Page 189 of Moonlit Fate

The air thickened between us, heavy with the scent of woodsy cologne and musk that was uniquely his. It filled my senses, making my head spin in the best way possible. He placed a soft kiss on my jawline and then moved up to nip at my earlobe. I gasped at the sudden rush of pleasure that shot through me.

“I’ve missed you more than I can say,” he murmured against my skin.

He ran his hands through my hair as he pulled back slightly to look at me.

“I’ve missed you too,” I whispered, my voice thick with emotion. His lips met mine again, and I let out a soft moan. Our tongues danced, exploring each other’s mouths as if they were mapmakers tracing uncharted terrain. His hand found its way under my shirt, his fingers skimming the small of my back andtrailing down to my hip. My nails dug into his shoulders as I pulled him closer, desperate for more of his touch.

Atticus’s warm breath fanned my face, and the scruff of his beard lightly scratched my cheek. I shivered in delight and deepened the kiss. With each passing moment, our emotions intertwined more deeply, becoming one pulsing ache that yearned for release.

He pushed me back onto the bed, his body covering mine. The mattress creaked beneath our combined weight as he hovered above me, his intense gaze never leaving mine. Slowly, he began to explore my body with gentle kisses that left blazing trails of desire from my jawline to my collarbone. I arched into him with a needy groan, wanting him closer still. His touch was featherlight but electrifying, making me ache for more as he traced patterns on my skin with his lips and tongue. Every touch set off a chain reaction of shivers that rippled through me.

My breath came out in short, ragged gasps as Atticus’s lips brushed against my collarbone, his hot breath raising goosebumps on my skin. “Atticus,” I whispered. “I love you.”

He froze, then moved off me. My throat threatened to close up when he didn’t say anything. Then, finally, he said, “I love you too. More than I can say. More than I ever thought possible.”

Tears leaked from the corners of my eyes as he trailed more kisses down my chest, his hair tickling my neck, before planting the barest of kisses on each breast. It was too much, too soon, and yet not enough. I trembled with anticipation beneath him, every nerve-ending on fire.

His hand slipped lower down to cup my stomach, fingers skimming over the fabric of my pants. He tugged at the buttons, his tongue wetting his bottom lip as he looked up at me for permission. I nodded, unable to speak as his fingers tightened the hem of my shirt and pulled it up and over my head slowly.

Skin met skin as he tossed aside his shirt, and our bodies pressed together in a mosaic of heat and cold. Our breaths came out in pants, hearts thundering in our chests like drums beating in time with the rhythm of our desire. His mouth trailed hot kisses down my stomach until it hovered above the waistband of my pants. His gaze flickered to mine for a moment before he growled and bit down gently on the fabric, tearing it apart with his teeth.

The cool air hit my overheated skin, making me gasp as I arched into him. His hands slid under me, spreading my legs apart as he pressed closer between them. His cool touch against the bare skin of my inner thighs sent shivers racing through me from head to toe. I couldn’t help but moan as Atticus’s lips closed around the sensitive, hardened nub between my legs. It was a feather-light touch, barely there, but enough to make me scream out in pleasure. My hips bucked off the bed, seeking more of his attention. His tongue flicked out, lapping gently at the moisture that coated my aching core. My back bowed off the mattress as I arched into his touch, loving the way his facial hair tickled my inner thighs.

I let out a string of incoherent moans as he continued to tease me, taking me apart piece by piece with those soft kisses and gentle laps of his tongue. His fingers danced along my sides, caressing my skin and adding to the pressure building within me. It felt like floating in a dream while drowning in pleasure at the same time. Warmth and cold melted into one as his mouth moved lower still, kissing and licking and sucking until he found what he sought.

“Oh God,” I gasped as he circled the tip of his tongue around my clit, making me writhe beneath him. My body tightened in response, desperate for release. “Atticus,” I groaned as he teased me so perfectly. My hips bucked wildly, begging for more. I tangled my fingers in his hair, urging him closer still. Everyswipe of his tongue sent shockwaves through my body, each lick more intense than the last. He gripped my hips, holding me down.

