Tannis heard the desperation in his voice as his mouth trailed down her throat, to kiss and nip her breasts. Her spine arched beneath him. His teeth raked over one peak, then he bit down, and pleasure shot down through her body as wet heat flooded her sex. He moved to the other breast, and she could feel the barely leashed power in his touch. He lowered his hips so the hard length of his erection pressed into her, and her hips rose up to meet him.
His hand moved to her waist, and he tore open the fastener of her pants, pushed them almost roughly down over her hips. She had to kick off her boots to allow him to drag them down over her legs. And finally, she was naked beneath him, while he was fully dressed. He stared down at her, his gaze like fire as it trailed over her body.
They were both breathing hard now.
His hand moved between their bodies, and he swore softly as he fumbled with the fastener of his own pants. Then he was free and for a second she felt him hot and hard against her belly.
Then he was inside her. Inside her body and inside her head.
I love you.
The words echoed through her mind.
Tentatively, she reached out with her own thoughts. And she could sense his feelings, exultation, happiness, need…love.
I love you.
He smiled down at her, and she knew he’d heard her words. Then he started moving inside her and all thoughts fled her mind as she gave herself up to him.
Afterward, they dressed. Callum took her hand and led her out of the cave. She’d been too out of it to notice her surroundings when they’d arrived. Now she looked around her.
All her senses were more acute, the air soft against her skin and filled with a sweet scent like flowers. Off to the east a crimson sun was setting over a rocky landscape. As she watched, winged creatures rose from the rocks, silhouetted against the glowing sky. They swooped and swirled in an intricate dance, graceful and so beautiful her heart ached.
She turned to Callum. “Are they…?”
He nodded. “Can you hear them?”
Closing her eyes, she opened her mind and a wordless song filled her head. Callum squeezed her hand and they stood together as the music washed through them.
She’d come so close to death, stared it in the face, and finally, defied it.
“You know,” Callum said, “my people told me I was making a big mistake.” His thumb rubbed over her palm, sending prickles of sensation down her nerve endings.
“Funny, so did mine.”
He leaned in close and kissed the corner of her mouth. “And what do you think now?”
“Biggest mistake I ever made.” Sliding her arms around his waist, she pulled him close. “And you know the best thing about it?” She kissed the pulse point at his throat. “Now I get to live with my mistake—forever.”
The End