“No.” She shook her head even though Bronto couldn’t see. “He would never disown us girls for simply kissing a man not of our blood. He would stone us as punishment then move on. He wanted rid of Wisteria. That’s why he ordered her whipping and wouldn’t let her come home. If he hadn’t died it was just a matter of time before he banished me as well.”
“Was Vulcan the man who’d kissed her?”
“Yes. It’s sad. When we ran away the other night, Momma forgave Wisty and wanted her to come home but my father chased her away.”
“I know. Vulcan and I were watching from the forest.”
Her hands stilled. “You were?”
“Yes. I had to practically wrestle Vulcan to the ground to keep him from charging your father. He’d nearly frothed at the mouth when he saw him yank Wisteria’s hair and threaten her with his club.”
“Then I guess Vulcan didn’t feel too bad when he killed my mutant father?” She stared past his shoulder to the fire. “Is he the one who actually did it?”
“Love, we’re not going to discuss that. It had to be done. By whom doesn’t matter.” He cautiously turned his head sideways. “But standing beside your sister in her time of need says a lot.”
She spread her hands over his upper back to the outside of his shoulders. “I would never leave her, Bronto. Ever.” She traced the tattoos with her nails then returned her fingers to his neck and slid them up and down. The tension had lessened but she continued to rub anyway. She wasn’t ready to quit touching him just yet. He was like a calming elixir capable of chasing away her monsters. When she was in his presence, nothing else mattered.
She came up on her knees and leaned forward to where her lower tummy brushed against his back and she glided her hands down the entire length of his arms. She tried squeezing them but the muscles were rock hard and wouldn’t press in. So powerful yet they were gentle when he’d embraced her all those times. She needed them again, now, wrapped around her body.
She snuggled her face in his neck and closed her eyes, inhaling his scent. The vein in his neck softly ticked against her upper lip. Very discreetly she gave it a tender kiss. He swallowed and groaned and his spine stiffened beneath her belly.
Smiling to herself, she kissed it once more. “Bronto, would you mind if I spend the night with you again?”
Another groan escaped from his throat. “Not at all, but if your sister has anything to—”
“She won’t. I already told you that.”
“Yes, you did.”
She lowered her fingers to his waist. His skin was hot and inviting and she couldn’t shake the temptation to further explore. She wanted, no, she needed to touch him all over. She slid her hands under his arms toward his belly and massaged the grooves along his rib cage. He immediately cupped her wrists and raised them. Rather than lower them at her sides as she’d expected, he brought her hands to his mouth and softly kissed each finger.
Her belly withered to mush. She grew woozy and her legs trembled. Before she actually teetered sideways she laid her cheek against his back. The heat. Oh gosh, the heat was overwhelming.
Her lashes fluttered but she refused to open her eyes. Everything at the moment fluttered in one way or another. Especially her blood. It didn’t appear to know where to go and it tingled and prickled and rushed to her most secret places. The area between her legs grew wet, throbbed and ached in the nicest way imaginable.
She wanted to call his name but feared it might stop the moment. If so, she might never recoup. They were skin-to-skin for the very first time. Cheek-to-back didn’t matter. What mattered was, she was closer than she’d ever been to this man. The man she craved.
She righted her head and kissed his spine. When he stiffened and grunted she kissed it again. Beads of perspiration not present moments ago surfaced on his back. She wanted to feel their naked bodies sliding together in it.
Without another thought she wiggled her hands free and lifted the frock over her head. In the span of a heartbeat she was completely nude. The fabric hadn’t even hit the ground before she leaned forward, pressing her bare breasts and tummy into his back between his shoulder blades.
The heat… Wow, the heat was entrancing. Her nipples hardened despite the warmth. She slid them along his flesh as she kissed moist circles around his upper spine.
He shuddered and sucked in a breath. “Ivy,” he said, his voice reflecting the undertone of a growl.
“Shhh,” she whispered, snaking her hands around his neck.
He grabbed her wrists and held them. “Ivy,” he repeated in a voice so low she wasn’t sure he’d actually spoken to her. Then in slow motion he lifted her arms above his head and spun her from his back side to his front, where she landed sideways in his lap.
With her heartbeat racing, he released her wrists and palmed her cheeks. “Are you sure you’re ready to take things this far?”
If she had any hidden doubts they withered away from the compassion in his eyes. She folded her lips and nodded.
“You’re certain?”
“Yes,” she said through a breath, laying her hands on top of his and giving them a squeeze.
“What we accomplish,” he added, his gaze capturing her breasts, “cannot be undone.”