Boarlander Silverback (Boarlander Bears #3)(38)

“Neither have I, but I want to see you. And I don’t want to do this if I’m going to hurt your claiming mark.”

Ooooh. There it was. And again, his gaze dipped to her bandages. He could’ve gotten away with four of those big square Band-Aids, but instead he’d wrapped up her entire shoulder like she was part mummy.

“I feel…” Kirk sighed and shook his head. “I’ll Change if I hurt you.”

“You’re feeling protective.”

Kirk nodded hard and lifted impossibly bright eyes to her. His gaze was so bright it was hard to hold in the mirror, and his face looked different now. Harder. Feral, as if his gorilla was right there ready to rip out of him.

Slowly, Alison spread her legs and arched her back, presenting for him as she watched his reflection. The corner of his lips turned up in a smile, and he dragged that hungry gaze of his down her back as he traced the outer edge of her tattoos with a light touch. “You’re so beautiful.”

Her throat tightened at how honest he sounded. He really did think her pretty. Strange, after feeling so unnoticeable for so long. He should hear how much he meant to her. Breath shaking, she whispered, “I’ve always felt invisible, but not with you.”

“Not invisible, Ally Cat.” He rested his chest against her back and kissed her uninjured shoulder with such tenderness, it made her want to cry. “You’re all I see.” In the mirror, his eyes were so open, so raw and vulnerable she wasn’t alone in this freefall. Kirk was quieter, more reserved with his feelings, but he had jumped over the edge with her, just like on that cliff. He was in this.

She pushed backward, reveling in the feeling of his hard shaft against her. Kirk ran biting kisses down her neck, straightened his spine, then gripped her hips. She was so wet, so ready, and when he slipped the head of his cock into her, she moaned and rolled her eyes closed. He pushed into her deeply and grunted as his body went rigid, then relaxed as he pulled out slowly. When he rammed into her again, curiosity got the best of her. She opened her eyes. Behind her, Kirk was utterly sexy. Big, brawny man whose body had gone hard, and she wanted to watch his powerful thrusts into her. He was clenching his teeth, his eyes were glowing, and the growl in his chest was constant. And as beautiful as he looked right now, slamming into her, he also had an edge of panic in his eyes, his attention on her bandage. He liked it from behind, and he liked it hard, but this wasn’t going to work if his protective instincts were in overdrive.

She pulled herself forward and turned on him. He didn’t fight her cutting them off so suddenly, just cupped her cheeks and kissed her lips. “I’m sorry,” he murmured against them.

“Come here,” she whispered, tugging his hand gently. Alison led him to the bedroom and pulled the comforter down.

“I’ll hurt you,” he said, balking.

“You won’t.” She climbed in and held up the covers. “We’ll do this easy.”

“Easy,” he said in a voice that couldn’t pass for human anymore. He slipped under the covers and pulled her close against his chest.

Alison slowed them down. She ran her hands over the mounds of his abs and then raked her nails gently up the strong planes of his back. Goosebumps rose under her touch, and he jerked his hips like he couldn’t help himself. The growl in his throat settled and softened, and his dick throbbed against her belly. She’d worked herself up to white hot by touching him, so when he drew his fingertips up her hips, against the curve of her waist, over her ribs, then cupped her neck as he kissed her, she was nothing more than putty in his capable hands.

There he was—Gentle Kirk.

His focus was no longer on her claiming mark, but on pulling reactions from her body, and she loved this. Making love under the waterfall had been amazing, but this right here was perfect. It was saying “I love you” without words. It was him coveting her body and urging her closer to climax with just a touch of his hands. With kisses and nibbles. When he dragged his lips down the base of her throat and sucked gently on her breast, she gasped quietly and held his head, encouraging him to continue lapping at her sensitive skin as she rocked her hips against him. His movements were grace and power, and when he drew her nipple between his teeth and held her there, she was frozen with how good he felt against her right now. Slowly, he pulled her on top of him, held her close, his arms tight around her back as he rolled his waist and slid into her.

Kirk’s heart was racing so fast she eased back and asked, “What’s wrong?”

He was breathing too hard, eyes uncertain as he searched her face. Kirk brushed her hair behind her ear and shook his head like he was having trouble finding the words. He pushed into her again, easy, holding her gaze. “I’ve never…not like this.”

Oh, she got what he was saying.

Kirk had f*cked.

He’d never made love.

She kissed him to hide her happy grin. Nipping his lip, she murmured, “Good.”

His kiss was so soft, so slow. He didn’t force his tongue into her mouth or push their pace. Instead, he licked the closed seam of her lips, and when she parted for him, he slipped inside of her just enough for her to taste him. God, she loved him. They might not have said the words yet, but this right here was loving.

Kirk cupped her neck gently, his calloused hand on her skin as he angled his head and kissed her deeper. Alison set their pace slow because it seemed to be what he wanted now. And she wasn’t in a rush. If she could stay in this moment forever with him, she would’ve, and from the careful attention he was paying her body with his touches, with his kisses, Kirk felt the same.