Page 43 of This Blood that Bonds Us

“Or here.” The wetness of his lips reached my inner thigh.

I squirmed, and that only made him hold me tighter. His gentle laughter grazed my thigh as I uttered his name again.

There was slight pressure as his teeth bit into my leg. I thrust a hand over my mouth to keep quiet while he drank, and it was quick.

“Sorry, I’ve been daydreaming about that for a long time.” He moved to stroke me between my legs.

“How long?” I said, staring up at the skylight.

“Long. I tried not to think about it because I didn’t think I’d ever be able to or if you’d want me to . . .”

I arched into him while his fingers continued to circle where I needed him most.

“It hurt not to be able to touch you like this.”

It was too much. And yet not enough. Aaron had wanted me like this.

He’d imagined touching me and biting me. I’d imagined it too, but it was new for me. To want this, and to feel this safe and wanted by another person.

I wanted to open up to him.

The heat in my core swelled in the cold night air. I needed more pressure. Suddenly, I felt empty. Like I so desperately needed something I wasn’t getting. I’d never wanted someone to touch me in the way Aaron had until I met him. All that trust and love was overwhelming and pulling at me, urging me to make this moment last and give Aaron a part of me I’d given no one else.

“Don’t be quiet. I wanna hear you.”

“But—”

In my head, I ran through all the reasons that wasn’t a good idea, and I was going to tell him until his kisses up my chest stopped and he sucked my nipple into his mouth.

“Aaron,” I gasped.

The suction sent my hips grinding into his.

“You’re perfect,” Aaron said, his breath grazing my breast.

“Aaron, please.”

It felt good. It felt amazing, but I needed him closer. I needed him so desperately I could hardly get the words out. It was embarrassing to admit, but not in the arms of someone I trusted more than I’d ever trusted anyone.

I dug my fingers into his arm and pulled him up to me. “I-I need you closer to me.”

He rested his forehead on mine. “I’m yours, Burns.”

With carefulness, he lifted my hips to peel off my underwear, and worry drew across his face. His brow creased, and my underwear fell to the floor. I helped him with his pajama pants and leaned back on the bed while he kissed my forehead.

His kiss was soft, less sure than before.

“We can go slow.”

“You’re still holding back.” I cradled his face in my hands, with my bare legs wrapped around his waist.

Then I understood. Beneath his amber eyes was that Thing lying in wait and threatening to overtake him. He wasn’t just afraid of hurting me, he feared losing himself.

I knotted his hair in my hands. “You’ll always be my Aaron. No matter what.”

The light flickered in his eyes before he consumed me. One final moment of permission before taking every liberty he wanted and craved. It was at that moment I promised myself I would guard his soul from any terror and darkness. Aaron would always be my sunlight. Even if that meant I’d have to rip the moon out of the sky to save him from the dark.

“You have to tell me if this is too much. Don’t let me hurt you. Tell me and we’ll stop.”