“One more,” he begged. “Give me one more, sweetheart... I need to know how it feels...” He traced her with roughening hands, and his thrusts became purposeful, deeper,harder, and as she tumbled over the edge, pulsing around him, the world outside of the room ceased to exist, and all that remained was the intimacy of her soul binding to his. Seth growled and crashed his mouth to hers, and then, with a sound akin to pain, he abruptly withdrew from her and spilled onto her stomach.
He rolled off her and dropped to his back, breathing ragged. Cassandra’s chest heaved. Sweat-slick hair clung to her brow and neck. Every muscle was now useless, and her core ached. She touched her abdomen and cringed. “Seth?”
With a grunt, he sat up. “Stay right there.”
As if shecouldmove. She would have laughed had she the energy to do so. Seth stood, padded across the room to the washstand. He poured water from a pitcher over a washcloth and returned to her. Easing her legs apart, he ran the washcloth along the inside of her thighs, the cool water soothing the sting. As he cleaned her navel, she made a face that he couldn’t see, and likely wouldn’t appreciate.
“Does that happen every time?”
“Ah. Yes. And no, not like that. I’m sorry.” He chuckled, not sounding the least bit remorseful. “I didn’t want to give you a baby.”
“Oh.” She hummed. That hardly seemed like something to be sorry about, but then… The idea of ababywith Seth warmed her more than their lovemaking, filling her with an acute sense of hope. One day, once their lives settled, of course she would want his children, but, “Not yet.”
“Not yet,” he affirmed, and she could hear the smile in his voice. “I want to do at least one thing right.” Finished, he tossed the washcloth to the floor, climbed back into the bed, pulled the blanket around her shoulders, and held her close. “Did I hurt you?”
“A little,” she admitted, the dull throbbing inside of her beat in a tempo that matched Seth’s heartbeat beneath her ear.
“It won’t be like that next time. It’ll be better for you,” he promised. Twirling a lock of her hair around his finger, he teased, “You’ll be surprised at how much you’ll like it. With asinsatiableas you are, I genuinely worry about my safety once I’m trapped in a house with you.”
“I’m too tired to take your bait right now.” She ran her hand over his chest. Sleep tugging her eyelids, she murmured, “Did I please you?”
“My God, Cassandra. That was—” He laughed. “Yes, you pleased me. I wish I could stay forever in this bed and have you please memore.” Running his fingers through her hair, Seth kissed her, lulling her with affections she was reluctant to part from. This night would not come again, and in the morning, he would be gone.
As he sat up to leave, she tugged him back down to her.
“Don’t go yet. Hold me a little while longer.”
“Not much longer.” His laugh came deep from his chest and he laid back down. Cradling her in his arms, he whispered, “My demanding little wife.”
Wife.
Mrs. Reeves.
Yes, she thought, drifting off to sleep with a smile.
She liked the sound of that.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Seth roused to the unfamiliar sensation of warmth and softness surrounding him. Breathing in the musk of flowers, silk, and feminine skin, he burrowed into its source.So comfortable. Luscious curves brushed against him, and he pulled her closer. His fingers splayed over decadent hips while his lips grazed a slender throat. A hitched breath and a gasp.
“Seth!”
What a wonderful dream…
He grumbled against the light hand shaking him, wanting to surrender back to blessed sleep.
“Seth!” The shaking grew insistent. Irritated, Seth cracked an eye open. Above him was a goddess with dark hair cascading over her shoulders, naked and beautiful.Cassandra, his fuzzy mind supplied. From a crack in the canopy, the yellow light of dawn slashed against black bedsheets.
Dawn…?
“Wake up!”
He blinked, eyes stinging and sleep-heavy.
“It’smorning!”
“… morning?”