“Yes.” Her fingers caught in the thick silk of his hair, tugging his mouth to hers.
Haddon’s lips met hers, in a slow, lingering kiss as if he were memorizing the shape of her mouth. Tasting her. Savoring her as he’d promised. There was infinite patience at the press of his lips. A slow burn of exquisite longing like the warm embers of a fire that would burn for hours with very little stoking.
“You’ve led me on a merry chase,” he said as one hand found its way into the robe to cup her breast, rolling her nipple between his thumb and forefinger. “Are you ready to let me catch you?”
“I’m not a bloody fox or a rabbit, Haddon.” She was ready for him to catch her, Marissa just wasn’t sure what being caught would mean. All the posturing and excuses she’d made about their relationship had been nothing but a waste of time, time she could have spent with Haddon. Even if he left her—when he left her, she corrected herself—she still couldn’t bring herself to regret being with him.
“Answer the question,” he said roughly, pinching the tightening peak of her nipple.
A tear ran down Marissa’s cheek though she tried to stop it. “Yes.”
He kissed the tear from her cheek. “Don’t, Marissa.”
When his mouth fell on hers this time, there was little gentleness, only the sense that Haddon would feast on her. Devour her. His tongue traced the outline of her lips until Marissa’s mouth opened.
Haddon groaned, his tongue sinking between her lips to curl around hers.
Marissa arched against him, her fingers sliding up to cup his scalp, as she struggled to get closer to him. The heat from his mouth spread outward, over her chest and down across her stomach, slowly twisting into an irresistible hum of pleasure between her thighs. She rubbed herself against Haddon, begging him to ease the ache.
How in the world did I keep myself from him?
He flung back the covers, staring down at her. “No more fucking games, Marissa.”
“No,” she whimpered as his finger slid between her folds. “I promise.”
Two large fingers sunk into her, thrusting slowly as his thumb teased around the sensitive bud demanding his attention even as he nipped at the slope of her neck.
The sting sharpened the pleasure building within her to a point, hastening the rush of sensation. His thumb moved in a torturous circle, ignoring the flesh begging for his touch. His lips moved down to her breast, sucking at the taut peak of her nipple. The hard length of him burned into her thigh.
Marissa rocked her hips up into his hand.
“We are not a dalliance.” Haddon’s teeth grazed the tip of her breast. “Do not ever dismiss me, or us, again.”
“I won’t.” She was panting. “Please.” He had a way of stoking her desire until Marissa became mindless with need.
“Not yet, my love.”
Her heart swelled at the endearment, wanting to bask in his adoration for as long as he would give it to her. “Please, Haddon.” Unsurprisingly, he’d managed to unbelt the robe and push the silk aside without her objecting. And he’d not doused the lamp.
Marissa didn’t care.
Teeth nipping at her delicate skin, Haddon moved down to her stomach, while his fingers thrust gently inside her, deliberately not touching her there in any other way.
“You are a terrible man.” She tried to rub herself against him, anything to relieve the tension tightening her body.
“Indeed, I can be. But I want all of you, Marissa. Every delicious, elderly matron inch.” His mouth hovered just above her mound.
“Horrible.” She gasped as his tongue dipped between her legs.
“There will be no more hiding from me.” His tongue teased her, lightly touching the tiny bud, just enough to keep Marissa on the precipice until she was thrusting herself shamelessly into his mouth.
“No.” Her breathing was ragged. “I promise. Only—” The rest of her words disappeared into a loud moan. He’d sucked the bit of flesh into his mouth as his fingers curled inside her.
A thousand bits of light appeared before Marissa’s eyes, like the stars in the sky at night, as she arched off the bed. Her thighs tightened, and Haddon growled, pushing one of her legs over his shoulder. His mouth and fingers coaxed her through every bit of her climax, drawing out her pleasure until Marissa lay panting against the bed.
“My lord, but you’re good at that.”
“Does your ankle hurt? Your head pain you?” His voice was rough. Aroused. He wasn’t close to being done with her.
“No. I feel—”
“Good.” Haddon flipped her over on her stomach. His mouth trailed down the length of her spine until he reached her buttocks. “Get on your knees, my love.”
Legs still shaking from her release only moments ago, Marissa did as he asked.
With no warning, Haddon grabbed her around the waist, sinking deep inside her with one hard thrust. He paused, his breath ragged against her ear, and sat back slightly, pulling her with him.
Then Haddon ravished her. Thoroughly. Completely.
It wasn’t gentle. There was little tenderness. Marissa sensed every thrust was meant to possess her. Claim her. Haddon was always demanding in bed, but this was something different. Something primal. As if he really was a Viking raider who had taken her captive.
Marissa’s own arousal barely had time to retreat before his fingers found her again while he whispered, in great detail, all the wicked things he meant to do with her. Every word brought her closer to the edge, but Haddon never allowed her release. When she began to beg, his thrusts became slower, more controlled.
He turned her head, taking her mouth in a slow sensuous kiss. She tasted herself and the whisky on his lips along with all the hunger this man had for her.
“Marissa.” Haddon thrust once more, stroking her flesh until Marissa sobbed as the climax rushed through her body. She heard herself cry out his name over and over, feeling the rush of warmth within her