The bed creaked under our weight as we moved together, each thrust of his tongue sending shockwaves of pleasure through me.

He sucked hard on my clit, sending electricity shooting through every nerve-ending. I let out a long, shuddering moan, arching into his mouth. My legs trembled as I clung tightly to his neck. The world seemed to stand still for a moment before a shattering cry fell from my lips as I came undone beneath him. Waves of pleasure rippled through me as his name spilled from my lips in a desperate whisper.

Atticus pulled away slowly, looking up at me with satisfaction written all over his face. His eyes were dark, reflecting the storm in his soul. His thumb followed the path of his kisses as he leaned in to kiss me again, this time with a sense of urgency that matched mine. Fireworks exploded inside my chest, unfurling in molten threads of heat throughout my limbs.

He rolled off me and pulled me into an embrace, our skin sticky with sweat and desire. He trailed kisses down my neck and collarbone, teeth nipping at each point they met until reaching my breasts once more. He cupped one in his hand, massaging it lightly as he tweaked my nipple.

“Atticus,” I murmured, my fingers trailing up his muscled back. Goosebumps rose on our flesh as our heartbeats quickened. The scent of sweat and lust wrapped around us like an intense perfume—intoxicating and heady.

He pulled back slightly to meet my eyes, a question in his gaze. I nodded eagerly, hungry for him to continue what he had started. He grinned widely before slipping out of his pants, freeing his erection from its confines. Hesitantly, I reached for it, then curled my fingers around it.

I sat up and pushed him onto his back, one hand on his shoulder and the other wrapped around his length. Once he was on his back, I leaned over him, pushing my hair out of the way as I stooped down to take him into my mouth. I welcomed the taste of him against my tongue, liking the feel of his length in my mouth. My cheeks hollowed out as I took him deep into my throat, eliciting a moan. His hands tangled in my hair, holding me closer to him as he threw his head back in pleasure.

I looked up at him as I swirled my tongue around the tip of his cock, watching his eyes roll back in his head with each stroke. His chest rose and fell rapidly with every breath, his muscles tense beneath my touch.

He pulled me off him suddenly, groaning loudly. “Fuck,” he breathed out roughly. His hands held onto mine before they tangled into my hair again, pulling me up his body and claiming my lips in a searing kiss.

Atticus rolled over onto his side, propping himself up on one elbow as he looked down at me with desire blazing from his eyes. He ran his fingers through my sweat-dampened hair while tracing patterns on my skin with his free hand. “You are so fucking sexy,” he growled against my lips.

His hands traveled down my back, over my ass to my inner thighs as I straddled him. The friction between us intensified with each passing moment. He groaned against my lips as I slowly lowered myself onto his shaft, taking him deeper into me with every inch. Our hips met in a grinding rhythm, moans escaping our lips in sync. His strong arms encircled me and held me in place as his tongue danced with mine once again. Every thrust sent shockwaves through both of us until we were primal beings, hungry for release.

Atticus’s fingers dug into my hips, urging me to move faster, harder against him. I bounced up and down on his cock as he licked and nibbled on my neck. Sweat beaded on our skin whilethe sounds of flesh slapping against flesh echoed around us. My breasts swayed with each movement, nipples brushing against his skin.

I broke the kiss when I felt myself getting close again, biting my lip to stifle my moans as I neared the peak. My muscles clenched around him, taking him deeper inside me with every contraction. His name fell from my lips in a desperate whisper that tasted like victory and desire mixed together. He responded by thrusting upward, finding his own release just as I did.

Atticus’s chest rose and fell in rhythm with mine. We were twined around each other, and it felt so right. The sounds of the night filtering in through the windows was a soothing melody as we caught our breath.

“Aria,” he whispered. His arms tightened around me. The movement was protective, instinctual. There was a heaviness in the way he said my name. It triggered an alarm inside me. I propped myself on one elbow to look at him. His eyes were troubled seas under the pale moonlight streaming into the room.

“I killed Larkin.”

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