Page 25 of Flameborne: Fury (Emberquell Academy #2)

“I want this to last,” I growled, tipping her chin up when she tried to look away. “The dragons will be a while. We have time. I want to enjoy you, Bren. I want you to enjoy me.”

“I do,” she said without hesitation. Then she stepped closer, pressing herself right up against my belly and chest, her eyes wide and liquid in the brightening sun. “I enjoy all of you, Donavyn. I want you to enjoy me.”

I huffed. “You’ve made a habit of achievements, first try,” I said dryly.

She smiled, then as I took her braid and began to wrap it around my fist, intending to pull her up into a kiss, she surprised me by drawing the soap up and down between her breasts, then sliding herself down my body, hands gripping my ass, until I was treated to the deeply erotic sight and sensation of my cock sliding between her breasts to emerge above them.

When my eyes widened she smiled and pulled her elbows tight against her sides, plumping her breasts further and moving, bobbing in the water until I was clean—and shaking, twitching, fighting orgasm.

I still had her braid wrapped in my fist, and on her next rise, I pulled her up. Grabbing the soap from her, I tossed it back to the shore, and pulled her against me, kissing her so harshly our teeth clashed.

She sucked in, but clung to me, one arm around my neck, the other clawed at my back.

Lifting her again, I walked us deeper into the water until she began to float, then made myself break the kiss.

She whimpered and opened her eyes, wrapping her legs around my thighs, but I shook my head. “No, let yourself float. I want to touch you.” My voice was gruff as if I’d used it harshly all day.

A small V appeared between her brows, but she did as I asked. I turned her so her back was to me and she let herself float as I walked us deeper, until she lay in the water with her head on my shoulder and her body spread like a table before my gaze.

“God, Bren,” With the water taking her weight, I could use both hands to draw up under her thighs to her hips to her sides, then up, over her breasts, stroking and teasing until she wriggled and her breath grew faster.

Holding her to me by her breast, I dropped one hand into the water, then underneath her, stretching to cup her ass, then slide my hand up, between her legs.

Bren’s breath caught. I was startled by the heat in those sweet, soft spaces, in contrast with the cold water.

The first time I entered her with a finger she jerked.

There was a small splash as one of her feet kicked.

But then she reached up and back with both hands, lacing her fingers behind my neck and holding her shoulders up, out of the water, so her breasts floated right beneath my chin, and I could reach her more easily.

I didn’t have to urge her to spread her knees. As I touched and teased, slid and plunged, she found my rhythm and rolled into my touch, her knees falling wider, giving small, reflexive kicks now and again to keep herself near.

My breath grew from shallow rasps to harsh pants as I felt her heat and how much she wanted me.

Soon, I couldn’t resist and dragged her back into the shallower water, until it lapped at my ribs.

I whispered to her to let go of my neck, and turned her around, taking her mouth the moment I could reach it, grabbing for first one knee and pulling it up over my hip, then the other, until she clung to me, ankles locked at the hollow of my back, her hands clamped at my neck.

“I have you, Bren,” I rasped, then kissed her again, deeper, slower, swallowing her sighs. Bracing one arm at the hollow of her spine, I leaned her back over it. “Let go. I’ve got you,” I whispered.

She opened her eyes when I broke the kiss, her gaze clouded with pleasure, but still flashing with uncertainty.

“I’ve got you. I’ve always got you,” I murmured, my heart pounding, praying she’d hear the words and how they meant so much more than this moment. “Let go.”

Her throat bobbed, but then she let go with one hand, letting it slide down my arm as she sank backwards into the water. Then she did the same with the other, until both her palms rested on my forearms and I held her at the hips, speechless at the stunning sight of her laid out before me.

She’d let me and the water take her weight, so it rippled up and over her ribs, pooling around her breasts. And the more she relaxed, the more her head went back, raising her chest until she was anchored against me by her knees and the rest of her floated.

Bracing my feet shoulder-width apart, I took her by the hips and positioned her over me, cursing against the surge of desire that threatened my control as I found her, twitching as I watched myself glide home in a single, slow slide, moaning at the sight of her sweet, soft flesh sheathing my straining length, and the delicious wave of pleasure that skated up my spine and coursed under my skin, sparkling higher when I pulled her hard against me, and she tightened around me.

