She couldn’t think or focus, but Joss’s voice, carrying a note of concern, grounded her in the moment.
“You’re so tight, sweet girl.”
Still high on pleasure, she begged, “More.”
When he kissed her, not gently but savagely, she returned it, tangling her tongue with his as she wrapped her legs around him. His cock nudged at her entrance. She was slick with arousal, ready, but he grabbed her ankles and planted her feet on the mattress.
“Like this,” he said. “Otherwise I’ll go too deep.”
Grabbing the base of his cock in one hand, he angled his hips forward and parted her folds with the crest. She moaned. It didn’t hurt like the first time. The stretch felt good, even if he was barely buried inside. He framed her face between his hands and kissed her again as he pushed in another inch and then broke the kiss to ask, “Good?”
“Mm.”
“Tell me if I need to stop.”
Never.
“Put your hands on my shoulders,” he said with a tight jaw.
She took what he offered, holding onto him. The muscles were iron hard under her palms, flexing when he sunk deep. She dug her nails into his skin, moaning with both ecstasy and a bite of pain.
“Still good?” he asked with a strained smile.
“Yes. You don’t have to be so careful.”
He chuckled, but pushed deeper still. “Like I said, too brave for your own good.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck. “Tell me what to do.”
“Relax,” he said. “I’ll take care of everything. Just take a deep breath for me.”
The air she inhaled escaped in a gush as he plunged forward with a hard thrust, burying himself to the hilt. Her knees clenched on his hips. She tightened her arms around him, holding on as he whispered sweet words in her ear. It wasn’t the praise that melted her, it was how he folded his arms around her and how he held her close, dearly, as he started rocking.
He moved slowly at first, and when he picked up his pace, her need started to climb again. He looked down to where their bodies were joined, his features twisted into a grimace of pleasure. Like this, the tormented boy she remembered looked wild and brutal as a fully-grown man, a very virile man, but he managed to keep his kisses tender. Sliding a hand between their bodies, he pressed a digit on her clit and rubbed in circles. Her hips lifted of their own accord, chasing his rhythm. This dance was easy with him. It felt natural to follow.
This time, she recognized the signs. Her inner muscles squeezed around him when her lower body clenched. She came with a cry, the sound muffled in their kiss. He thrust twice more and then stilled with a groan, keeping his weight on his arms. He stayed that like for several seconds before the rigidness of his body finally eased. They were both breathing hard. She stared into his eyes, looking for something she couldn’t name, but the crazed heat was gone. What was left was the mask, the indifference.
Pressing a kiss to her temple, he said, “That was worthy of an eternal memory. How are you doing?”
She forced her lips around a smile. “Good.”
He rolled onto his side, pulling out. “You better rest.”
His seed wasn’t cold inside her yet when he closed his eyes and shut her out. Left to stare at the whimsical light of the candles and to inhale the sweet perfume of the flowers, she’d never felt lonelier.
Chapter 31
Sometime in the night, Clelia woke with her back pressed to Joss’s chest and his heavy arm draped around her middle. Stiff, sore, and sticky, she tried to get up without waking him, but the minute she moved he opened his eyes.
“Everything all right?” he asked.
“I need to use the bathroom.”
He pushed back the covers, swung his legs over the bed, and picked up a candle.
She stared shamelessly at his sculptured ass as he crossed the floor and entered an adjoining room. Running water sounded. She was just about to get up when he reappeared in the frame.
“Don’t move.” He walked to the bed and scooped her up.
“This is silly.” She pushed on his chest. “I can walk.”
“I know you can,” he said in a dry tone.
“Then why are doing this?”
“Aftercare.” His face darkened. “Contrary to what you may think, I’m not usually the hit and run type.”
She pressed her lips together. He was referring to their first time when she’d run. If she’d hope he’d leave it at that, she wasn’t that lucky.
“Why did you run?” he asked, carrying her into the bathroom.
“I told you, you started acting weird, saying you wouldn’t let me go. I panicked. When I wanted to leave you tried to stop me. We fought, and I ran.”
He lowered her onto a rug next to a corner tub. “Did I hurt you?”
“No, but you scared me.” Her gaze slipped to his neck. “You’re not wearing your mother’s necklace.”
“I haven’t had it fixed yet.” Trailing his eyes over her, he added, “I had other priorities.”
Such as hunting her. Pushing the disconcerting thought away, she turned her attention to the tub that was filling with water. “I expected a bucket or a wooden tub.”
His lips quirked. “A wooden tub?”
“Like the ones in the movies that servants fill up with water heated on the hearth.”
“I had the bathroom renovated when I knew we’d need a place to stay. The rest of the place isn’t decorated or furnished properly. I had just enough time to get the water connected.”
“You had a hot tub installed in two days?”
“I have connections.”
Taking her shoulders, he pushed her down onto a bench, spread her legs, and knelt between her knees.
When he parted her folds with his thumbs, she exclaimed, “What are
