Warrior (Relentless #4)(228)

“It’s warmer over here,” I explained as I made up her bed, glad for something to distract me.

After the bed was made, I lifted the blanket for her, trying not to look at her naked legs as she dropped her quilt and got into the bed. I covered her and went to the door. Opening it, I looked outside, relishing the freezing air against my heated flesh.

I locked the door again and doused the lantern since we didn’t need it with the fire. I could see well enough without either. I went back to sit on the floor beside her, keeping her between me and the fire. My wet jeans were uncomfortable, but I’d suffered a lot worse conditions.

“Aren’t you cold?”

I pulled the quilt up to her chin. “My Mori keeps me warm.”

Her eyelids lowered. “Oh. I was just…”

I stopped moving. “What?”

She bit her lip and raised her eyes to mine again, and the shy hope on her face made my breath catch. “We can share.”

“My jeans are wet,” I said huskily, my throat dry. Did she mean…?

“You could…take them off.”

Her whispered words fanned the fire already burning inside me. Desire made my voice gruff. “Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

I studied her face. She looked nervous but unafraid, and love shone in her eyes. I wanted her more than I’d thought was possible to want someone. I’d fantasized about her and longed to complete our bond. She was offering me both, and I found myself too humbled to speak.

Standing, I kicked off my wet boots. Her eyes followed me, and my breath quickened at the thought of her watching me undress. When I undid the button of my jeans, she turned her head toward the fire, sending a little pang of disappointment through me. I wanted her eyes on me, but I also understood her shyness. Tonight, we’d get to know each other in the way only a mated couple could, and she’d never again have reason to be shy with me.

I pushed the wet jeans down my legs. They landed with a soft thump, and I stepped out of them. My boxers followed, and I stood there for a moment before I knelt and lifted the quilt to lie beside her on the narrow mattress. I turned on my side, facing her with my head supported by my hand, and watched her profile as she stared at the fire.

“Sara.”

She swallowed. “Yes.”

I used my free hand to turn her face toward me. Wordlessly, I captured her mouth in a slow, deliberate kiss. Into every brush of my lips against hers, I poured my adoration and love for her.

I kissed her until her body relaxed beneath me. Raising my head, I looked at her as my fingers traced the planes of her face. My throat tightened at the love and trust in her eyes, and I didn’t think there were words to express my feelings for her.

“Being a warrior is all I’ve ever known, all I ever wanted. I thought I didn’t need anything else. And then I found you, and it was like finding the other half of me that I didn’t know was missing. You make me whole, Sara.”

“My warrior,” she said softly, her eyes sparkling with tears. “I used to think the empty place in my heart was from losing my dad. But I was wrong. My heart was just waiting for you to come and fill it up.”

I claimed her lips again. Her fingers weaved through my hair to cling to me, matching my hunger with her own. Our breaths came in small pants, and she set my blood on fire until I ached from the need to possess her.

Mine, my Mori growled impatiently, demanding I finally take what was ours. It strained against my control, wanting to be free to claim its mate.

“Mmmm,” Sara protested when I broke the kiss. She tried to pull me back down to her, but I stopped her.

“Do you want this?” I searched her eyes for some sign she wasn’t ready.

“Yes,” she breathed.

“We can wait until –”

She touched my face. “Nikolas, I don’t want to wait. All I want is you.”

I trembled with desire as I rose up on one elbow to look at her. My body and my demon were ready for her, but her first time should be a slow, sensual awakening, something she would treasure.

I brushed my fingers against her brow then let them trail down her flushed cheek, across her full lips, and down her throat. When I reached the quilt, I eased it off her, letting it pool at her feet. I allowed my greedy gaze to pass over her bare legs and the shirt that had ridden up to the tops of her thighs, before I lifted my eyes to hers again.

Her eyes widened slightly when my fingers freed the first button of her shirt. A blush stole across her face, and her irises turned a deeper shade of green. I watched her as I slowly undid each button, savoring the way her lips parted in anticipation and her breath quickened.

When I released the last button, the shirt fell open. Still looking into her eyes, I laid my hand on her taut stomach. She sucked in a breath, sending a jolt of desire through me.

Jesus, she was killing me and she hadn’t even touched me yet.

I looked down as I began my exploration of her body, watching my hand touch her the way I’d wanted to for so long. My fingers skimmed across her stomach and over the top of her white lace bra to where her heart fluttered wildly.

“God, you’re beautiful,” I whispered, lowering my head to kiss her breast where it peeked tantalizingly above the top of her bra. I wanted the barrier between us gone, but I reminded myself I had to take this slow. I consoled myself by tasting her skin, feathering kisses across her breasts. She arched, baring her throat to me, and I eagerly moved my lips along the creamy column to cover her mouth once more.