“Woman. I will need to hold you down unless you stop squirming,” I pant.
Her eyes go wide. “Then do.”
I blink.
Perfect, perfect creature.
“You are sure you want that?”
She places both hands on either side of my face.
“You are the man who promised me he would be the warmth of the sun on a winter morning.” She presses a kiss to my nose. “I ventured halfway around the world. I’ve faced every fear, even the ones that threatened to break me, and soon, it will be over. You have been there every step. Come down this path with me, too.”
As she speaks, I can feel my resolve weakening. Her words are a siren's song, and I'm powerless to resist.
“As you wish, Arlet,” I say. “But I won’t bind the knots so tight. We’ll go slow. I am going to savor you until you tell me to stop."
Her chest heaves with each erratic breath, but she doesn’t fight me. With her silken belt, I bind her hands and pull her arms above her head, securing them to the tree. She winced at the slight pull, but her eyes never left mine.
I lean down, my lips hovering over hers, and whispered into her ear, "I’ve got you—you are in my hands now, and you fit perfectly."
Another surge of lust flows through us as I kiss her again, our bodies pressed together. Her breasts rub against my chest.
Then I untie the final string of her dress. I run my hands down fabric, feeling the delicious curves beneath her dress and then finally… finally, I let my fingers glide over her skin.
I force myself to step back, instead deciding it is time to remove my own clothing.
I watch her as I begin to undress. I want her to see every part of me, know every inch. Her eyes rake hungrily over me as I pull off my shirt, revealing my labor-honed body, the faint scars that mark my years of service as a soldier.
She licks her lips.
Each movement brings the sound of rustling leaves and snapping twigs, until I stand before her, my tail twitching. In front of her stands a man transformed by time, both older and bolder than ever.
Her eyes widen as she takes in my cock, and something inside of me hums. I’d known her angry, sad, heartbroken, fiery, smart, and sleeping. But I hadn’t really seen enough of her like this. Wanton. Sensual. Unapologetic.
I approach the tree, trailing my finger over her skin as she stands there, legs spread for me and waiting.
“Does this hurt?” I ask, touching her arms.
She shakes her head.
“You look so fucking good tied up and waiting for me,” I praise. Then I cover her body with mine, kissing her again. She arches up. I begin to lay kisses along her neck, then trail downwards towards the valley between her breasts.
Each soft press of my lips and lick draws a sweet sound from her, urging me on. I am relentless in my pursuit. She is beauty incarnate, her light filling all empty corners of my empty chest
“Everything still all right?”
“Yes,” she pants. When my hands trail between her thighs, she’s soaked.
I feel like I’ve lost my mind. The possessive part of me rears its head again.
“I’m going to keep you forever, Arlet.”
Chapter 38
ARLET
Vann’s hand is between my legs and my wrists are above my head. I’m not in any danger of getting hurt.