The Raven (The Florentine #1)(115)

Raven touched his belt, her eyes fixed on his.

He nodded.

She undid his trousers, pushing them over his hips. Then she sat back on her knees, taking a moment to admire the V that sloped from his hips.

William stood before her, proudly naked, his erection substantial and strong.

She looked up at him. “Do you ever wear underwear?”

“Never.”

She wrapped her fingers around him, admiring his cool smoothness. Bending and kissing him softly, she brought him into her mouth.

He twined her hair around his wrist, a rumble escaping his chest.

He tasted different. That was the first thing she noticed.

His flesh felt human, but cooler, the skin no doubt tougher. But his flavor was . . . indescribable. Not delicious, certainly, but preferable to a human male, in her estimation.

She pleasured him with her mouth, hoping he was enjoying himself.

By all accounts—the fierce look in his eyes, the sounds from his lips, and the way he clutched her hair—she was successful.

But he was restrained.

He kept tension between his hand and her hair, but didn’t tug or pull. Nor did he push her head down. In fact, he seemed quite content to remain still, allowing her to control the interaction.

“You delight me,” he whispered. “You have an exquisite mouth. But now it’s my turn.”

She smiled up at him, more than a little proud of herself.

William deftly undid her dress, tossing it aside.

“Ah.” He breathed out, staring at the black strapless bodysuit she was wearing.

She frowned. “Don’t you like it?”

“I like it a great deal.” His eyes moved up and down, taking in every inch of the satin fabric. “Black is my favorite color.”

“I didn’t know that.” She winked.

He pressed a light hand to her chest, urging her to lie back. His lips moved to her breasts, through the bodysuit, as his fingers dipped between her legs.

“I like that,” she murmured, squeezing his wrist.

“So do I.” His hand moved to her bottom, where he traced the ascending strip that formed the thong.

He licked his lips.

He rolled her on her side, simply so he could admire her bottom, cupping and squeezing with both hands.

He slid a finger across the thong between her legs, tantalizing her.

Raven moved to her back once again and parted her legs. William’s expression was triumphant as she moved in concert with his hand.

Without warning, his fingers withdrew and he was peeling her out of her bodysuit.

He took her hands in his and extended them to her sides before lowering himself to her body.

A few urgent kisses, a few tugs on her nipples with his mouth, and he pushed inside her.

She closed her eyes and exhaled. He stretched her almost to the point of pain, but she welcomed the fullness.

William moved slowly, his mouth joined to hers before it descended to lick her breasts.

She lifted her hips to meet him, enjoying every movement, every thrust.

“How do you feel?” He spoke against her collarbone, kissing a line from shoulder to shoulder.

“Beyond words.” She flexed her hands in his, lifting her head to kiss his brow.

He released her hands and dropped his own to her backside, gripping her as he entered more deeply.

His eyes met hers and, for the first time, she saw uncertainty in them and not a little worry.

She pushed his hair back from his forehead. “Are you all right?”

“Of course.” He stifled a groan.

“You make me feel pretty.”

“For so you are. Noble and brave and pretty. Your body is soft and inviting.” Now he groaned as if tortured. “You threaten my self-control.”

“Then let go.”

“I can’t,” he gritted out through clenched teeth.

“Feed from me.”

He stilled, planting himself deeply inside her.

She felt his body tense and excitement radiate from his skin.

“Are you sure?” He traced the arch of her eyebrow, his eyes alert.

“I want to give this to you. To give myself.”

His gray eyes grew eager but his expression was guarded.

“I can feed elsewhere and share what we have in this bed only with you.”

“I’m offering myself to you because I—I care about you.”

He saw it in her eyes, the depth of her feelings.

For a moment, he was tempted to deny her and himself.

But the moment passed.

“It will change things,” he warned. “Once you give, you’ll want to give yourself again and again. Once I taste you, I won’t want anyone else.”

“Please.”

He gave her one last searching look before kissing her fiercely.

“Ignosce mihi,” he murmured.

She felt his lips trail to her neck, cool and firm. Then she felt his tongue, licking and tasting.

Finally, she felt his teeth, nipping.

His hips pulled back and moved forward, pushing inside her quickly and deeply. A few more movements and she fell, her arms and legs clutching him as she climaxed.

Her orgasm was interrupted by a piercing pain in her neck. In an instant, the hurt was replaced by the pleasurable sensation of William’s mouth, his lips and his tongue, sucking on her.