Every touch brought Wonder pleasure. Even the ones that had stung a bit. Was it because she was so aroused?

Or was it because it was Anandur who was touching her?

Everything she’d imagined about their coming together had been a little off. She hadn’t anticipated that it would feel so right. There was supposed to be some awkwardness, or shyness on her part, but surprisingly there was none.

This was where she belonged, in Anandur’s big muscular arms that were treating her with such tender care.

She felt safe with him. She felt at home with him, and it had nothing to do with location. Wherever he was, that was where home was.

Putting her hands over his on her breasts, she murmured, “I love you, Anandur. This is real.”

“Oh, lass,” he said as he dipped his head to kiss her. “I love you too.”

Lowering himself on top of her, he took her mouth in a gentle kiss, careful so his fully extended fangs didn’t injure her.

As if she cared about a little nick.

“Kiss me hard.” She wrapped one arm around his neck and cradled the back of his head with the other, holding him to her as she deepened the kiss.

As he allowed her to take over where their mouths were fused, and their tongues were dueling, his hands on her breasts squeezed and teased and his fingers pinched her nipples.

There was no question who was in charge, and it was exactly the way Wonder wanted it. Except, she would’ve preferred him naked on top of her, so she could feel the hard press of his manhood on her skin and not through his jeans.

“Why are you still dressed?” Wonder whispered as she let go of his mouth.

His hands slid down her sides, skimming her hips and sliding around her inner thighs. “I’m keeping my pants on until I wrest the first orgasm out of you.” His palm moved over her heated center and cupped her there.

Closing her eyes, she bit her lip to stifle a moan. “How many orgasms are you planning on wresting out of me?” Her question was supposed to sound teasing and confident, but it came out sounding needy and throaty.

His middle finger tapped over the most sensitive spot on her body. “As many as I can.”

He wouldn’t have to work hard for that. A few more taps, and she was going to explode like a firecracker.

Was it okay, though?

Would he think she was wanton? She’d heard guys at the club refer to women as sluts. But what did it mean? What was the definition of a slut?

Was it a woman who loved sex? And if yes, what was wrong with that? Didn’t they all come to the club with that in mind?

Wonder didn’t know much about men or how they thought, but according to Carol their brains functioned differently. It was hard to tell what went through guys’ heads.

Except, Anandur had told her that he loved her, and she was pretty sure he’d been sincere. Didn’t it mean that he accepted her the way she was?

Perhaps he would be happy that she was easy to please.

Sliding down her body, he kissed her nipple, and then the other one. “Perfect.” He planted one more kiss on each before sliding further down.

Wonder tensed. What was he planning?

Pushing up on his knees, he put his hands under her knees and pulled her legs up, exposing her feminine center.

Suddenly self-conscious, Wonder tried to bring them back together.

“No, sweetling, you don’t hide from me.” With a hand on each knee, Anandur pushed her legs apart. Lowering his face to the underside of one, he nipped the soft skin there.

Was he punishing her for initially resisting?

If that had been his intention, then he was missing the mark because the little sting only heightened her arousal.

After licking the sting away, he kissed the spot and continued his trek up the inside of her thigh, nipping and licking and kissing on his way to her center.

Again, Wonder tried to close her thighs, the impulse to do so more instinctive than deliberate. She had a vague idea of where Anandur was going with that, she wasn’t completely ignorant, but for some reason, her subconscious was resisting.

It seemed like too much, too close, too soon.

He nipped her inner thigh in warning. “Don’t. This is mine.”

She shivered as he blew on her wet folds. “You’re just as beautiful down here as everywhere else.” He planted an open-mouthed kiss on her lower lips. “You should see yourself. Your petals are blooming for me, opening in invitation. It’s a wonderful sight to behold.” He lifted his face and smiled. “Like all of my Wonder.”

Well, if he thought she looked pretty there, Wonder wasn’t going to argue.

Relaxing, she released the tightness that had gripped her bottom, letting it rest on the mattress.

“That’s better.” Anandur dipped his head back down.

When the first lick over the side of her wet folds wrestled an uncontrollable jerk from her, Anandur’s hands clamped on both sides of her inner thighs, holding her in place. “Easy, sweetling, just relax and enjoy the ride. I promise it’s going to be good.”

Something in his soothing richly dark tone did the trick, allowing her to ease back and surrender to the pleasure.

After all, Anandur always kept his promises. Besides, this man was her future. He was her mate. There was no need to feel shy around him, or apprehensive. He could see all of her and touch whatever he wanted in any way he pleased.

In turn, when the time came and she gained some experience, she was going to do the same to him.

Parting her folds with several tender strokes, Anandur used just the tip of his tongue to flick at that sensitive bundle of nerves at the top of her slit.

When he flattened it over her entire entrance, Wonder’s eyes rolled back in her head, and she let her knees fall apart, no longer caring if it made her seem lewd.

Anandur’s deep-throated groan was the only warning she got before his tongue speared into her. Caught off guard, she arched against him, her fingers threading into his curly hair.

Low in her belly, the coil was tightening at a breakneck speed, ready to spring free at any moment.

“Anandur,” she whispered in a desperate plea for that elusive touch that would set it free, catapulting her over the edge.