Page 115

When they reached their quarters, they burst in and Wilder swept her up in his arms, kicking the doors closed behind them and taking her straight to the bed.

A bed.

As much as Wilder had loved the Bloodwoods, the cave and the mirror in the bathing chamber, he had longed to take her properly in a bed, as he might do if they were another couple, if they were anyone other than who they truly were.

Her dress was a web of ties and buttons, and he was just about to tear it right down the middle when it fell to the floor around her feet.

She wore nothing underneath.

Wilder’s heart skipped. Gods, she was perfect.

He traced the red marks across her ribs from the bodice. He kissed the scar where she’d been stabbed as a shieldbearer. But that was where his restraint ended. He lunged for her, threading his fingers through her hair, her tresses slipping through his fingers like silk. Her mouth opened beneath his, surrendering to him and the desperate strokes of his tongue.

Thea clawed at his shirt, and he broke their kiss to jerk it over his head.

He heard the soft breath that escaped her lips as she dragged her gaze over his bare, tattooed torso and the contours of his abdomen. Her nails scraped down his skin and he hissed at the contact, gripping her by the back of her neck and claiming her mouth again in a brutal kiss.

He nipped at the curve of her lower lip, hard enough to elicit a gasp from her. But she gave as good as she got, kissing him back fiercely. He relished every pass of her mouth over his, exploring her thoroughly with his tongue.

It had never felt like this before. Not with anyone else.

It was as though the Furies had made every inch of Thea just for him.

He dragged his hands down her curves, wanting to memorise every dip and hollow of her beautiful body. Thea arched towards him, silently begging him to touch her.

He kissed her hungrily and obliged her, cupping both breasts in his hands, rolling her nipples between his fingers, finding that sweet spot between pleasure and pain that made her breathless.

There was something utterly unabashed about them now as they devoured one another. Wilder groaned at the feel of her beneath his touch as he pushed her back towards the bed while she fumbled at his belt, and then, the buttons of his pants. He felt as if he’d been rock hard for hours – days, even; weeks. He wanted her always. Gods, had she no idea what she did to him? His erection was damn near painful.

A deep noise sounded from the back of his throat as she freed his cock, her hands wrapping around the throbbing length.

She pumped him up and down, circling the crown of his cock with her thumb where that telltale moisture had gathered. Thea moaned into his mouth and the sound made his balls tighten in anticipation.

He let his hand fall from her breast, trailing down her stomach to ease between her legs, finding her wet and ready for him. As his fingers parted her, she whimpered and he nearly threw her onto the pillows, thinking of nothing else but driving his cock inside her.

Thea seemed to have the same idea, for she dragged him to the bed. Her legs hit the edge of the mattress and she fell backward, taking him with her.

He’d follow her anywhere.

Her legs fell open either side of him and his cock brushed against her as he braced himself on top of her.

‘Wait,’ he said, tensing suddenly at the realisation, cursing himself for his thoughtlessness, his carelessness. ‘We’ve never talked about protection, about —’

‘I’ve got it covered,’ Thea said, reaching for his cock.

‘You’re sure?’ he asked, his breath whistling between his teeth as she lined up the crown of him to her entrance.

Thea fixed him with a challenging stare. ‘Trust me. That’s the last thing I want. Ever. I’ve got it covered.’

‘Alright.’ Satisfied, he leant down to kiss her.

But this time she hesitated. ‘You’re not going to correct me?’

‘About what?’

‘About how I might change my mind. About how I might —’

Wilder’s brows furrowed as he drew back to peer at her face. ‘Why in the realms would I do that? You know your own mind, Thea. I sure as fuck have learnt by now to respect that about you.’