“Yes,” she said. “Should be fine.”
He pushed her swimsuit away and then his and fitted them together, and she slid onto him easily, riding his lap. They felt joined as one, so tightly he couldn’t figure out what was him and what was her anymore. All he knew was it felt like heaven, and he got to look into her beautiful hazel eyes, with their brown depths and gold and green sparks. He couldn’t make out every detail in the darkness, but he’d memorized them in his heart.
He stroked her hair back and kissed her cheek, her forehead, then her mouth, lingering there slowly as he began to move, lifting her at the waist and then thrusting deep inside.
She sighed against his mouth, moaning, as he began to increase the tempo. It was amazing to do this in the water where it felt like they were floating. Where it felt they were the only people in the world. Warm. Alone. Safe.
Her hands were on his shoulders, and she moved with him, pushing up and away and then coming back down as he thrust in, never coming fully apart, a tight seal between them. No matter how hot the water was, the heat they were making was hotter.
He was on fire.
He moved faster, feeling something building inside him, something even stronger than before. He knew he wasn’t mating her, but being inside her without anything between them was intoxicating.
“Wait.” She gasped. “I got carried away, but what about protection? Can I get pregnant? Or diseases, or—”
He kissed her, calming her and settling her back down over him, tightly joined. He brushed her hair back soothingly. “No and no. Not until we’re mated. And this isn’t how we do it.”
“Okay,” she said, letting out a sigh. “Not that I’m against mating you. I just mean I don’t want to do it on accident.”
“I understand,” he said.
She nodded, flushed, and started moving again. He moved with her, loving the way the water moved around him, the way the jets pounded, rumbling with a deep vibration that mirrored the way he knew deep in his soul that she was his.
With every gasp, every moan, he was bound to her tighter, going with her on a journey they could only take together because they were made for each other. Their bodies were perfect; they seemed to enjoy their time together. He was beginning to think things were going to be fine after all.
For now, he would just enjoy their time together and look forward to the day he could be her mate.
As their rhythm increased, he could feel his control breaking inside him. Just as he wasn’t sure he could hold it anymore, she came apart in his arms, biting back her screams and digging her nails into his back as she wrapped around him.
He kissed her, capturing her cries so she could scream against him, wanting to hear every bit of her pleasure or feel it as she writhed against him. She did, twisting as if she were lost, and he came with her, jerking inside her warm, tight heat that was convulsing with pleasure.
It was the most amazing feeling he would ever know in his life. Hotter than dragon fire, better than flying.
“Kate,” he said. “Mine.”
“Mine,” she said back, surprising him, gasping the word against his lips as their bodies continued to hold one another. He held her tight until she slumped against him, breathing hard.
Then he set her back, still on top of him, and looked her over. She looked so sated, so perfectly sexed, her breasts nearly spilling out of her top. And tired, her cheeks flushed, her freckles adorable, her hair mussed. He pushed her hair back just as an excuse to touch her face, and she warmed, smiling at him.
“You’re tired,” he said. “We should go wash the chemicals off of you.”
“I know,” she said. “But I want to stay here.”
He stroked her back, loving the feel of every part of her body. Wondering how it was possible that someone as perfect as her could be for him.
“Okay,” he said. “We’ll stay here a few moments longer. And then we should get some rest. Sorry there weren’t more.”
“Orgasms?” she asked. She let out a huff. “I don’t think I could do more. Heck, I’ve had more sex in two days than… Well, I don’t want to think about it.”
Good, because he didn’t want to hear about it. He couldn’t stand the thought of another man. He knew there had been one, but as far as he was concerned, that was over and done with and didn’t need to be discussed.
“Anyway, I’m just glad we made up and we’re honest with each other, and now we can figure things out,” she said.
“Yes,” he said. “I’m glad I could be honest with you.”
“Good,” she said. “Now hold me with that big dragon body of yours and let’s just relax a while.”
13
When Kate’s alarm went off the next morning, Liam was still in bed with her. He’d woken with the dawn, as usual, but he hadn’t wanted to get out of bed and leave her there alone after everything that had happened.
After the awesome night in the hot tub, they’d showered, sat on the couch together watching a movie, and with all the modern conveniences and a mate nearby, Liam was starting to think his ship had sunk for a purpose.
He was in the right time and place after all.
She stirred, reaching around drowsily for the phone, which he picked up and turned off.
“Hey,” she said, sitting up and brushing mussed brown hair out of her face. Her hazel eyes were a warm brownish-green in the light streaming between the blinds. “I need that.”
“No,” he said. “Because you’re not going to work today. Not with what just happened yesterday. You need to be here where I can keep an eye on you.”
Her full lips pursed as she pinned him with a glare. “Liam, you can’t tell me when I go to work or not. You’re not my mate, or whatever it’s called.”
“What am I, then?”
She thought about it. “If we’re not exclusive, then we’re just dating. If we are exclusive, then you’re my boyfriend.”
“Boyfriend, then,” he said firmly, folding his arms. “And why can’t I tell you not to go to work? It’s safest for you to stay here.”
She got up and began to get dressed. “Work is my life, Liam. It has been for a long time. I’m willing to explore things with you, take it slow. But I’m not willing to let everything else fall apart around me just because you’re paranoid.”
“But what if he comes to your work?” he asked.
“You really think he’s dangerous? We were just talking until you came over and pulled out your sword.” The flush on her face said she knew she was downplaying it, though.
“I wouldn’t put anything past that person,” Liam said. “He is obviously not right in the head. He’s been that way for a long time.”
“So you do know him?”