The Accidental Countess (Accidental #2)(81)

He kissed her cheeks, her chin, her earlobe. “I love you. I love you. I love you.”

She pushed her fingers through his hair. “I love you, too, Julian.” Her words were a mere whisper against his lips.

He let his mouth slide down to her chin, her neck, the tip of her breast. His tongue lavished the sensitive peak. Cass groaned and arched her back.

“Shh, darling,” Julian whispered. “You’re gorgeous. You’re absolutely perfect, Cassie. Just like I knew you would be.”

“Julian, please,” she whispered against his mouth.

“Wait, darling. I want to make this unforgettable for you.”

His finger and thumb came up to pinch her nipple. He flicked the peak with his thumb, torturing her, while his tongue lavished the tip of her other breast. He switched, his mouth moving to the opposite breast while his thumb unerringly rubbed the opposite peak.

Cass’s head moved back and forth on the pillow, her eyes tightly closed, her jaw clenched. She’d dreamed of this moment. Dreamed of it for so long and now that it was here, truly happening, it was as if her dreams were true, all of them. His mouth continued its descent, moving down her belly, touching, licking, nipping at the sensitive planes. He trailed his rough fingertips over her rib cage. His hand made its way to the juncture between her legs. He stroked there, once, twice, right in the core of her where everything had gone soft and hot and wet and wanting. “Shh,” he breathed against her thigh as his hands moved around to cup her hips. His strong hands found their way beneath her thighs, up her knees, back to her hips where he cradled her in his hands.

Then his mouth was there, between her legs, and Cass stopped thinking. His tongue owned her, licked her, kissed her. She whimpered in the back of her throat. Her fingers reached down to tangle in his hair. She’d never imagined such a thing but she also never wanted it to end.

His tongue drew tiny hot circles against her most intimate spot, and the pressure and wet heat of it made Cass come undone. Her breath was ragged, releasing in sharp pants. Julian traced a finger around her hip until he inserted it into her wet warmth. She cried out and looked down at him through lust-misty eyes. “Julian,” she whispered.

He returned her look with a small satisfied smile. Then he turned his attention back to her and kissed her there, again, again. Until she was mad with wanting and desperate for release. He pressed his tongue against that perfect spot, nudging it, pushing it, stroking it in just such a way that pushed her over the edge. She cried his name this time, a keening wail while his large hands held her hips steady as she came.

*

Julian was panting as he lifted himself up and wrapped his arms around Cass. She’d found her release. It was important to him because he would inevitably cause her pain. He held her for a moment, her heart beating wildly, the smell and taste of her still on his hands and in his mouth.

“Cass, do you know—?”

She hid her face against his shoulder. “Yes. Lucy told me a few things.”

He grinned at that. “All right, then. I’ll do my best not to—”

She peeked up at him. “Don’t worry, Julian. I want you to make me yours in every way.”

She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him deeply. Julian’s entire body was humming with the need to release himself inside of her. Go slowly. Go slowly. Go slowly.

He rolled over, pulling her beneath him. “I love you, Cassie,” he whispered against her temple as he positioned himself at the entrance to her body.

“I’ve dreamed of this for so long,” she murmured.

Julian broke then. Sweat on his brow, he pushed himself only a fraction of the way inside of her. She was so tight, so tight and wet and hot. And, oh God— He clenched his teeth. Going slowly would be the death of him.

Cass moaned then and put her palms on either side of his face. “You’re so handsome, so handsome, and noble and—”

“God, Cassie, don’t.” He groaned through clenched teeth.

“I want you,” she whispered. “I want you so much. I can’t stand it. I—”

She gasped. He pushed his way inside her to the hilt and the momentary flash of pain on her face made him stop and kiss her cheek, her forehead, her temple. “I’m sorry,” he murmured.

“Don’t stop. I’m fine,” she whispered back, a smile replacing the wince. “I’ve wanted this for so long.”

Julian closed his eyes. He braced his hands on either side of her head and pulled out and pushed back into her again, again, again. With every stroke he felt more alive. With every tilt of his hips, he felt more love. With every pulse of her heart under his, he knew it was right. This woman was his destiny, his past and his future. This is why he had lived, to come home and be loved by her. He just hadn’t known it until this moment.

He opened his eyes and nudged her with his forehead, his strokes never ceasing. He wanted to wait, to make her come again. But he couldn’t. The unequaled perfection of feeling her wrapped around him made him want to shatter into a thousand pieces.

“Julian, I love you,” she cried, just before he exploded inside her and collapsed on top of her.

He kissed her hair and pulled her fiercely against him.

*

Several minutes later, Julian rolled off Cass and pulled her tight to his chest. “I’ll never let you go, again.”