
“Or what?”
“Or… Or I’ll sleep on the floor.”
“You’ll do no such thing. You had no problem sleeping in my bed last night.” Snatching her hand, I pull her down next to me.
She grunts as she lands on the soft bedding. “This is different.”
“How so?”
“Um, I was terrified, and you had pants on?”
I gesture to my body. “I usually sleep naked. Covering myself was a courtesy.”
“Oh, and now you’ve suddenly lost your manners?”
“Let’s not lie to ourselves, love.” I wrap my arms around her, pulling her close and nuzzling her neck. “We both know I’ve never been very good at manners.”
She whimpers as I run my nose from her collarbone to her ear, and the sound is like a sledgehammer to my pulse. My heart has never raced like this, not even in the thick of battle.
Quinn’s still on top of the covers, the quilt separating us, but I can feel her body heat. Putting my hand on her thigh, I move up to her hip. Her skin is so warm and smooth.
My fingers start to tremble. To keep them still, I fist a handful of her panties. The thin material stretches with the movement, and I want nothing more than to rip them in two.
I don’t know what’s happening to me, but I’m losing control.
“Why didn’t you let me undo your dress?” The question comes out rougher than I intend, but I didn’t like the human-fae touching my woman.
“Brittney was happy to help. Plus, you know why.”
My hand slides up to the dip of her waist, discovering bare skin. Traveling along her spine, I stop when my fingers bump over elastic and a clasp. I feel the mechanism, realizing how easy it would be to unhook the bra with one dexterous flick.
“Don’t you think we should be getting rest?” Quinn’s breathing is shallow. “We need to be alert tomorrow. Just in case…”
Ah. Appealing to my fear about her safety. Smart girl.
But she doesn’t realize she just made me want her more. When I think about losing her, my need multiplies.
My fingers flex against her back, pressing her closer. “I can’t think of anything else I’d rather be doing right now.”
I roll us slightly, so she’s on top of me. Her leg falls to one side, and I hook a hand under her knee to spread her wider until she’s basically straddling my hard-on.
“Your weight feels good on my cock,” I rasp, my lips ghosting over her pounding pulse point.
“Oh, God,” she moans, her exhale tickling my ear. “I’m not gonna make it.”
“What?” Now I’m alarmed. “You can’t say things like that. Don’t talk about dying.”
“I’m not talking about dying. It’s this.” Lifting her head, she waves a hand between us. “You and me. I can’t not kiss you.”
“Then kiss me.”
“I’m so selfish.” She tries to roll away from me, but I don’t let her.
“If you’re selfish, then so am I. I want this just as badly as you do.”
Her palm flattens on my chest, and for a second, I think she’s going to push me away.
But she doesn’t. She slides it from one pec to the other, her fingertips scraping through the dusting of coarse hair on my body. When her pinky nail catches one of my nipples, I groan.
“Quinn.”
The torture continues. As her hand glides up to the back of my neck, her mouth hovers less than an inch from my face.
I’d trade all the stars in the sky for her kiss.
She’s so close. I can feel her breath teasing me. I lick my lips, wanting just a hint of her taste.
It feels like minutes go by as we stay like this. We’re separated by fabric, but our bodies are plastered together. Quinn shifts, and it makes her hot center rub against my length.
If a kiss can solidify the curse, then I’m pretty sure dry humping is against the rules. I’m about to argue that point when Quinn sucks in a quick breath.
“I’m sorry, Kirian,” she whispers, her voice breaking, right before her lips connect with mine.
Her mouth is soft as she kisses me slowly. Once, twice, three times she pecks me with closed-mouth nips and sucks. We both moan when she changes the angle and slips her tongue out.
Bliss. Peace. Happiness.
These are all the things she gives me in this moment.
But I can feel her emotions as if they’re mine. Lust, pleasure, remorse, guilt. They clash together like a thunderclap.
“I’m sorry,” she says between kisses. “I’m so sorry. So sorry.”
“Stop apologizing.”
“I can’t.” Kiss. “I’ve doomed you.” Kiss. Kiss.
“You haven’t,” I disagree, my lips brushing against hers with every syllable. “My life is exactly how I want it to be, and this is the best moment, thus far. Don’t ruin it with regret.”
She makes a sound of frustration. “Sorry.”
I chuckle into her mouth, sweeping my tongue inside. “No more talking.”
Making a sound of agreement, she licks my bottom lip. Her body relaxes, letting go of the tension and shame. And I’m glad. I don’t want our relationship to be needlessly tainted.
Quinn is everything to me. I’ll choose her. Always.
Time seems to stop as our mouths meld in a dance. Sucking, nibbling, stroking. We go slow, exploring each other. Learning each other.
Quinn’s tongue pushes mine. I push back.
Cupping her delicate face, I roll so I’m on top of her. That striking blanket’s still in the way, but when she parts her legs, my cock nestles against the apex of her thighs.
Growling, I buck my hips.
Quinn cries out, and I freeze. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to do that.”
And that’s the truth. It was an involuntary action. I feel disoriented, like I’m submerged in the depths of Issika Lake, and I don’t know which way is up. I’m drowning in Quinn, and the only way to keep breathing, to stay alive, is to have more of her.
She laughs breathlessly. “Now who’s the one apologizing?” Her kiss turns
