Page 94 of Of the Stars and Sea

I groan, reaching my arms out.

Grasping.

Searching.

For anything that might keep me from floating away as he works his mouth on me.

Licking.

Suckling.

Nipping at my sensitive flesh.

“Grayson . . .” I whisper his name and he growls against me, the subtle vibration sending a flurry of butterflies into my core.

“You taste divine, Little Pearl,” he breathes against me before unleashing himself upon me again.

He takes his time, sweeping his tongue over me again and again until I am a puddle in his arms. Looking up at me, there is nothing but complete and utter adoration. It’s as if I am the most precious thing in the world to him.

In this moment,Iam his treasure. The one he’s been searching for his entire immortal life.

Grayson’s fingers delve into the flesh of my hips as his tongue sinks into me, tasting all that I am and shattering me until I am a quivering mess.

His name is a prayer on my lips as I lace my fingers through his hair and pull him closer. Rocking my hips against him, he lashes his tongue against my clit, sending me spiraling toward that edge until I’m teetering over it.

Sliding his arm across my stomach, he keeps me locked against the bed as his other hand retreats and I feel him pull away just enough that his fingers have room to tease my entrance. Letting my head fall back into the pillows, I close my eyes as he slowly pushes two fingers inside of me. The fullness I feel at the same time he works his tongue over my clit has me hurtling toward that cliff with abandon.

Feeling my climax build, Grayson pumps his fingers into me. Again. And again. Curling just enough to hit that spot deep inside, my body bursts with sensation as I scream out his name loud enough to graze the heavens.

His movements slow as I ride the aftermath of my orgasm and when my body has had enough, Grayson slowly removes his fingers and moves his lips upward, tracing a long line from my lower stomach to my neck.

I feel the weight of his body sink against mine and I relish in every delicious inch of where our bare skin meets. But frustration builds as I wriggle my hips against his hard length and I’m met with the linen fabric of his pants.

“You cruel little thing,” Grayson murmurs against my neck before he leans up and takes my bottom lip between his teeth then lets it go with a pop.

“You’ve had your fun. Now it’s my turn to get whatIwant.” I pout and move my hips up against his arousal once more.

Grayson chuckles. “Given the moans that came from that pretty mouth of yours, I’d think you receivedexactlywhat you wanted.” He kisses each corner of my mouth and roams his hand over my breasts in slow lazy movements that have my entire body heating with insatiable need again.

“This”—I reach down between us and palm his erection—“is what I want.”

Grayson lets out a low growl, the sound vibrating against my chest. “And you shall have it. In good time.” Lifting himself onto his elbows, he wraps a hand around my waist and flips me onto my stomach. “For now, I have plans to taste every inch of your beautiful body until there is no place left where my lips have not claimed you.”

Goosebumps rise along my back as he traces his fingertips all the way down my spine to the gentle curve of my ass. And when he plants a kiss between my shoulder blades, following the line he made with his fingers, I forget all the other wishes I have prayed to the heavens for.

There is only him.

Chapter 23

Adistant thrum of thunder sings across the ocean’s surface.

Grayson told his men to release the new anchor an hour ago to ensure we don’t venture too closely to the storm just south of us. It’s one more stop that we shouldn’t take knowing the threat that looms behind us.

After the hit theCaelestiatook off the shores of Emerald Cove, we have no choice. Not when the foremast is on the brink of collapsing on top of us and we need the sails in order to navigate safely through Dead Man’s Passage.

Wind breezes through the strands of my hair as I watch lightning dance along the distant sky. A flash of bright white light singes my memory as I think back to the beach when Grayson’s strong arms wrapped tightly around me as he pushed me out of the way of death’s grip.

After last night and everything we shared, that memory no longer haunts me the way it did before.