Gripping the back of his neck, I brought his head down, crushing my lips to his, silently agreeing with him. I swallowed Garrett’s soft groan as he trailed his hands down my sides, electrifying every nerve in my body. The bustling of the help outside the room faded, my accelerated heartbeat filling my ears along with Garrett’s harsh breathing. Feeling lightheaded, I fisted his shirt, squeezing it to keep my balance. Strong hands held me to him, my breasts crushing against his chest.
The tips of our tongues found each other, and I felt Garrett’s fingers press firmer through my dress, our heated bodies melting together in a wistful kiss. I felt like Peitho, wanting to take his soul and make it mine.
Forever.
Garrett shifted his lips from mine. “I can’t,” he murmured, panting against my forehead. “Tell me to stop.” His heavy breath brushed my skin. My own breathing matched his, ragged and violent.
“Garr,” I said between breaths.
His eyes engulfed mine. “Yes?”
“Don’t stop.”
He looked down at me, his features tight. “Are you sure? I can’t seem to keep a rational head around you.”
I nodded, and he reached for my hand. Desire burned in the irises of his eyes. “You set the pace,” he said.
Lacing my fingers through his hair, I placed a gentle kiss on his lips. The wetness of his lips from our prior kiss had me craving more. More kisses, more of Garrett’s groans, harsh breaths, and the blaze of heat streaming through my veins.
Trailing my hand down his chest and over his abdomen, I reached his hardness. He groaned, and I bit his bottom lip, sucking on it lightly before releasing it.
“Do I dare ask where you learned that?” he choked out.
I chuckled against his lips. “You aren’t the first person I’ve kissed, remember?”
“Who the hell kissed you like—” I rubbed his thickness, applying pressure. His breathing hitched, as I worked his pants button. “Avie…”
His voice was a warning that I ignored. I lightly ran my tongue across his lower lip, and a carnal groan escaped his lips.
Cascading down his legs, I pulled his pants down, releasing his impressively large shaft. Pausing, I swallowed my hesitation and placed my mouth on the tip of his manhood. I sucked, slowly and gently at first.
“Shit, Avie.” As he placed his hand on my head, I used my tongue to explore, tasting him. Taking him deeper, his legs began to tense, as he moaned.
“You don’t have to do all this,” he panted.
I smiled up at him. “I just want to please you.”
“Fuck.” He lifted me up by my shoulders and kissed me hard, then pulled up his pants. “You already please me, my darling. Just being with you pleases me.” Lacing his fingers with mine, he trudged through the room.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“Taking you to one of our rooms.”
“This room is fine.”
“I don’t want our first encounter to be in a damp parlor,” he countered, his breathing still coming out in huffs.
“But Garr—”
“Shut up, Avie.”
He pressed something on the wall, and a secret door popped open, creaking loudly at being disturbed. I swore I knew every secret tunnel in this place.
Obviously not.
Torches lit the tunnel, which told me they were still being used. Garrett eased through them, guiding ahead of me, his fingers still fastened with mine. After a few moments, he nudged a brick with his shoulder, opening another door.
Entering a dimly-lit room, I realized it was his. A small fire charred above a few logs; the smell of leather wafted through the room. My eyes searched the maroon walls, naked of any pictures or paintings. A large pine dresser stood by his terrace window, then my gaze fell on his massive bed.
I swallowed, all my courage fading away.
His hand wrapped around my waist, as though he was afraid I was going to bolt back through the tunnels. My body was pulled against his, soft flesh to hard muscle. His closeness eased my nerves, as though my body found its safe place with him.
Brushing my hair back gently, he gazed at me. “Are you okay?” I nodded. “Because when you get quiet, it scares me.”
I chuckled, and he pressed a light kiss to my forehead. Wrapping his arm around my waist, he led me to the fireplace.
The fire only held the heat of a candle compared to the warmth I felt around Garrett. As he leaned down to pick up more firewood, I yanked at his hand. The simple task of making sure a fire was lit for me sweltered my heart.
“I don’t think we’ll need that,” I muttered. He pressed his chest against mine, moving a piece of hair off my forehead. I couldn’t breathe smoothly—the nervousness and excitement of it all made my heart race.
“Come away with me,” he whispered softly. He trailed his finger down my cheek, brushing my bottom lip and sailing down my neck.
“Where?”
He shrugged. “Anywhere but here. Away from my father, the assassins. I’ll protect you.”
I narrowed my eyes. “I know you always would, Garr, but what about George and—”
He wrapped his free hand around my waist and pulled me against his body, nuzzling his head into my neck. “He’ll be fine.”
His lips tickled my skin, my body subconsciously leaning toward him, urging him to kiss my neck. As he nibbled on the sensitive flesh just below my ear, I sighed, relaxing against him.
“You know I worry about people I care about,” I replied.
He licked my neck with the tip of his tongue, sending a chill down my spine. “I know, Peitho.”
Open mouthed, he kissed my skin, assaulting it slowly over and over again, until a moan left my mouth. His hand held the back of my head hostage, but I wouldn’t be trying to escape. My core throbbed, and I clasped my legs together, which made it worse.
“The only thing I want you to be thinking about is me,” he uttered, his lips never leaving my skin. “I want to dominate your senses, like you have mine, until you can’t stand it. I want to erase every bad memory you’ve ever had.”
An animalistic urge came over me to have him do just that; to devour my past and experience a new future with him.
“Shirt, off,” I demanded. He took a small step back, wearing an insatiable grin.
“As you command, Peitho.” He pulled his shirt over his head, and I gawked at his tan skin, his muscular arms. How was it possible to look bigger without clothes?
I wanted to touch the sun-kissed skin, but between nervousness and the need to drag my hands down his chest, I started to feel overwhelmed with mixed emotions. My fingers hovered over his chest, right above his heart, hesitating as I tried to force my brain to shut off and just let me live in the moment. He clasped my hand and guided it there. My palm heated from his skin, his heart thudding in his chest.
“Do you feel what you do to me?” he asked. “You make everything go wild.”
If he only knew what he was doing to me right now too; I didn’t even know what was happening with myself. I’d never felt such a strong need to be with another human being. The way my body beckoned for his, even when I was pissed. His kisses made me feel like I was the most beautiful woman in the universe.
And Garrett was the only one I wanted to feel this way with.
I wanted to tell him, but my vulnerability wasn’t something I could give away.
I removed one of my black-laced sleeves off my shoulders. Maybe if I could show him, it’d be good enough.
For now.
His eyes followed my movements as I slipped off the other and he cupped my face. “We don’t have to do this, Avie. I don’t want to force you into something you’re not sure of.”
“I want to,” I replied. “I want it to be with you.”
He closed the distance between us. “If we do this, I’m never letting you go. Do you understand me?” I nodded. “You better think about it long and hard because no one else will have you after this.”
I held his gaze. “Promise?”
His mouth collided with mine then, as he lifted me up, and I wrapped my legs around his waist. He walked in some direction and while I thought he was going to take me to his bed, suddenly, my back hit a wall. His tongue assaulted mine as both his hands squeezed my bottom in a silent need. I ran my hand through his hair, breathing him in; a new life that beckoned to be taken and enjoyed.