“No, what I need to do is kiss you.”
“I like your kisses.” She stroked his shoulders and arms, so thick and strong and below the planes of his wide chest, his abs rippled, layer upon tight layer. She itched to touch more of him while her fire was doused, to run her fingers through the delicious tease of dark hair narrowing down his rigid belly and disappearing into his trews. Sweet heaven. She needed all the kisses he could give her right now, and with no delay. She ran her thumb across his warm lips and a little breathless, murmured, “May I touch more of you, just to make sure my fire has truly gone?”
“If you wish to touch me, then I’m all yours.” He caught her hands, pressed them against his chest. “Touch me wherever and however you please.”
“If you feel my heat, even the slightest flicker, then tell me, right away. Promise me.”
“I promise.”
She dragged in a deep breath and let her hands wander. She caressed down his chest, trailed one finger along the hard ridges of his abs then cupped his hips. Could she go further? Once, when she’d been out wandering in the woods, she’d stumbled upon a warrior and lass coupling. Shock had initially halted her step, then the knowledge she’d never experience such a joining had kept her rooted there. She’d ducked in behind a bush as the lass, on her knees before the warrior, hauled his trews down and covered his shaft with her mouth. He’d adored the attention, grunting and groaning before toppling the lass to the ground then rucking up her kirtle’s skirts. His head had disappeared under the layers of brown linen and the woman’s eyes had near rolled to the back of her head as pleasure had consumed her. It hadn’t taken long before the lass thrashed her head from side to side and the man lifted free of her, licked his lips in hearty appreciation then thrust his cock inside her. They’d come together in a loud and boisterous cry. That’s what she wanted. To take this stolen moment in time and claim it for them both.
“Do you still feel no heat?” She caressed his sides.
“Not a flicker of heat. That I promise you.”
“Finlay, what would you say if I asked you to bite me?”
“A shifter only allows the bite and touch of his mate, as his mate can only allow the same.” He walked her farther backward into the water, until her sark twisted around her legs and she had to seize his arms to keep from toppling over. “I allowed your bite for a reason, Arabel. You are my chosen one.”
“So that’s an aye?”
“It is, but I desire to do far more than bite you. We’re mated, and that I can sense to the depths of my soul.” He dipped his head and kissed her, so surely and with such breathless urgency.
Lost, she kissed him back and allowed herself to get caught up in his powerful embrace. Aye, they were mated and she couldn’t let him go, not now, not when she finally had a chance to claim him. Hope. It had now fluttered to vivid life in her chest and wouldn’t let go.
Hunger for the woman before him consumed Finlay. When he’d first seen Arabel this morning in the great hall, her presence had nearly knocked his breath from his lungs. He’d known Julia had a twin who held the skill of fire, a dangerous ability, but something about this woman drew him directly toward her, made him long to touch her, to have her look at him with those beautiful blue eyes rimmed with sparks of gold. For three days he’d tossed and turned at night, his bear raging for release and his heart twisting in on itself. Fleeting images of a pool of water rippling under a moonlit sky had tormented him. Something had happened there, something important, but he couldn’t hold onto the memory before it was wrenched painfully away.
Now, all that torment had eased and this moment took precedence. Arabel was his and his bear had fought hard to track her down and keep her in his sight.
Kissing her deeply, he drank in her essence, devouring her. He had to make her his, to complete the bond and tie her to him, for now and for all time, while her skill lay dormant. The knowledge rode him hard, was impossible to ignore. Hope. There was hope.
He broke their kiss, looked deep into her eyes. “I want the right to touch you, as freely as any man does with his woman.”
“I want that too.”