Anna stood with her face tipped upwards, water cascading over her skin. She’d ran it as hot as she could bear while she scrubbed herself clean with a bar of soap she’d found in one of the lockers. The air was opaque with steam and the scent of lemon. The water soothed her aching limbs, hot and cleansing, washing away the blood and gore of the Chittrix. Her mind drifted, images of Garrick playing through it. His intense grey eyes, his broad chest, the silent way he moved like a jaguar.

The way he takes care of me.

He had insisted she shower first while he went off to do a final check on the building before they rested for the night. She had accepted, touched by his kindness and gallantry.

His presence burned into her senses without warning.

He’s watching me.

Fierce heat bloomed instantly at the juncture of her thighs.

She took her time turning to face him, unashamed of her nakedness, wanting him to observe her. He was in the doorway, legs apart, his hands in tight fists at his side. Even across the room, his eyes were dark with hunger as they devoured her naked body. Her lips parted as desire flared in her belly and her breath caught in her throat. She wanted those grey eyes on her body, was greedy for the heat of his hands on her bare skin like she had never wanted anyone before.

She reached out to him and he was across the room and under the water with her in a few long strides. He stopped just in front of her, his eyes searching her face, looking for permission. She raised his right hand to her lips, turning it over and kissing his palm, tasting the saltiness of his skin. Blood washed from the wound on his arm. Her lips caressed the back of his wrist to his thumb. She opened her mouth and took his thumb inside, sucking hard. A low animal groan escaped him, and he pulled her into his arms, his hands slipping under her backside and raising her up as she reached for him and encircled his waist with her legs.

They crashed into each other in the rain of steaming water, his mouth crushing hers, tasting her. She kissed him back hard, her tongue sliding against his, teasing and tasting him, desperate for his warmth inside her. Her fingers pressed into the dark hair of his nape, pulling him closer.

She’d been alone forever, waiting for this moment to be here with him.

His hands pressed on her waist while the hardness of his erection against her pelvis sent ripples of wanton desire through her body.

He pulled back from the kiss, breathless against her.

“Tell me you want this. That you want me.”

She groaned, cradling his face between her palms.

God, I want you so much.

“Yes. I want you. All of you.” She was breathy with lust.

He murmured her name and buried his mouth against her neck, nuzzling her skin, driving her to the limits of her control.

I don’t lose control.

But he wasn’t going to stop, and his touch continued to unravel the defences she’d so carefully constructed.

She caught his face in the palm of her hand, forcing him to look at her. His eyes were trusting and dark with arousal.

For me. He wants me. Knowledge encompassed her. Here with this man, she was safe, his need for her evident in his eyes. I’m not alone anymore.

A small moan escaped her lips, urging him on. Garrick stepped forward, pressing her up against the tiled wall, his hands tracing down her flank, caressing the smooth curve of her hip. Her head tipped back as he devoured her throat with hot, ferocious kisses. Molten fire raged low in her belly, feeding the hollow ache between her legs that only he could fill.

Her hands ran over his chest, tearing at the wet fabric of his t-shirt, desire and urgency making her fingers clumsy. Finally, she got the shirt over his head and pulled it from him, pressing herself against his hot skin and hard, ridged body. Her teeth grazed the line of his collarbone, claiming him as her own. Her breasts ached, full and heavy while his fingers gently twisted and pinched her nipples. His mouth continued to lick and suck down her neck, finally reaching her breasts and the softness of her areola.

“God, the way you taste,” he growled against the soft mound of her breast before taking her nipple in his mouth, raking her flesh with his teeth. She gasped, arcing against him. He responded, pushing her harder against the wall. She opened her thighs to the hardness of his body, the rough fabric of his cargo trousers rasping pleasurably against the softness of her skin. She tipped her hips back to meet him, letting him know just how much she wanted him while his mouth teased her other breast, tracing a delicate pattern of kisses.

He shifted her weight under his hands and placed her gently back on her feet, turning her away from him. Anna started to protest, but he silenced her with a firm kiss as he closed the distance between them. He lifted her hands in his and pressed them to the cool tile while his other hand roamed across her exposed breasts and her belly. Her legs trembled in anticipation.

He slid the curtain of her hair aside, over her shoulder, his fingers tracing a delicate pattern over her collarbone, sending a blazing rush of anticipation to her belly. Teeth grazed against the back of her neck as he kissed and sucked on the sensitive skin. Anna tilted her head sideways, allowing him to move along the side of her throat, unable to do anything but respond to his touch. She twisted so her face rested against his cheek, inhaling the warm maleness of him, the prickle of the shadow on his chin perfectly rough against her neck. Fiery pleasure cascaded down her spine in waves. She was powerless under his caress and didn’t care.

She tried to turn around, but he held her firm. The palms of his hands smoothed the flatness of her belly while his teeth and tongue continued to work their magic on her neck and shoulders. She bit her lip and closed her eyes, allowing the sensation to wash through her. The pads of his fingers danced across the hot skin of her thighs that craved his touch so much. His hand traced lower, and her breath hitched in anticipation of him touching her swollen flesh.

“God, Anna,” he breathed against her skin. “I want to touch every fucking inch of you.”

His words drove straight to her core, hot and intense. In the past, she’d been self-conscious about her nakedness but not here, not with him. His grey eyes devoured her, driving her crazy with lust. Heat and hardness from his erection pressed through the wet fabric of his trousers, tempting her with a promise.

His mouth continued to trail an exquisite path, pebbling her skin with goosebumps. One hand slipped between her spread legs, his fingers briefly gliding across her clit before slipping inside her. She was panting for him and whimpered as his touch filled her. He pushed deeper in response to her cries, curving his fingers slightly so they pressed on that most sensitive of spots, sending ricochets throughout her body. She arched her hips into his touch, wanting more of him.

“You taste so fucking amazing.” His breath was hot against her ear as he nipped and sucked at her earlobe. Skitters of pure pleasure cascaded down her spine, and her slick walls enveloped his fingers in an exquisite sensation. A gentle moan arose from within her, and she pushed back against him as his fingers continued to put delicious pressure on her most delicate nub.

Suddenly, he withdrew his fingers and turned her to face his dark eyes. He pushed her carefully backwards until her hips met the wall then dropped to his knees in front of her. Her hands flew between her thighs.

God, there?

Her cheeks heated as Garrick removed her hands. No one had ever kissed her there.

He gazed up, his eyes hungry for her. “I want to taste all of you.” His voice was rough with urgency and need. He reached forward and kissed her just beneath her belly button, moving down in firm, biting kisses that raced to her very core, fuelling a breathlessness that caught in her throat.

His fingers were delicate as he touched her most sensitive spot, flicking and teasing before lowering his mouth and kissing away her inhibitions.

Oh.

He pushed harder against her, taking some of her weight in his arms. His breath was hot against her folds as he took her clit into his mouth and sucked. Pleasure exploded in her brain as he tasted and loved every part of her.

She moaned and bucked against him like a wild thing, all inhibitions shed while his fingers buried inside her, pressing against her tender walls. She sensed she was close, raw sensation overwhelming her and obliterating everything else apart from Garrick and the way he drove her body under his hands.

Coiled heat and pressure built against the base of her spine. She was so near, all conscious thought wiped from her mind as he made love to her with his mouth. He released her clit, his teeth grazing its swollen nub. It was too much, and Anna splintered, tightening around his fingers as she screamed her release, his name on her lips.

Her legs trembled in the aftermath, but Garrick’s muscled arms clasped her against his body as she gave herself up to him.