Page 9

Prophet

“Prophet?” Her voice trembled, and I wondered what she was going to ask. “Can we… can we go to the bedroom?”

I’d worried I’d gone too far earlier. Now it seemed like she wanted more. Was she pushing her boundaries, trying to see what she could handle before she broke? I’d give her whatever she needed, but I wasn’t sure I liked the idea of her trying things she wasn’t quite ready for yet.

“Only if you’re sure.” Did she even know what she was asking for? Or was I reading too much into her request?

She nodded and stood. I switched off the TV and took her hand, lacing our fingers together. Leading her to the bedroom I’d been using, I fought the urge to ask once more if this was really what she wanted. If she changed her mind, she knew she could tell me. I’d told her often enough I wouldn’t take more than she wanted to give, and that we’d go at her pace.

The room was dim, the moonlight filtering through the windows. I hadn’t bothered to make the bed this morning and the covers were tossed to the end of the mattress. I turned to face her, reaching up to cup her cheek. I brushed my thumb over her bottom lip.

“Ares, you can still walk away.”

“Kiss me,” she said, sounding desperate. I didn’t know what was driving her right now, but I wouldn’t tell her no. She could have whatever she wanted.

I nodded and leaned in slowly, my lips brushing against hers gently. The kiss was soft, tentative, and she closed her eyes as we explored each other’s mouths. I felt her shudder slightly as I deepened the kiss, sliding my tongue against hers. Her hands went to my chest, then she eased one up to my neck, pulling me closer. Her small frame pressed against mine as if she needed the contact as much as I did.

I moved us over to the bed, sitting down with her in my lap. Her legs wrapped around my waist, and I groaned at the feel of her soft skin against mine. The moment it felt like she was starting to panic, I’d stop. It amazed me she’d made this much progress already. As much as I wanted this moment to never end, I didn’t want her to feel pressured to be intimate.

“Still okay?” I murmured, trailing my lips down her neck, sucking lightly on the sensitive skin there before moving to her collarbone. She smelled like strawberries and vanilla.

“Prophet,” she moaned, arching into my touch. “I’m fine. Please don’t stop.”

I saw the desire in her eyes, and grinned. Her fingers dug into my hair as I placed featherlight kisses along her ribcage, making my way toward her breasts. My right hand cupped one of them through the thin fabric of her tank top, finding the nipple already hard beneath it. She gasped as I rolled it between my fingers teasingly before pulling away to remove her top entirely.

I froze, wondering if I’d taken things too far. The flush on her cheeks, and the warmth in her eyes were reassuring. I tried really fucking hard to ignore her beautiful breasts. My mouth practically watered with the need to taste her.

“I’ll let you know if it’s too much.” She bit her bottom lip. “But I really want this, Prophet.”

“You know my name. When are you going to call me Hunter?”

“Hunter,” she said softly.

She was absolutely stunning. Her small breasts with their pink nipples stood proudly against my touch as I ran my tongue along them and then teased one with my teeth for a moment before sucking hard enough to make a soft noise escape from her throat. A shudder racked her body, and she gave a soft cry.

Ares moaned softly as my lips met hers again, my tongue teasing her bottom lip before sliding inside her mouth. She opened up for me, as if she needed the connection just as much as I did. Her hands raked through my hair, pulling me closer. I held her tightly, feeling an urgency I’d never experienced before.

We broke apart, both of us in desperate need of air.

“More,” she whispered.

It was a demand I couldn’t ignore. I trailed kisses down her jaw and neck until I reached the hollow of her throat. She arched into my touch, gasping softly when I sucked on her skin. She whimpered softly, the sound of her need filling the room.

“Do you really want this?” I asked between breaths. “Because I’ll stop if it’s too much.”

She nodded. Her lips parted and her breath came out in little pants.

“Prove it,” I murmured before stripping off my shirt and tossing it aside. It wasn’t the first time she’d seen me without a shirt on, but the appreciation in her eyes still made me feel like a fucking king.

I tossed her onto the bed and settled over her, wondering how I’d gotten so lucky.

“You’re so beautiful,” I whispered against her skin, before returning to kissing my way down her body. My tongue danced around her belly button before I moved over the soft skin of her hips and into the waistband of her panties.

Slowly, I eased them down her legs, giving her ample time to stop me. When she just stared at me with complete trust, I removed them completely and let them drop to the floor.

I pressed a soft kiss to her inner thigh. “I love you so much, Ares.”

She gasped when I parted the lips of her pussy and teased her with my tongue. She tasted like paradise, sweet and sour all at once. My fingers found her entrance, slipping inside and finding how wet she was. She was ready for me, more than ready. But I knew she’d never experienced pleasure before. I wanted her to come before I took things any further.

Ares’s hips bucked. “More! I can handle more. I’m not scared, Hunter. I know it’s you, and I want this so much.”

I added another finger, and she took it all, moaning softly. She looked like a fucking goddess. My other hand found her mouth, feeling her warmth on my fingers as I brought them to her lips. She didn’t pull away and sucked gently, eyes meeting mine.

“Oh fuck,” I groaned, feeling a mix of emotions washing over me. Pure lust, fear at what we were doing, and love for this woman beneath me. She kept surprising me, in the best of ways.

I positioned myself at her entrance, my cock hard against her pussy as I pushed inside. She gasped as I started to thrust slowly, watching her face for any signs of distress. Her skin was flushed and sweaty. I took my time, savoring the moment, and trying to draw out the pleasure for her.

She cried out softly when I changed the angle, the head of my cock rubbing inside her in a different spot. Her nails scratched lightly at my back as she lifted her hips, taking me in deeper. I felt her tighten around me, then the heat of her release as she cried out my name.

I devoured her lips with mine, my strokes becoming erratic as I neared my own climax. I broke the kiss and watched the emotions playing over her face.

“You feel so good, Hunter. Don’t stop.” She met me thrust for thrust, her hips undulating with each stroke. Our kisses were heated and sensual, with just the right amount of bruise to them.

I took her harder, no longer holding back. As I pounded into her, she clung to me, making the sweetest sounds. I couldn’t last another second and I groaned as I came inside her, filling her up. We hadn’t discussed kids, but she was mine and I knew she wanted a family. The thought of her round with my child made my cock twitch inside her.

Pulling out, I fell to the bed beside her and tugged her into my arms. “Still doing okay?”

“I’m fine, Hunter. That was perfect.”

“I didn’t trigger any past memories or cause you any pain?” I asked.

She lightly touched my chin. “No, you didn’t. I love you. More than anything in the world, and I’m so glad I’m yours.”

I kissed her softly. “I’m never letting you go, Ares. You’re mine now and forever.”

I held her close and listened as her breathing eventually slowed and she fell asleep. I’d taken a gamble, and this could have backfired in the worst way. My woman was so strong and amazing. I’d never met anyone like her before.

When she was ready, we’d go home. Until then, we’d enjoy our time at the beach. If she had any setbacks, or panicked, we could always pay a visit to the doctors next door. They’d decided to extend their vacation until we left, in case Ares needed them. I really owed them for this.

“Hunter,” she whispered. I looked down and noticed her eyes were still closed.

“Sleep,” I murmured.

She nestled closer, her warmth seeping into me. She looked peaceful, and I hoped she wouldn’t have any nightmares. I wish there were a magic pill she could take that would wipe away all the ugliness in her past. Since there wasn’t, I’d do my best to help her in whatever way I could.