He knelt on the bed between her thighs and thrust into her in one fluid move.
She gasped and he held himself still. He was big, and it had been a long time, but her body tightened instinctively around him. He withdrew slowly, staring down into her eyes the whole time. The drag of him against her was exquisite, and then he slammed into her hard, his mouth coming down on hers to swallow her scream.
He was consuming her, changing her, filling her. She lost the ability to think. All she was aware of was the hard body on her, in her, as she hovered between pain and pleasure, unable to move under the force of his passion. Even so, the sensations built inside her on a great swell of pure bliss. Every cell in her body focused on the place between her legs where his body joined to hers. He pumped into her faster as his tongue plunged into her mouth and his hands dug into her bones. She clawed her way higher and higher, the pleasure spiraling out of control until she thought she would burst.
As though he could sense her hovering on the precipice, he raised his head. His face was a mask of craving, his lips a grimace, his eyes burning like fire.
Lowering his head, he bit down hard, piercing the skin where her throat met her shoulder, while his hips ground into her and every muscle tensed. She came in a long, drawn-out explosion of crimson light that flashed behind her clamped lids.
She must have blacked out for a second. When she came back to herself, he was still inside her. There was an ache between her legs, and her shoulder stung where he had bitten down on her. He was heavy on top of her, and she wriggled.
Finally, he shifted, raising himself up on one elbow to stare down into her face, a slow lazy smile curving his hips.
“You all right?” he murmured.
She gave a small nod, all she could manage right now.
“Sorry, I was a little rough. It’s been a long time.”
She swallowed. “How long?”
He was silent for a moment and she thought he wouldn’t answer. “Twenty-three years.”
Wow.
She presumed that must have been Tara’s mother, but it didn’t seem right to talk of his lost love with his cock still wedged firmly inside her.
“We’ll go slower next time,” he promised.
“Next time?” She needed a long soak in a hot tub first.
“This time,” he said. He flexed his hips and she felt him swell inside her. He must have seen her wince. “Relax, lie back, and I’ll be so gentle.”
He raised himself up on both elbows so his weight was off her. Then lowering his head to her breasts, he kissed the nipple, took it deep in his mouth, and suckled. The tug sent a jolt of pleasure to her groin and her hips lifted without conscious thought. He pulsed inside her and this time pleasure beat the pain.
He kissed the other nipple, sucking and licking on the taut peak. Faith peered down the length of her body; his mouth at her breasts was the most erotic thing she had ever seen.
As if sensing her gaze, he raised his head and his eyes met hers. He moved with a slow, languid roll of his hips, pulling out of her so she saw the glistening length of him, then easing back inside, grinding his hips against her. One hand moved between their bodies, and one finger massaged her already sensitive clit so tremors of pleasure rippled through her. She lay back, closed her eyes, and concentrated on the feelings.
Never. Never before—and she suspected never again—would she feel like this.
Each stroke was followed by the slow curl of his hips. No pain this time, just a slow build of sensation. She relaxed into the feeling, letting it carry her higher and higher until she shattered into a thousand sparks and drifted slowly back to reality.
She came around the second time wrapped in his arms. Ash lay on his back with her held tightly to his side. One hand stroked circles on the skin of her hip.
She gazed up at him. “Thank you.”
He grinned. “Isn’t that supposed to be my line?”
“No. I didn’t exactly add a lot to the experience.”
“You were perfect.”
He leaned down and stroked his tongue over her skin where he had bitten her. “Sorry.”
“I don’t mind. I like it that you got carried away.”
She studied his face. His eyes had returned to normal, the restless energy that was always such a part of him was gone and he appeared at peace, even happy.
A little sense of foreboding nagged at her mind. This was nothing more than sex. That was all it could be. Words hovered on her tongue, but she couldn’t bring herself to spoil the mood. Not just yet.
She settled her head back against his chest, loving the smoothness of his skin against her cheek. His flat male nipple was so close to her mouth, and she blew lightly, as his hands stroked her hair. For a little while, she’d allow herself to relax.
He started to speak in a low voice. “When I first met you, I wanted you, but you were so different…so prickly. I could never love you, and I’d be safe.”