Page 37 of A Breath of Life (Shadowy Solutions #4)

I kissed the mark, lingering a moment, before moving my lips over his body so softly he shivered.

Along his collarbone. Down his hairless chest. I found a nipple and tongued it, reveling in the groan of pleasure that spilled from his mouth.

When I contemplated taking the hard bud in my teeth and applying pressure, I couldn’t do it.

I roamed lower, licking and tasting every inch of him. I did not leave marks and remained acutely aware of every noise that spilled from his mouth. Always pleasure. Never frustration.

When I made it to his cock, I took him into my mouth, sucking him down my throat a few times until he was thoroughly hard again, thrashing and spitting curses. “Jesus fucking christ, if you don’t fuck me soon, I’m going to come again.”

I left his cock alone for a time as I pressed two lube-coated fingers into his ass, making him cry out and arch his back.

“God… fuck yeah… Right there.”

I worked him open, basking in the exultant noises leaving his lips.

“You’re killing me, Guns. Oh my god…”

When I added a third finger, he lost his cool. “Get inside me right fucking now, Diem Krause, or I’ll make your life a living hell. Do not test me. When my brain isn’t mush, I will come up with payback. You will regret teasing me like this.”

I chuckled, removed my fingers, and found the condom. The question burned my tongue as I stared at the foil-wrapped package, but I didn’t ask it and put on the rubber .

Kneeling between his legs, I coated myself with a generous helping of lube and hooked his ankles over my shoulders, exposing his hole. I rubbed my cock over his entrance and marveled at the sight of him. Flush-cheeked and rosy-lipped. Rumpled and perfect.

Mine , I thought. All mine.

I slowly sank into his body and groaned at how tightly he gripped me.

It was fucking glorious. The heat of him around my cock was intense. Every cell in my body sang. When I bottomed out, I needed a second to catch my breath.

Sweat peppered my temples, and an earthquake rocked my foundation. My emotions were rawer than I thought. I’d been so terrified for his safety all day that I’d barely kept myself together.

“Come here, D.” Tallus drew me into a kiss. I couldn’t seem to coordinate my limbs or mouth. “Let me feel you,” he said against my lips. “Move.”

I rocked into him, savoring the connection.

Maybe I wasn’t a perfect lover. Maybe I couldn’t give him everything he desired in bed.

I had innumerable faults and scars enough to last a lifetime, but Tallus owned every meaningful part of me, everything worth having.

It may not be much, but it was his. I was his.

The pleasure mounted much faster than usual, rippling and building like an approaching thunderstorm.

I wanted to both chase it and keep it at bay for as long as possible.

Needing a reprieve before I plunged over the edge too soon, I shifted to my knees, maneuvering Tallus upright with me so he sat on my cock with his legs around my waist.

He clung to my neck as I cradled his lower back.

His grin as I jacked my hips and drove into his willing body was heartrending .

“This is new,” he said. “You don’t often mix things up.”

It was true, but tonight was different, driven by fear. “You feel fucking amazing.”

He rode my cock like he’d danced earlier. Gyrating. Grinding. Rocking and rolling his hips, and fuck if my mind didn’t want to explode.

“Gonna make you come.”

“Yes.” I trembled, the storm steadily approaching.

“Fuck me like you mean it. Come on, D.”

I closed my eyes and chased the high.

“Oh god yes. That’s incredible. Harder, D.”

His cock brushed my abdomen with each steady jerk of my hips, leaving a wet smear of precum behind.

I drove into his willing body with abandon, unwilling to stop, unable to slow. Needing. Wanting.

Taking.

Every time he said hard, I tried to obey. I wanted to please him. I didn’t want him to think me cowardly. I wanted to keep him in my bed for the rest of my life. If I could give Tallus a fraction of what he gave me, I would consider it a win.

His sudden cry and hot release hitting my abdomen came as a shock. Tallus squeezed his eyes shut, cursed, and did all he could to drive himself onto me as he rode out his pleasure. It was beautiful and hot as shit.

It took all of thirty seconds before the roaring maelstrom of my own orgasm pummeled me. I lost control of my thoughts as I chased the euphoria, slamming home, emptying every ounce of myself into the condom.

Time and space seemed to shatter, and it was a long time before the pieces reassembled, and I came back to myself. Sweaty from exertion, I wrapped my arms around Tallus, securing my hold so he wouldn’t go anywhere.

He rested his cheek against my shoulder, his heart beating so wildly I felt it resonate in my own body. I buried my face in the crook of his neck and inhaled. “Did I hurt you?”

“No.”

I brought my mouth to his ear. “Are you sure?” I’d lost control. I’d taken him with more rough handling than ever before.

“Positive.”

“Mine,” I rasped.

“Yours, D. Always yours.”

Carefully, I maneuvered us so we were lying down. I wanted to stay inside him for as long as possible, but my sated body soon had other ideas. Tallus was quickly losing the battle with sleep, so I left him for a moment to dispose of the condom and find a damp cloth.

I cleaned us up and curled my much larger body protectively around his. Before the stress of the past couple of days returned, I fell asleep.

Less than four hours later, the ringing of my phone startled me awake.