Page 41 of Asking Fur Trouble

He leaned back against the cushions, pulling Bess against his chest. The warmth of her body against his sent his bear into a contented rumble.

“Thank you,” he murmured into her hair, inhaling her floral-citrus scent. “For tonight. For the escape. For...” He gestured broadly at the sky and water. “For reminding me who I am.”

“And who’s that?” She twisted to look up at him, her expression playful yet earnest.

“Charov Mavac.” He grinned, feeling freer than he had in weeks. “Bear shifter. Adventure seeker. King who doesn’t have to sacrifice one to be the other.”

The gentle lapping of waves against the hull created a rhythm that seemed to sync with his heartbeat. He wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her closer.

“So, what does King Charov do now?” Bess asked, her body melting against his.

“Right now?” He traced the curve of her hip. “He stops thinking about being king altogether.”

His mouth found hers, claiming her lips with the pure, primal need that had been building for the past two weeks. His bear roared with pleasure as she responded, her fingers threading through his hair. The sweet taste of her flooded his senses.

He deepened the kiss, one hand cupping the back of her head while the other pressed firmly against her lower back. He was done holding back his desires and done pretending that this wasn’t exactly where he wanted to be…alone with her.

“I’ve wanted to do this properly since that night in my room,” he murmured against her lips, nipping gently. “Without grief clouding everything.”

Bess smiled against his mouth. “Is thisproperly?”

“Not even close.” He rolled them so she was beneath him, the cushions conforming to their bodies as the boat rocked gently. “But it’s a start.”

Her laughter was cut short as he captured her mouth again, hungry and demanding. The bear in him wanted to claim and mark her, to make absolutely certain that everyone would know she was his. But the man in him wanted to savor this perfect moment beneath Nova Aurora’s stars.

TWENTY-EIGHT

The door to Charov’s chambers closed with a soft click, and Bess barely had time to catch her breath before his hands were on her, guiding her toward his massive bed that dominated the room. The moonlight spilled through the tall windows, casting a silvery glow over the dark wood and rich fabrics. His touch was firm but not rough, his fingers tracing the curve of her waist as he backed her toward the edge of the mattress.

“You looked stunning tonight,” he murmured, his deep voice low and thick with desire. His eyes roamed over her, lingering on the way the emerald gown clung to her curves. “But I think you’ll look even better without this.”

Her heart raced as he reached behind her, his fingers deftly unfastening the intricate clasps of the gown. Cool air brushed her skin as the fabric slipped away, pooling at her feet. Charov stepped back, his gaze scorching as it traveled over her bare body. Bess crossed her arms over her chest instinctively, but he caught her wrists, gently pulling them away. “Don’t hide from me,” he said, his deep voice a command softened by something tender. “You’re perfect.”

She flushed under his praise, her pulse quickening as he guided her onto the bed. The sheets were cool against her back, but his body was warm as he leaned over her, his hands sliding up her thighs. “You’ve been on my mind all night,” he admitted, his lips brushing gently against her neck. “Every time you smiled, every time you laughed—I wanted this.”

His mouth trailed lower, nipping lightly at her collarbone before moving down to her breasts. Bess arched into his touch, her breath catching as he took one taut peak into his mouth. His tongue flicked over her sensitive skin, sending shivers through her. She tangled her fingers in his hair, urging him closer, and he chuckled, the sound vibrating against her skin. “Impatient again, aren’t we?”

“You’re teasing me,” she accused, her voice breathless.

“And you’re loving it,” he shot back, his grin wicked as he moved lower. His hands slid down her sides, his thumbs brushing the delicate skin of her inner thighs. Bess’s breath hitched as he settled between her legs, his hot breath fanning over her most intimate place.

“Charov—”

“Relax,” he murmured, his hands gently spreading her thighs wider. “Let me take care of you.”

His mouth was on her before she could protest, his tongue flicking over her sensitive folds in slow, deliberate strokes. Bess gasped, her hands clutching at the sheets as waves of pleasure rolled through her. He was relentless, his tongue working her clit with a skill that left her trembling. She bit her lip to stifle a moan, but he glanced up, his eyes dark with desire.

“Don’t hold back,” he said, his voice rough. “I want to hear you.”

As if to emphasize his point, he slid two fingers inside her, curling them just right to hit that spot that made her see stars. Bess cried out, her hips lifting off the bed as he drove her closer to the edge. His mouth returned to her clit, sucking and teasing until her entire body was taut with anticipation.

“Charov, I’m—oh, God?—”

Her climax hit her like a freight train, her body arching off the bed as she came apart. Charov didn’t let up, his fingers and mouth working her through every shuddering wave until she collapsed back onto the mattress, utterly spent. He kissed his way up her body, his lips brushing softly against her hip, her stomach, her breasts, before finally capturing her mouth in a deep, heated kiss.

“You’re magnificent,” he murmured against her lips, his voice thick with primal satisfaction. “But I’m not done with you yet.”

Charov straightened, his hands moving to the buttons of his formal black suit. His movements were deliberate and unhurried as if he were savoring the anticipation. Bess watched, her breath hitching, as he stripped off the jacket and then the crisp white shirt underneath, revealing the chiseled planes of his chest and the hard lines of his abs. Her eyes dropped lower as he undid his pants and pulled them off. Her pulse quickened when his thick, hard cock sprang free, already straining for her.

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