Chapter Fourteen

Drake reached the top of the stairs, Heather in his arms like she’d always belonged there, and forced himself to break the kiss. “Which way?”

“You can put me down,” Heather whispered, her lips brushing his.

“Just guide me.”

She pointed to the left. “My room is at the end of the hall.”

Her teeth teased his neck, and the heat of her tongue on his skin had his erection threatening to burst through his jeans. He lurched forward with a steady pace toward the mahogany door. Freeing one hand from her backside, he twisted the knob and stepped into her room, but as he turned to close it, she reached over and gave it a push.

“I got it.”

The breathiness in her voice added to his hunger for her as the door slammed behind him. If he wasn’t buried inside of her soon, he would go mad. He headed for the antique queen-size bed, and even delirious with desire, the carpenter in him couldn’t help but admire the polished walnut sleigh-style bed.

Sturdy.

He lay over her on the mattress, his hand sliding up underneath her skirt. Her skin was soft against his calloused hands, and he struggled to keep from gripping her too tight as he claimed her lips again. Heather’s hand covered his, encouraging his fingers to be anything but gentle.

Smiling as he moved his hand farther up her leg, he kneaded the curve of her arse. Her moan tempted him to strip off her thong, open his jeans, and take her right now. He ground his teeth struggling to slow down. He hadn’t been with a woman in…decades. And never a woman he had real feelings for, not since he’d been mortal, not since Lucy.

Heather was special. She made him yearn to be the man he’d thought lost centuries ago. Tonight, he needed her naked in his arms. He wanted to lose himself in her. And he ached to give her more pleasure than she’d ever had in her life.

Even if it killed him to take it slow.

He traced his other hand down her body and removed her underwear, dropping it on the floor as he lifted her skirt even higher. Her pale skin seemed bathed in eternal moonlight, and it called to him like a siren song.

“You’re so beautiful.”

Her lashes fluttered over her bright blue eyes, her breathing coming faster the closer he got to her core.

“You have too many clothes on,” she whispered.

“Patience, lass. I’ll take them off soon enough.” He settled between her legs, pressing a kiss to her silky inner thigh, his stubble grazing the smooth skin. “Sorry…I didn’t shave today.”

She lifted her head, her gaze locked on his. “I’m not a porcelain doll. You don’t need to be gentle with me.”

“Good.” He grinned and settled between her legs once more. “Because I’m famished.”

He buried his tongue inside her, moaning at her taste as he gripped her arse and angled her hips up to give him better access. Her smooth legs tightened against his rough face while he explored her until he found the spot that made her cry out his name. Fuck. He almost came in his damned pants.

He worked his tongue faster, enjoying the way her fingers pulled at the back of his hair. Her hips writhed as he fed on her eagerly, teasing her with his lips and teeth. When her body shuddered, she cried out, and he slowed, turning his head and kissing her thigh.

“That was…” She stroked her fingers through his hair, her voice breathless. “…Damn.”

He rose onto his elbows. Seeing color flush her cheeks was almost as sexy as hearing her call out his name. “If I’m not inside you soon, this night is going to be over much faster than I hoped.”

Her sexy smile had his erection pulsing in his jeans as she sat up and unbuttoned them. “Maybe I can help.”

He yanked his shirt over his head while she lowered the zipper. Before she could ease them off his hips, he pulled his wallet free of his pocket and took out a condom. He hadn’t used one in years, but he’d been hopeful enough today to buy a pack while he was out.

Heather took it from him. “Allow me.”

He kicked his jeans and underwear aside and stood up, his erection proudly at full mast. Heather’s gaze moved up and down his body as she wet her lips. “You should never wear clothes.”

The corner of his mouth quirked as he bit back a chuckle. “Would be dangerous to the family jewels to be makin’ repairs to a pirate ship in the buff.”

“Maybe just naked with me then.” She opened her mouth and leaned forward, sliding her fingers along his shaft as she wrapped her lips around the tip.

