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His mouth came down hard on hers, his lips moving over hers, urging hers to open so he could taste her while his hands made short work of unbuckling the belt around her waist, tossing it on the floor. He drew down her skirt, all while his mouth and lips and tongue played havoc with her senses.

She’d never been undressed by a man before, not even with Brett, which should have shocked her, but curiously, didn’t.

She would have assumed Devlin would be clumsy as there were a lot of buttons, but he wasn’t.

He was gentle. Experienced. Fast, yet slow at the same time.

As he slid her blouse from her shoulders, his mouth and hands replaced the material, skimming along her skin, awakening feelings she had forced away for much too long.

He removed her corset cover then reached behind her, and loosened the ties of her corset.

Unhooking the garment, he let it fall to the floor.

He pulled her chemise over her head then tossed it on top of her other clothes then slipped the pins from her hair, loosening the tight bun at the back of her head.

He thrust his hands into her shining locks, loosening them even more before gently laying the soft strands over her shoulders.

She was naked, except for her stockings, and waited while he removed his shirt and trousers and drawers, the moonlight gleaming on his skin, glinting off the dark hair that covered his chest, revealing his broad shoulders, lean waist and long legs.

Her eyes opened wide, trying to see everything in the semi-darkness, as he lowered her to the mattress, his weight and warmth so very welcome.

His breathing deepened, as did hers, as his mouth took possession of hers.

She felt a rush of passion deep in her soul.

He took his time, exploring her, his hands seemingly everywhere—his fingers skimming along her throat, her earlobe, her shoulders, her collarbone…

and lower, followed closely by his lips, until his tongue swept across the taut peak of one of her breasts, making it harder.

He pulled it into his mouth and suckled gently.

She felt that gentle tug all the way to her toes, which curled inside her stockings, and let out a small whimper, the feelings simply too exquisite to tamp down.

It had been much too long since she’d been touched like this, but her body hadn’t forgotten. Already, there was a tightening deep in her core, a tension that couldn’t be denied. And she wouldn’t have denied it even if she could.

“Tresia,” he whispered as his hand replaced his mouth at her breast and he sought her lips once more, as if he couldn’t get enough of her kisses, which was fine with her.

She couldn’t get enough of him, loving the way his lips clung to her own, the thrust of his tongue mimicking what he would soon do. She brought her hands up around his neck, pulling him closer, her fingers tangling in the soft curls at his nape.

And then his hand slipped lower, moving away from her breast, slowly caressing her belly, the pads of his fingertips a little rough on her skin. And still, she didn’t mind. She wanted this. Wanted him with every fiber of her being.

He broke the pressure of his mouth on hers and left a trail of kisses to her breast then pulled the taut peak into his mouth to suckle gently even as he moved his hand lower still, coming to rest on her mons.

He didn’t go any lower, and she opened her legs a little wider, granting him access without a word, though there was no silencing her sharp indrawn breath or the fact that she lifted her hips into his hand.

She couldn’t stop the impatience that skittered through her.

He chuckled lightly, the vibration of which reverberated throughout her entire body, tickling her, adding to the tension building within her. “Patience,” he whispered against her breast but she wasn’t having any of that.

She was done with patience. She knew what she wanted—to feel him inside her—and she wanted it now so much so that she grabbed his hand and placed it where she wanted it, at the juncture of her thighs.

He obliged by slipping his fingers through the springy curls surrounding that sacred place, parting her folds to find the very core of her.

Tresia let out a sigh as his fingers slid against the wetness gathered there, then groaned as he slipped one finger into her, then another, stretching her, filling her.

She was ready. More than ready, her body preparing for the physical explosion she could feel building.

And then it happened. Faster than she thought possible as his fingers moved in and out of her in a slow, then fast rhythm, and she couldn’t stop the shout of satisfaction that escaped her as her body pulsed around his fingers, her nails digging into his back.

She stiffened, just a bit, a little embarrassed she’d lost control so completely, so quickly, then melted as he moved slightly and settled between her thighs.

He pushed into her, inch by incredible inch, stretching her to accommodate his width and girth and then he started moving in her, again slowly as if he didn’t want to hurt her, perhaps knowing how big he was and how long it had been for her.

And she didn’t care how long it had been.

She wanted this. Now. Her hips rose up to meet his, searching for the pure joy she knew they could share.

And then all thinking ceased, and she was left to just feel—the heat of him, the heaviness, the exquisite building of bliss waiting to explode again.

She could feel it happening as her nails dug into the taut flesh of his backside, urging him faster.

His strokes became longer, stronger, as he nearly pulled all the way out of her only to push back in, his whispered words telling her she was beautiful, telling her she felt so good, telling her he needed her as he built momentum so she could touch the stars once more.

The horrors of his day didn’t exactly disappear but became more bearable within the heat of Tresia’s body.

He had thought her comforting before, soothing his soul in ways he’d never imagined, but this—feeling her warmth all around him, hearing her little cries of satisfaction—this is what he needed—and wanted.

The comfort was still there, but there was so much more.

He hadn’t lied when he told her she was all that’s good in the world.

He felt her stiffen as he plunged into her, then heard her cry out, not in pain, but in joy, and finally, finally, he could let himself go.

He pushed into her, harder, faster, the muscles in his arms bunching, his heart racing, until he couldn’t control himself any longer and spilled his seed into her warm, willing body.

He didn’t speak. There were no words. It was so much more than mere satisfaction. So much more than the comfort she offered, the heat of her body pulsating around him. He stayed within her warmth, finding her mouth once more to tangle his tongue with hers.

And though he didn’t want to, he slowly withdrew from her, and rolled to his side, bringing her with him, his body relaxed, his mind no longer shadowed, or filled with self-loathing and guilt.

“Devlin?”

He didn’t respond, simply held her tighter, her body conforming to his, letting her warmth and understanding seep into him.

“I should go,” she whispered, her warm breath ruffling the hair on his chest. “Before Avery wakes up.”

He stiffened then forced himself to relax and dropped a kiss on her forehead. “I’d rather you stay. Avery expects to see you in the kitchen when she gets up.”

She snuggled a little closer and rested her hand on his cheek. “People will talk.”

“They will.” He laughed sardonically. “They’ll talk anyway.

Gossip spreads faster than a prairie fire around here.

” He turned slightly so he could face her in the semi-darkness.

If there were worry lines on her face, he couldn’t see them, though he did hear a touch of anxiety in her voice.

“But I don’t think it’ll be about you staying here.

” He paused as his fingers gently caressed her arm, trying to see into her eyes in the darkness, though he knew he couldn’t.

“I’m not ready to let you go.” He molded his lips to hers before he broke the kiss. “I need you, Tresia.”

He did need her. And not just now. She was his light in the darkness. The comfort he so desperately craved but hadn’t known he needed. “Stay with me.” He claimed her mouth in a kiss and when she wrapped her arms around him, his heart lightened.