Chapter Fifteen

Mal was dying.

At least, that’s what it felt like to finally be enveloped in the tight, slick warmth of Rowan’s body. He’d wanted this for so damn long, could barely stand the burn at the feel of her rippling around him.

He was too damn close already, had somehow managed to hold off while she’d sucked him like he was her favorite treat. Another time—if there was another time—he’d let her finish him off with her mouth. Right now, he wanted to pin her beneath him, stare down into her face as he took her, claimed her as no man ever had or ever would again.

Her core clenched around him as she shifted in his arms, sending pleasure rocketing up his spine. She drew in an unsteady breath, her fingers flexing on his back.

A wave of tender possessiveness flooded him as she clung to him, her face hidden in his neck, tiny little quivers running through her. Something caught in his chest.

You’re mine, sweetness.

The domineering, possessive thought was clear in his head, and irrefutable. She could fight the idea of them together all she wanted, but once he was through claiming her tonight, she was his. And his alone.

Her whole body was tense, her breathing shallow and rapid. He’d caught the flare of pain in her eyes as she’d started to slide down on him, some primal part of him getting off on the act of surrender she’d shown him. But as hot as this was, he wasn’t taking her against the fucking wall this first time.

Wrapping his arms around her, he gathered her close and turned them, striding for his room. With every step down the hall his cock shifted inside her, the friction making sweat break out along his spine. Rowan made a soft, helpless sound and squirmed in his hold, unable to do anything but go along for the ride.

His room was almost dark with the blinds pulled down, so he left the door open, providing just enough daylight spilling in from the window at the end of the hall for him to see her face as he lay her down on the sheets, still buried inside her. Then he stretched out on top of her, gently pulled her head from his shoulder and smoothed the hair back from her forehead.

Her eyes were clear now, no longer heavy-lidded with arousal and hunger, while he was ready to come out of his skin from the way she squeezed and flexed around him. That wouldn’t do at all.

With single-minded intent he set about rebuilding her need, rocking slowly inside her while he sucked at her lips and toyed with her nipples. She met him stroke for stroke, her eagerness easing the knot in his chest. When she moaned and flexed her body into him a few moments later, fighting to get closer, he slid a hand between them to find her clit with his thumb, rubbing the side of it gently.

She wriggled under him, angling her hips, then let out a gasp and grabbed the back of his neck when he added a little more pressure. “Oh, yeah, there,” she breathed, rocking against his thumb.

He was rock hard inside her, tingles of pleasure intensifying at the base of his spine. Mal kept her pinned beneath him, allowing her only a limited range of motion with her hips while he maintained the slow, deep rhythm.

Jesus, the way she moved, the sounds she made were about to make him come unglued. Being inside her was even better than he’d imagined, and he didn’t see how he was going to keep his distance from her now. He’d wanted to play it cool, stay remote. She’d just smashed through his barriers with her surrender.

He fought the climb to release, catalogued every hitch in her breathing, every tiny cry in response to his touch, memorizing what she liked best. Soon she was panting, her thighs wrapping tighter around his hips, her hands clutching at his back.

All mine. You’re all mine.

The thought almost sent him over the edge. Clamping his jaw tight, Mal shoved the pleasure back through sheer force of will and drove into her harder, angling his hips to hit her inner sweet spot. His gaze remained riveted on her face, drinking in every last detail of her response.

Four more strokes and her eyes squeezed shut, an expression of unspeakable ecstasy filling her face as she neared the edge. “Malcolm…”

Oh, fuck, the sound of his name in that pleasure-drenched voice. “God, you feel so damn good.”

“I’m so close…” Her teeth sunk into her lower lip. Seconds later she bucked and started coming, her slick core clenching around his cock, head thrown back, that lush mouth parted on a wild, keening cry of release.

God. He’d never seen anything so beautiful in his life than Rowan coming undone beneath him. Once would never be enough. He was addicted now, would always want more.

He continued to ride her through it, drawing out her pleasure as long as he could, slowing only when she sagged back against the sheets, her grip relaxing on his hips and shoulders, her body going limp. Mal’s heart hammered against his ribs, his breathing ragged, pleasure searing every nerve ending, the need to come so intense it hurt.

But he waited for her eyes to open. For that post-orgasmic haze to fade from those blue depths until she focused on him.

Only then did he slide both hands into her hair and surge deep, a hard, hungry rhythm while the sensation grew and he savored every slick glide of his cock in her sweet heat.

Rowan shifted her legs higher to wind around his waist and clamped her inner walls down on him, her fingers caressing his cheek. The combined gentle touch and steady eye contact was so intimate, so intense.

And he was lost. Lost to everything but her and the pleasure she gave.

Burying his face in the curve of her neck, he let go, his whole body shuddering as the orgasm hit, pulse after pulse of ecstasy ripping through him. Gasping for air, his muscles like soft wax left in the sun, he sank into the cradle of her body with a groan and lay in her arms, destroyed.

He’d never felt like this before. Never felt so connected to a woman. Never needed anyone the way he needed her.

Through the fog of oblivion, a flicker of dread ignited in his chest. He’d just let his guard down for her, in an even bigger way than the last time. Now what? If she decided she wanted to move on, pretend that this wasn’t everything, what the hell was he going to do?

Rowan’s soft, sleepy sound jerked him out of his thoughts. Realizing he must be crushing her, he reluctantly eased off and out of her warmth. Quickly dealing with the condom, he returned to the bed and stretched out alongside her.

She was on her back, her face turned toward him, eyes open. Watching him. There wasn’t enough light for him to read her expression.

In that instant, cold, brutal reality hit him.

He’d just laid himself physically and emotionally bare to the woman he’d wanted forever, yet he had no idea where he stood with her. It was disorienting as hell and he didn’t have the energy to deal with it right now. They would iron out where they stood tomorrow. He’d rather focus on the here and now, hold onto this moment for as long as he could. In case it didn’t last.

Determined to enjoy the closeness between them, he cradled the side of her face in his hand, swept his thumb across her cheek as he leaned in to kiss her. Her lips were soft, inviting, parting for the tender glide of his tongue.

And when he rolled her onto her side and tucked her into the curve of his body, she snuggled up with a contented sigh while he pulled the covers over them. In the dimness he kissed the top of her shoulder, breathing in her clean, feminine scent. “Can you sleep now?” he murmured.

“Not sure,” she mumbled drowsily. “Maybe if you hold me like this the whole time.”

His heart lurched and he tightened his arms around her. “I will.” I’ll hold onto you forever if you let me.