He dropped his head back, eyes closed as he struggled to regain control while every part of him rushed toward release. Her tongue teased the head of his shaft before she slowly took in his full length. He buried his hands in her long silky hair. It would be so easy to lose himself in this moment, to surrender. His tenuous hold on self-control was weakening in the paradise of her soft lips.

“I’m too close,” he growled, his fists tightening in her hair.

Heather settled back until he slid free of her mouth and tore open the foil wrapper. He braced himself for the cold shock of the latex cover, but it didn’t materialize. She must’ve warmed the packet while she’d been driving him to distraction.

As soon as the condom was in place, he lifted her shirt over her head and removed her bra. He laid her back and balanced over her while she lifted her hips and shimmied out of her skirt. The sight of her naked beneath him had him wishing he could stop time and keep this moment forever.

Slowly, he lowered himself over her, his lips fusing to hers as their bodies tangled together. She was made for him.

And he never wanted it to end.

…

Seeing every tight muscle of Drake’s tan, chiseled body hovering over her had her heart racing, and the moment he bent his arms and rested on top of her, skin to skin, her body responded, hungry for more all over again. She ran her hands down from his broad shoulders, along his smooth back, and teased the curve of his ass with her fingernails, enjoying the way his hips pressed even closer until the tip of his erection brushed her opening.

His kiss was intoxicating. Hunger, passion, yearning, and something else…she couldn’t put her finger on it, but there was something natural, something right about the way their bodies fit, the taste of his mouth. She’d spent her entire life as an outsider, never finding a place where she belonged, where she was accepted completely.

Until now.

Drake caressed her neck with his lips, the heat of his breath warming her entire body. He moved lower, his tongue teasing her collarbone. She’d been wrong before about believing she could keep things physical between them. Every touch branded her heart. She wasn’t a virgin, but this connection with him made everything seem new. The way he hungered for her made her feel sexier than she ever had before. Fearless.

She arched her back, her whole body aching for his attention. He kneaded her breasts, his rough thumbs circling the hardened tips of her nipples. Slowly, he lifted his chin, his gaze locked on hers as he bent to take her nipple into his mouth. She gasped, digging her nails into his ass. He growled around her nipple and pressed his hips forward, joining their bodies in one slow, powerful thrust.

Every inch of him filled her, reminding her again that he was made for her. The sexiest man she’d ever met. It made no sense, and perfect sense, all at once. Her hips writhed, grinding into him, drinking in the pleasure.

She was far from a sex goddess. In fact, she’d only had two lovers before Drake, but none of that mattered, because something about the way he looked at her convinced her she was the only woman on earth.

He kissed her lips again, breathing words into her mouth. “Never want this to end.”

She moaned and rolled them over. Usually, she wasn’t eager to be so exposed during sex, but nothing about being with Drake was usual. The inner voice that always whispered she would never be enough, telling her she was too different, too odd, that she’d never measure up, remained silent. Drake silenced it.

With him, she was herself, and shockingly, that appeared to be enough for him.

She sat up, gasping as he sank even deeper inside her. His strong hands gripped her waist, supporting her. When she opened her eyes, she found his gaze worshipping her body. “You’re so sexy,” he whispered.

And she believed him. Until tonight, she’d never felt it. Not really.

She lay over him, working her hips along his shaft faster as she nipped at his earlobe. “How close are you now?”

He turned his head, catching her lips. God, his crooked smile did her in. “Very close…” His hand moved between them, his fingertips toying with her core. “Come with me, love.”

Between the rumble of his deep voice, the stroking of his fingers, and the frenzied thrusts of their hips, she was a goner.

Her inner muscles clenched tight around him, her fingernails digging into his shoulders as her orgasm flooded her. Drake grabbed her ass with his free hand, clamping their bodies together as he exploded deep inside her.

For a few seconds, she couldn’t move. Her entire body tingled with energy, with a flurry of conflicting emotions she wasn’t willing to examine. She collapsed onto his chest, pressing a sweaty kiss over his heart. “That was…I…no words.”

He chuckled, kissing her hair and wrapping his arms around her. “Aye.”

His heartbeat, strong and steady in her ear, became a lullaby. Her eyes drifted closed.