Page 41

In answer, I rose on my tiptoes, pressing my lips to his.

This kiss was different—slower, deeper, a conversation without words.

His arms encircled my waist, drawing me against him as my hands slid up his chest to tangle in his golden curls.

He tasted like something intoxicating and full of possibility, his mouth moving against mine with such exquisite tenderness that I felt myself melting from the inside out.

When we finally broke apart, both breathless, Anderic rested his forehead against mine.

“Tell me to stop,” he whispered, “and I will.”

“Don’t you dare,” I breathed back.

Anderic’s lips crashed against mine once more as his hands roamed my body, igniting sparks wherever they touched. I arched into him, desperate for more contact. My fingers fumbled with the buttons of his shirt, needing to feel his skin beneath my palms.

He broke the kiss, his eyes dark with desire. “Are you sure about this, Lya?”

“More sure than I’ve ever been about anything,” I breathed, tugging his shirt open.

That was all the encouragement he needed. In one fluid motion, Anderic lifted me, my legs wrapping instinctively around his waist.

“Bedroom,” I gasped between kisses. “Now.”

He didn’t need to be told twice. His mouth never left mine as he carried me up the stairs, my back hitting the wall with a soft thud when we reached the landing.

“Which room?” He murmured against my neck, his teeth grazing the sensitive skin there.

“Yours,” I breathed, my fingers tangling in his golden curls. “Definitely yours.”

The door slammed shut behind us, and we stumbled through it— a tangle of limbs and half-shed clothing. Anderic’s shirt hit the floor first, revealing the chiseled planes of his chest. I ran my hands over his skin, marveling at the way his muscles rippled beneath my touch.

“Your turn,” he growled, and suddenly I was on my back, Anderic’s weight pressing me into the mattress.

His mouth trailed hot kisses down my neck as his hands worked at the laces of my nightgown.

With agonizing slowness, he undid each one, his knuckles brushing against my skin as he worked.

When the last lace came undone, he stepped back, drinking in the sight of me.

I gasped as cool air hit my skin, the fabric pooling around my waist. Anderic’s eyes raked over my exposed chest, a low growl escaping his throat.

“Gods, you’re beautiful,” he murmured, his calloused palms cupping my breasts as his thumbs brushed over my hardened nipples. I gasped at the sensation, arching into his touch. Before I could take a breath, he lowered his head to capture a nipple between his lips.

I arched off the bed, a moan tearing from my throat as his tongue swirled around one peak, then the other, sending jolts of pleasure straight to my core.

His hand kneaded my other breast, his thumb brushing over the peak in maddening circles.

Every touch sent shockwaves of pleasure coursing through my body.

“Eric,” I whimpered, my hips grinding against his instinctively.

He released my breast with a wet pop, his eyes meeting mine. “Tell me what you want, Lya.”

“I want… I need…” The words caught in my throat as his hand slid lower, ghosting over my stomach.

“Yes?” His fingers danced along the waistband of my smallclothes, teasing.

“Touch me,” I finally managed, my voice barely above a whisper. “Please.”

Anderic’s grin was positively wicked as he slid down my body, pressing open-mouthed kisses to my skin as he went. He hooked his fingers under the fabric of my smallclothes, dragging them slowly down my legs.

I felt exposed, vulnerable, but the hunger in Anderic’s gaze as he looked at me banished any insecurity. I felt powerful. Wanted. His hands caressed my thighs, gently urging them apart. I complied eagerly, my breath catching as he settled between my legs.

“Like this?” He murmured, lowering his head to replace his fingers with his mouth.

The first swipe of his tongue against my core had me crying out, my back arching off the bed.

Anderic’s strong hands gripped my hips, holding me in place as he explored me with lips and tongue.

Each flick and swirl sent waves of pleasure crashing through me, building and building until I thought I might shatter.

“Oh god,” I moaned, my fingers tangling in his golden curls. “Don’t stop, please don’t stop.”

Anderic hummed against me, the vibration sending another jolt of ecstasy through my body.

He slid a finger inside me, curling it in a way that had me seeing stars.

A second finger joined the first, pumping in and out in a steady rhythm as his tongue continued its relentless assault on my most sensitive spot.

The tension coiled tighter and tighter, my thighs trembling as I teetered on the edge of release. “Eric, I’m… I’m going to…”

He redoubled his efforts, fingers moving faster, tongue circling harder. The dam finally broke, and I came with a cry of his name, my body convulsing with wave after wave of intense pleasure.

But Anderic didn’t pause; he worked me through the aftershocks, his movements gentling as I came down from my high. When he finally pulled away, his chin glistening with evidence of my release, I felt boneless and sated.

But as he crawled back up my body, eyes dark with unfulfilled desire, I knew we were far from finished.

Anderic’s eyes met mine, dark with desire as he braced himself above me, his golden curls falling forward to frame his face. My heart raced in anticipation, a mix of nervousness and excitement coursing through my veins. This was really happening.

“Are you sure about this, Lya?” he asked, his voice strained with the effort of holding back.

In answer, I reached between us, my hand finding the hard length of him through his trousers. Anderic’s breath hitched as I stroked him, his eyes fluttering closed for a moment.