She arched and the water rippled, but I had her anchored on me, and couldn’t resist the sight. I drew all the way out of her, sliding myself up against her to tease that tender nub, swearing when she bucked and almost sank because she tried to grab for me.

“Let me, Bren. Let me have you,” I rasped.

With a whimpering sigh, she let her arms go slack, bowed her back, and dug her heels into my ass in an attempt to pull me closer.

With a husky chuckle, I teased her with two more slides against that beautiful, slick skin, then entered her again, this time pulling her onto me in a short, sharp thrust that made the water splash and ripple around us.

She gasped, but hollowed her back and let herself float as I moved her, pulling her gently away by the hips, then quickly back to me so the water tripped and sang around our moving bodies. I was dazed by her, overcome, so needy. I marveled as she offered herself, taking me eagerly into her.

But then the dragons cried and their calls soared across the easing winds and the rush of need that jolted through me was reflected in her, the bond resonating and expanding our want.

Bren gasped and reached for me. “Donavyn, please!”

Unable to deny her, I sat back in the water and pulled her up, water splashing, dragging at her as I helped her rise over me, until she was seated on me, ass on my thighs, and her hands in my hair.

Her eyes, hooded, glazed with desire, found mine and she came to me like she’d been called, her kiss demanding, insistent.

Hands in my hair, tangling her fingers and pulling me into her.

I laid one arm along her spine, thumb and fingers framing the base of her neck, then pulled her down with a thrust that opened her mouth and closed her eyes.

I thrust again and her head sank back with my name on her tongue.

Again.

Again.

Gasping, panting, body trembling, I fought not to come while she arched and cried, one hand slapping to my shoulder to brace as she began to ride me, hips flexing, back bowed, breasts jiggling as we rolled together and apart, together and apart, the water rushing into the space between us, then forced out as we met again.

And then, as I picked up the pace and began to groan and puff, she tensed around me.

Sliding that hand from her back to clamp on her shoulder, I braced against my own thrust, pulling her onto me. The second time, her breath stopped. The third, her jaw went slack.

She tensed, pulsed, tightened, clenched . She was close, so close.

Then her eyes locked on mine and she bit her lip, and after a moment’s hesitation, she reached between us.

But I caught her hand and shook my head, unable to form the words past my heaving breath.

But with an eager growl, still using one hand on her shoulder to pull her to me, I reached between us and laid the pad of my thumb to her and pressed, sliding from where I took her, up.

Again. She tightened.

Again. She stopped breathing.

Again. Her back bowed.

The fourth time she shattered under my hand, crying my name, twitching and jerking, clamping down on me with such strength that the pleasure pushed me over the edge too.

We crashed together, the bond swelling and glowing, pulling at my ribs with the same suction her body dragged at mine in the water.

For long moments it was like we’d been pulled under the waves. I didn’t know where earth ended and sky started, where my flesh ended and she began.

I knew only the perfect, fiery explosion of having her, of knowing my arms were only full when she was within them, and my soul would die with hers.

With a guttural cry, I pitched forward, pulling her to me, burying my face in her neck, clawing at her sides as she threw her arms around my neck and held me to her while we were both rocked, quaking with the overwhelming bliss.

Only then, slowly… slowly… we went still.

The sky returned overhead. The water and earth below. The wind whispered against our wet skin and chilled, raising the small hairs. Somewhere in the distance, the dragons groaned.

And here, against my body, Bren sagged.

She fell into my chest, her forehead against my neck, lips on my collarbone, and her body loose, her breath fluttering over my wet skin.

I gathered her closer, whispering her name, still trembling with the force of my climax. And to my utter joy, she gripped my back, then raised her chin, only far enough to whisper in my ear.

“Donavyn, please… be mine?”

My soul shifted on a fault line, my chest cracking open to reveal my heart.

Desperate, blundering, I lifted my head and took her face in my hands, forcing her to meet my eyes and not look away.

“Bren, you’re my mate. I love you.”

Her eyes grew round and she went very still in my arms. Fear wanted to steal my strength, but I wouldn’t allow it. I knew. I knew. “Hear me: I’ll never leave you. Never.”