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Lachlan moved gingerly, drawing himself out from behind Tarley.

“Oh, but–” She followed him with wide eyes.

“Nope. Can’t talk me out of it,” he replied with a grin, rocking back onto his heels, his hands gripping his rather impressive erection, if he did say so himself.

“–you’re injured.” She pushed up onto her elbows.

He chuckled and looked at her lips, trailing his gaze over her reclining form, the stretch of the ivory tunic pulled off her shoulders, but tight over her breasts. Her nipples were pebbled under the fabric. He licked his lips. “As if that could keep me from what I want to do to you.”

He wanted to see more of her, suddenly wishing he’d insisted on watching her face as she came, though the feel of her body clenching around his fingers had been like discovering a buried treasure.

“This breakfast is going to be amazing,” he said, reaching out and touching her knee, urging her to part her legs.

“What?” She pressed her knees together and sat forward. “What does that mean?”

Slightly confused by her response, since she’d been so open with him just moments earlier, Ollie stopped and looked up to her face, surprised by what now looked like panic. “Have you never?”

She shook head. “No.”

He sat back slightly. The thought that he could be her first experience tightened the muscles in his chest around his already haphazardly beating heart. “Wait. Never?”

She tried to get up.

He grasped her thighs, stopping her. “Don’t mistake my question, Tarley. It isn’t a judgement. I’m surprised, that’s all.”

“Why?” She settled back and tilted her head to study him. He could see she was wary, building a wall back up that he’d somehow been able to walk through his morning.

“Because… fuck—look at you, Tarley. You’re so beautiful. And smart. And accomplished. Who wouldn’t want this… with you?” He blew out a breath and ran one of his hands through his hair, the other still on her knee. Kneading the flesh of her thigh with the other hand, his slid it higher to her hip. “Your trust earlier meant so much.” He looked unto her eyes, closing as she relaxed.

Leaning forward, he ran the tip of his nose along her jaw, his lips skimming her skin as she sighed. “I promised,” he said.

“Promised what?”

“To protect you.”

Tarley turned her head toward him. It was slight, as there was little room to maneuver between them, but it was enough that her lips were aligned with his. She reached up, skimmed her hand over his jaw, and closed the minute distance, pressing her lips to his, communicating what she wanted.

There was sweetness in the kiss, a confection of lips and sighs. Lachlan, his hands framing her face, went slow, afraid to scare her now that he knew, but she surprised him, opening her mouth under his, and touching his lips with her tongue.

His internal organs twisted up with desire, and he pulled her tighter against him. His ribs protested, but he ignored them. This. This moment with Tarley felt like everything. When she grabbed hold of his hair and moaned, opening her mouth wider under his, he lost the battle with taking it slow, pressing her back into the blankets, and draping her body with his, his knee pressed up between her legs.

She moaned, shifting her hips against his leg, seeking friction, her hands now trying to find purchase on his back. That knowledge, the feel of her slick heat against the skin of his leg, her movement, pushed him toward a frenzy.

“I want to look at you. May I?” He breathed the words against her lips.

While he thought she might balk, she didn’t, relaxing with a shiver, surprising him. “Yes.”

He reveled at the look on her face, trusting and hungry, as if the more guarded Tarley receded to allow the real one to emerge.

Sitting back, he pushed one of her legs wider, then the other, until she was spread open before him. He stared, licked his lips, and swallowed. Her sex glistened, swollen with her earlier orgasm, enticing him. If it was even possible, he was even harder. His eyes jumped up to meet her gaze, as he gripped his cock. “See what you do to me?”

Her eyes tracked his movement, and she offered a sound that grabbed hold of his spine and tugged him forward. When she reached between her legs to touch herself again, Lachlan stopped her hand with is and trapped it gently on her belly. “My turn, remember?” He grinned at her.

Leaning down, he pressed his lips against the inside of her knee. “I’m in control.” He gave the other side equal treatment. “Do you hate that?” He glanced at her and could see she wanted to reply but didn’t.

He kissed her again, sliding his tongue along her inner thigh. “Is this alright?” he asked.

Her eyes darted over his features. Her mouth opened as if she wanted to protest, only she didn’t. When his tongue teased a sensitive spot at the seam between her leg and pussy, she gasped, “Yes. Ollie, yes. I want this. I want to watch. To feel you–”