“I’ve never been more sure of anything,” I whispered, tugging at the laces of his pants. “I want you, Eric. All of you.”

He smiled, lowering his head to capture my lips in a searing kiss. As our tongues danced, I felt the hard length of him pressing against my thigh. A shiver of anticipation ran through me.

Anderic broke the kiss, trailing his lips down my neck as he positioned himself between my legs. I tensed slightly, bracing myself for pain. This was my first time, after all.

He must have sensed my apprehension because he paused, looking up at me with concern. “Are you alright? We don’t have to—”

“No, I’m fine,” I assured him quickly. “Please, don’t stop.”

He positioned himself at my entrance, the tip of him just barely pressing against me. “Look at me,” he commanded softly.

I opened my eyes, meeting his intense gaze as he slowly, achingly slowly, pushed inside.

I gasped at the sensation, feeling a slight tightness but none of the searing pain I’d expected.

The stretch was exquisite; he moved carefully, giving my body time to accommodate him.

When he was fully seated, we both paused, breathing heavily.

“You feel incredible,” Anderic groaned, his forehead resting against mine. “So perfect.”

Anderic began to move, setting a gentle rhythm. Each thrust sent sparks of pleasure through my body, building slowly but steadily. I wrapped my legs around his waist, urging him deeper.

“God, Lya,” he groaned, his pace quickening.

I moaned in response, my hands roaming over the muscled planes of his back. The room filled with the sounds of our gasps and the creaking of the bed beneath us.

Suddenly, Anderic withdrew, leaving me feeling bereft. Before I could protest, he flipped me onto my stomach with surprising strength. His hands grasped my hips, lifting them slightly as he positioned a pillow beneath me.

“Eric, what—” I began, but my words dissolved into a cry of pleasure as he thrust back inside me.

This new angle felt incredible, allowing him to hit spots that made me see stars. Anderic’s hands gripped my hips tightly as he pounded into me from behind. The headboard slammed rhythmically against the wall, but I was beyond caring about the noise.

“Fuck, you’re so tight,” Anderic growled, his voice husky with lust. One of his hands snaked around to rub tight circles against my most sensitive spot.

The dual sensations quickly pushed me over the edge. I buried my face in the pillow to muffle my scream as waves of ecstasy washed over me. My inner walls clenched around Anderic’s length, drawing a groan from him.

As I came down from my high, I realized Anderic was still hard inside me. He withdrew again, flipping me onto my back once more. Before I could catch my breath, he was above me, pinning my hands above my head.

“I’m not done with you yet,” he said with a wicked grin, then thrust back inside me.

I gasped at the intensity, still sensitive from my previous orgasm. Anderic set a punishing pace, his hips slapping against mine. The new angle allowed him to hit a spot deep inside me that had me seeing stars.

“Eric, oh god,” I moaned, straining against his grip on my wrists.

He leaned down, capturing my lips in a bruising kiss. “Say my name,” he commanded, his voice rough. “I want to hear you say it.”

“Anderic,” I gasped as he hit a particularly sensitive spot. “Anderic, please!”

His rhythm became erratic, his breathing harsh against my neck. With a final, deep thrust, he buried himself to the hilt. He stilled above me, groaning my name as he spilled inside me.

We lay there for a long moment, both of us breathing heavily.

My body tingled with lingering pleasure, every nerve ending alive and singing.

I could feel the strong, steady beat of his heart against my chest as our breathing slowly returned to normal.

Anderic’s weight pressed me into the mattress, but I didn’t mind. It felt comforting, grounding.

He shifted slightly, and I felt a warm trickle between my thighs as he slipped out of me.

The sensation was strange but not unpleasant - a physical reminder of our intimacy.

Finally, he rolled off me, pulling me against his side.

I rested my head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat slowly return to normal.

His fingers traced lazy patterns on my back.

“Are you alright?” he asked softly, pressing a kiss to the top of my head.

I nodded, feeling boneless and utterly satisfied. “More than alright.”

Anderic tilted my chin up, his blue eyes searching mine. Then, he leaned in and kissed me sweetly, a stark contrast to our earlier passion.

“I love you, Lya,” he murmured against my lips.

My heart swelled at his words, warmth spreading through my chest like wildfire. Three simple words that held so much weight, so much power. I wanted to say them back—god, how I wanted to. The words perched on the tip of my tongue, eager to spill forth.

But something held me back. The weight of my secrets pressed down on me, stealing my voice. How could I say “I love you” when he didn’t truly know me? When he didn’t know about my past mistakes, the future I’d lived through?

Anderic’s blue eyes searched mine in the soft darkness, questioning my silence. I could see uncertainty creeping into his expression, replacing the tenderness that had been there moments before. His brows furrowed slightly as he waited for a response I couldn’t give.

I was paralyzed, caught between desire and duty, between heart and mind.

Instead of words, I wrapped my arms around him and buried my face against his chest, hoping he could feel what I couldn’t yet say.

In this moment, wrapped in his arms, I allowed myself to push those worries aside. Tomorrow would bring its own challenges. For now, I would savor this perfect moment.

I snuggled closer to Anderic, letting the steady rhythm of his heartbeat lull me toward sleep. As I drifted off, I realized that for the first time in a long time, I felt truly, completely happy.