“That’s my aim, sweet girl,” he replied, touching her softly, trying to retain the memory of her silky flesh, the heat and need of her, in his fingertips.
“You’ve exceeded your goal.”
Then words were unnecessary as their bodies took over, desire rising like flames to lick at their skin, demanding they touch more, kiss harder, wrap around each other, as though never to let go.
Need, sharp and undeniable, brought them back together, Kiah sinking into her, losing himself in the rhythm of love. Tumbling, as though down a mountain, when she cried out, clenching around him, and threw him into orgasm.
Mina awoke with bliss still echoing through her body, and lay still for a moment, savoring it. Beyond the window, birds were chirping and doves were cooing, enhancing her sense of well-being.
A small part of her was still disbelieving, a little shocked at what had happened the night before, but the rest of her practically purred, sated and love-drunk.
Wanting more.
A smile curved her lips, and, even to her, it felt sly.
“Hey, sleepyhead.” Kiah’s deep voice sent a thrill of desire down her spine. “You’re finally awake.”
Opening her eyes, she blinked over at him. He was smiling, too, but his gaze was shadowed. Watchful.
Mina’s stomach rolled.
“Hey yourself,” she replied, hitching herself up on the pillows so they were eye to eye.
“How’re you feeling?”
Did he mean her arm, the rest of her body, or emotionally? Mina tried to figure it out but failed. Kiah was holding his own feelings close to his chest. Best to just jump in with both feet, since that had always been their way.
“My arm feels fine, and the rest of my body is humming, it’s so happy.”
So maybe not both feet, since she hadn’t mentioned anything about her head space. She’d held back, waiting to see where he was at, before she said the wrong thing.
His eyes sparked with a hint of the fire she’d seen in them the night before, and her nipples tingled as goose bumps broke out across her shoulders.
Then the light faded, and he rubbed his hand across his chin, his morning stubble rasping beneath his palm.
“I need to know that what happened hasn’t changed anything between us,” he said, giving her a level, guarded look.
“We agreed it wouldn’t.”
“I know, but I—”
“You what?”
She wasn’t letting Kiah off the hook. Whatever he had going through that head of his needed to be let out. Expressed clearly, so there was no miscommunication.
“Dammit, Mina. You know you mean more to me than anyone outside of my family. I need to know you’re okay with what happened last night. That we’re okay.”
Tilting her head, she took in his expression. There was a hint of anguish in his eyes, and his lips were tight, almost angry. No matter what she felt, she knew he needed her reassurance.
“Kiah, nothing, and no one, could ever change what I feel for you. Last night was amazing. Magical. I’ve never been so thoroughly satiated in my life, and I’m glad I found that with you, because I trust you more than anyone.”
His expression lightened, and, for the first time that morning, his smile touched his eyes, as well as his lips.
“Okay. Good.” His eyelids dipped, and his smile changed, becoming sensual. “It was amazing for me, too...”
She smiled, and although she knew she should just take what she’d already been given, and not get in any deeper, said, “Want to see if it’s as good in the cold light of day as it was last night?”
“Oh, yeah,” he said, his lips already just a breath away from hers.
And it was even more glorious than it had been before, Mina thought later as she stood under the shower, after Kiah had left to go to work.
Thank goodness she was off that day, because there was a lot she needed to work through, and it would definitely have distracted her from her job.
Why did it feel as though her entire life had led up to last night? That the experience of making love with Kiah was the most perfect moment she’d lived?
He didn’t see it the same way, she realized. It seemed that, to him, what had happened was a one-off. Or a three-off in this case. Maybe even a more-off, since Miss Pearl and Charm weren’t back until tomorrow, and they had the place to themselves tonight. Apparently, he was okay with letting this new, sexual component of their relationship fall away thereafter.
She wasn’t sure she was.
If she’d rediscovered her confidence in St. Eustace, it felt as though her deepest, most sensual and loving self had come to light in Kiah’s arms. Giving that up, just as she’d found it, was a nonstarter.
Not that she thought it could continue on indefinitely. Even without him stating it was only for these few glorious days, eventually, and more likely sooner rather than later, she’d be going back to Canada. Why couldn’t they enjoy this new aspect of their relationship for as long as they could?
How to convince him of that was another question, but one she vowed to tackle with vigor and focus. She’d need to be gentle with him, give him space to work it all out in his own way, but that didn’t mean she had to be passive. It wasn’t her style, anyway. Never had been, except for those months when she’d floundered, lost and unable to see a way out of her nightmare.
Kiah had been the only one who’d known what to do, and if it weren’t for him, who knows how she’d have ended up?
That gave her pause as she stepped out of the shower and started drying off.
Was she avoiding all her unresolved feelings and issues, and using Kiah’s lovemaking as a way to not face them? He’d warned her that sex muddied the emotional waters, even when both parties knew it wasn’t going any further.
Was this sexual adventure with
