Chapter Sixteen

Rosie

She wasn’t sure what else to say or do.

Their talk had revealed a lot about Kassian that she hadn’t known. It made sense that he’d have been jealous about his brothers falling in love, and also scared that he’d never be able to experience the same thing. She still wasn’t positive that she was his mate—the term still felt funny to her—but she definitely cared for the big guy. Buried under the hardened exterior that he showed to the others was a good man. Just one who hadn’t been able to adapt to the changes that had overcome his family. Perhaps she could help him with that?

Snuggled up into his lap, she began to kiss his neck with a little more urgency, at one point even nipping gently at the skin there. Kassian hissed, drawing in breath sharply as she dragged her tongue daintily along the outer part of his ear. A shiver rocked his body as she did, followed by a growl that left no doubt in her mind on whether he liked that particular move or not.

She was becoming aroused even as she tried to turn him on. Not that she needed to put much effort into that. Although they hadn’t slept together since their first time, she had seen him in the morning, before he awoke. It was obvious he was turned on by her, and wanted her. She smiled into his skin, kissing it some more. To his credit though, he hadn’t tried to get her to do anything. He’d made it clear he was content to wait for her to show she was ready for it again. She appreciated that immensely, and though she’d been turned on by him from the start, it hadn’t felt quite right until now.

“So I’m forgiven, am I?” he asked, dragging a hand slowly up the inside of her thigh.

Rosie stiffened at his touch, her eyelids closing as she savored the sensation. He knew just where and when to stop, to leave her begging for more. Heated blood began to flow through her body, and she didn’t try to stop it this time. Instead, she encouraged it, opening herself up to it.

“Yeah, but don’t you dare let it become a habit,” she admonished, pointing a finger at him.

“I won’t,” he said solemnly. “You have my word.”

“Good.”

He turned his head to line up with hers, and before she knew it, his lips were covering hers. They moved slowly, trading kisses with a restrained eagerness that she knew was shared by both parties. She wanted him, but slowly. Intimately.

Just as she felt herself falling into it, wondering if she was ready to reach beneath her to caress him, Kassian got up. He took her to the bed, then sat her down on its edge. He slid around until he was seated behind her, his long, thick legs hanging off the edge of the bed, as were hers. Rosie sat there, bewildered for a moment, until his fingers tugged her purple blouse up and over her head, not even bothering to undo it.

She had thought they were going to take their time, and opened her mouth to say so.

“Shhh,” he replied. “Trust me.”

The protest died on her lips, and once his hands dropped back out of sight, she realized what it was he was planning.

“Ohh,” she practically moaned as strong, delicate, and surprisingly agile fingers began to knead the skin on her shoulders. “Oh my. You know I said you’re forgiven, right?”

Hot air washed over her ear and neck moments before his lips reached her skin. The slight brush of his facial hair sent a tingle down her spine. She shivered, even as his hands held her still. “I know,” he said, his voice barely audible. “Does that mean you want me to stop?”

“Absolutely not!” She tried to turn around to protest even more, but his hands dug into her skin and held her tight.

“Good. Because I don’t want to stop,” he murmured, his fingers returning to work on muscles she hadn’t even realized she was tensing.

“That makes two of us.” She was practically purring as he forced her to relax.

Her head began to sway and droop forward as he worked his magic.

“Oh,” she said, sitting up straight. “I almost forgot.”

“Forgot what?” he asked, forcing her to stay facing straight, so that he could keep working. He was determined, she had to give him that.

“I was talking with the others, and they told me you haven’t gotten any proof from that director asshole that your brother is even alive. Is that correct?”

She hated bringing it up with him, after things had begun to turn toward other more enjoyable thoughts and activities, but it needed to be done. She needed to ensure that Kassian knew he needed to come up with some proof. It was necessary for the plan she had in mind.

Then again, so are a few other things. But he doesn’t need to know that. If I can’t figure out a way to eliminate that damn gryphon, then it won’t matter what I come up with.

“That’s correct,” Kassian rumbled. “Now stop tensing up.”

“Okay,” she said, trying to relax. “But you need to talk to them, get proof that he’s alive before you go through with this. Otherwise you may be doing it for no reason.”

“I will,” he said, his voice more thoughtful. “That is a very good point, and I won’t forget it.”

“Okay, and—”

“No more ands, Rosie Hernandez. Stop tensing.”

This time she did as she was told. His fingers were working miracles, stroking along her skin, relaxing muscles and removing knots she hadn’t even really realized she had. In moments she felt as limp and loose as…as…well, she didn’t have something to compare it to.

