A portion of me, that faithful and wholesome part of myself that was slowly dwindling away to nothing, told me it was wrong even as I did as he asked. He had to learn what had happened and what I’d done. He had every right to turn me from his bed, to reject me from the haven of his arms. I should have given him the opportunity, but I was too weak, too fragile, too damned eager to feel the comfort of his skin against mine, the coolness of his breath, the whispered words of love he would give me that I didn’t deserve.
His cock was hard, arching toward his belly, when he unzipped his pants and revealed himself. I didn’t have to be told what he wanted. As I moved between his thighs, I reached for him with my free hand. Though hard as granite, his flesh was as smooth as satin and as soft as silk. I brought him to my lips, parting them as I darted my tongue along the slit in the mushroom-shaped tip.
“Look at me, love.” His voice was husky with desire, the words laced with adoration. The hard edge to his tone was gone, and I wanted to wrap my arms around his thighs and hold on tight.
Our lovemaking had never reduced me to tears, and I knew if I broke down and crumbled, he would want to know why. So I focused on just how relieved I was to be with him again, of just how important this moment was. A sacrifice to keep him with me had been made, and I would be damned if I was going to allow myself to be denied one last time in his bed.
I gazed into his golden, aquamarine-colored eyes with the solid border of black that offset them like jewels as I took him into my mouth. He remained still, though he groaned when my lips surrounded him. Flicking my tongue along the underside, I accepted more of his length, using my hand to attend the area I couldn’t take even if I relaxed my throat and swallowed.
“I’ve missed you so much, Rhiannon. You have no idea of how terrified I was. I’ll expect you to tell me everything I want to know when this is over, but first, I want this with you. I need this with you. I need to know that you’re here—truly here—with me.”
I bobbed my head, a nod as well as a way to pleasure him, and was thankful he didn’t say anything when I broke eye contact to hide the tears that came to my eyes. He didn’t know it, but I needed exactly the same thing. To know he was safe. To know he was here. To know that despite all the wrongs I’d committed, I had ensured he would survive to see another day that, God willing, included me.
I felt the sweetness on my tongue that I was familiar with, a sign of his control, and began to suck harder as I went up his length to the tip. He loved to be on the edge, riding the cusp of orgasm. Like this, I challenged him to keep control when he didn’t think he could, forcing him to give all of himself to me. It was a game of cat and mouse since I’d learned just how long I could keep it up, devouring him with my mouth until he finally forced me away.
“You won’t win this time,” he grated, as if knowing my thoughts, although I was aware the mark between us and his power to see into my mind weren’t being used. “I’ve waited too long for this. I’ll keep you like this until you can’t take it any longer.”
Upping the ante, I sucked harder, rubbing the length of his cock with my tongue. His hiss told me I’d hit the right spot, so I continued doing it as I moved up and down, over and over again. Each time I ran my fingers along the wet skin left over by my mouth, keeping him on the precipice. I thought it would be enough. However, as the minutes passed, and my jaw became sore, I knew it was a test. He wanted me to break first, to become the slave to what he desired.
“Uncle,” I whispered and released him, panting.
“Good. Now for me.”
He moved with the speed I’d missed so much, lifted me into his arms, and carried me to the bed. He placed me on the mattress and I placed my head against the pillows. When he kissed me, there was nothing but the two of us, caught in the throes of passion and need. A desire to connect, to cement what we shared, to grasp it tightly and never let go.
“I love you,” I said for the first time during our lovemaking, desperate that he be aware of it.
“I’ve always known that,” he murmured as he placed kisses along my neck, paying special attention to his mark at my throat, and removed my bra. “I knew it would just take patience and time. Something I have plenty of.”