“You’re good,” she told him as he worked around her shoulder blades.

He gripped under her armpits, using his fingers to hold her still while his thumbs continued to massage her. The feeling of being held like that was enticing…but it wasn’t quite right. Taking his hands, she pushed them down her sides, until they gripped her lower waist.

“Mmm, now that’s better, don’t you think?” she asked.

The only reply she got was Kassian lifting her off the bed and onto her feet. Before the protest and question of what he was doing could leave her lips, his strong hands grabbed her pants and underwear, pulling them to the floor with one swift tug.

“Oh,” she squeaked as he stood up behind her, keeping her tight to his body.

“Is there a problem?”

“Assuming that you’re about to take your pants off, no, no problem,” she said, trying to sound comfortable. She really wanted to turn around though, to be able to face him.

Kassian’s hands disappeared for a few seconds, and she heard the rustling of cloth.

“Better?”

His bare skin on hers was exactly what she’d been waiting for. They stood there for a moment, naked. She leaned her head back, twisting to the side so that she could kiss him. It was awkward, but neither of them cared. He brought his face down to hers, while his hands explored her body, running over her curves, around her waist and up over her breasts.

His touch stoked her flames of desire, until she could take it no longer. Spinning within his grasp, Rosie placed her hands on his rock-like chest and pushed as hard as she could. Kassian grinned as he let her move him, until the back of his legs hit the bed and he sat down abruptly.

Biting her lip with excitement, Rosie grabbed his gaze and kept it, putting one knee down into the bed on his left, and then his right, straddling him. Her hands linked up around his neck to act as supports while she ground against his cock, elevating her hunger to a peak.

The first time they’d been together, Rosie had allowed Kassian to please her, to be the object of his attention. Not this time. Pushing up onto her knees a bit more, she flexed her hips, to better capture the tip of his shaft in her. Lowering herself swiftly, she watched his reaction, so intent on taking in the way he enjoyed her that his entire shaft slid deep inside of her without delay.

It was worth it though. To see the way his lips opened into a small O-shape. Or how his pupils dilated in time with his eyelids widening. The muscles in his arms tightened perceptibly, flexing as his hands gripped her waist, pulling her tight into him.

“Rosie…” he groaned as she switched from moving up and down to grinding her hips back and forth on him.

The different motion caused her clit to rub against him, sending tremors flickering through her body. They started off slow and weak, but the more her hips rocked back and forth, the stronger they became, until her body was practically shaking.

Kassian thrust his hips upward, and she captured every fraction of an inch that he was able to give her at that angle. Head thrown back, she felt her breasts bouncing wildly, control over any remaining inhibitions slipping by the wayside as Kassian strained against her. She knew it wouldn’t take long. Both of them had been waiting for this for days, craving each other, but never finding the right moment.

Now that the moment had come upon them though, it felt like an avalanche as it picked up speed down the mountainside. From zero to crashing finale in a matter of minutes, she held on tight to Kassian. Neither of them had to speak. She watched his face, seeing the story of his pleasure written all over it, much as she was sure he was doing the same to her. It was the most erotic thing she could think of, to see the reactions to her body in his eyes.

There, his face tightened and contorted wildly, and he swelled inside of her. It was what she had been waiting for, and her own climax boiled over at the sight.

“Yes,” she said as he looked at her questioningly. “Do it.”

Kassian released himself, exploding deep inside of her. The warmth of his cum filled her until she burst, her own walls clamping down around him. She was unable to maintain enough control over her body to keep riding him. Instead she sagged into Kassian, his muscles easily supporting her as she shook in place, drawing in ragged breaths as they both came together. It was the second time they’d done that, something that Rosie had never done before with anyone else. It was a euphoric feeling as they both reached it together, an experience she couldn’t explain to anyone who hadn’t been there. It brought them closer, bound up in a mutual pleasure that had drained both of them. Kassian fell back onto the bed, swinging his legs—and her!—up and around so that he could lie back.

His eyes ran up and down her naked body as she sat atop him, and though there was a slight pulse within her, it was obvious he would probably need a few more minutes first.

“I could get used to this,” she said softly, leaning down to rest herself upon his powerful body, feeling the strength in him.

“Well, we can’t have you getting used to that. I’ll do my best to keep you...ah...on your toes,” he said with a laugh as he rolled her onto her back.

“As long as you keep me elsewhere as well,” she said into his neck, kissing him softly to punctuate her point.

“I think you can count on that,” he replied, his voice deepening as his hips began to thrust beneath her once more. “I think you can definitely count on that.”