Page 91 of Between Wrath and Mercy

“Starting here,” He lightly circled my peaked nipple, already hard under my shirt, before he dragged his hand downward, circling my navel. “And here.” I froze, not breathing, as he touched the part of me I was most insecure about, and I willed him to continue for a few reasons. “And finally, here.” His hand slid down farther, rubbing at the seam of my breeches, and I exhaled, a light throaty sound coming out with my breath.

“Now, do you think we can remove some of these clothes?” I swallowed and nodded, barely able to function because of the low throb between my legs. Rainier’s hand rested in that spot, unmoving. I decided then I needed him to move. I sat up and pulled my shirt over my head, my hair finally falling free from my braid as I moved. I laid back again, lightly tossing the shirt across my stomach. He already saw me the night of the tírrúil attack, but I was still nervous for him to see how my body had changed. It wasn’t that I was ashamed of it, but I knew his memories of me were different. The body he’d wanted then was quite unlike the one I wore now. He chuckled as he rolled on top of me, my thighs opening on instinct to cradle his hips between my legs.

“That’s much better.” He leaned in and kissed me, his soft lips against mine a delightful contrast from his hardness pressing between my legs. He didn’t linger, pushing his lips to my pulse point on my neck, tracing down, until his lips fastened onto my tight nipple. I couldn’t help it when I arched off the pallet, the delightful warmth and wetness of his mouth overwhelming.

“So sensitive,” he murmured as his tongue trailed to my other breast, and I nearly lost my mind when he grazed his teeth over my nipple and lightly tugged. I cried out, arching off the pallet even farther as he swirled his tongue over the small hurt. He swiped my shirt off of my stomach and continued kissing down my body.

“I hope you weren’t covering up for a reason.” He looked up at me, his head tilted with the question, and I felt my cheeks burn.

“You got harder, and I got softer.” I gave a nervous laugh as I deflected, squeezing his biceps to illustrate my point. He studied me for a moment before he started kissing my stomach, dragging his tongue over me between kisses.

“I love your soft.” Another kiss. “You don’t have any idea how much I’ve fucking needed your soft.” I felt my throat constrict. I didn’t know what I expected him to say, but it wasn’t that. I could tell that our time apart had hardened him to a degree, in more ways than one, and I knew he referred to more than my body. I wanted to give that to him—my gentle, my tender. And the fact that he needed it? I was only more inclined to give everything to him. I slid my hands over his muscled shoulders, the smooth warmth of his back under my fingertips. He reached for the button on my pants as he peered up to me, waiting. I gave a nod as I felt my hands start to shake.

“I want to hear you say it.” Though his eyes were dark in the firelight, I could see them simmer with lust and mischief.

“Please.” My whisper was half-choked.

“Please,what?” He bent down to lick around my navel, and I inhaled sharply.

“Please touch me.” I nearly moaned the words.

“That’s a good girl.” His answering grin was feral as he unbuttoned my pants, sliding his fingertips into my waistband and hooking his fingers in with my undergarments, pulling both down my body. He sat back as I lifted my hips, and he pulled them off over my feet. I delicately laid my legs on either side of him as his eyes traced a path down my body, roaming from my collarbones past my breasts, my soft belly, and down to that spot between my legs, spread bare before him. I watched as he knelt over me, the shadows of the firelight flickering over his body, his arousal apparent. He was everything I’d ever dreamed and more. I watched as his hand wrapped around the base of his cock, and he slid it up his length once and again a second time. I exhaled a shaky breath as he leaned over me, his hands pinned on either side of my body before he lowered himself, so he was pressed against me, naked skin on naked skin.

“You are the hardest lesson in self-control.” I felt him reach down and rub himself against me, my wetness making him glide easily over me, every muscle in my body tightening as he did it. I considered changing my mind, considered grabbing him and sliding him inside me, and when he started kissing down my body again, I felt almost disappointed. He eased backward until he was on his knees on the ground, and he put a strong hand under each one of my thighs as he pulled me closer, almost to the edge of the pallet. I felt so exposed, open to him, and my heart rocketed through my chest. I let out a small sound of surprise, and he chuckled, the smile on his face so handsome. It didn’t seem fair that I was destined for him, that the man in front of me was meant to be mine, forever. And all he got in return was me. I would count my blessings for the rest of my days if Mairin was right.

He wordlessly hooked one of my legs over his shoulder and pushed down on my other knee, spreading me wide open. His eyes met mine as if giving me another chance to stop him.

“Please.” I pleaded again, a low whine rising from inside me. He grinned then as he wasted no more time. He used one hand to spread me open as his tongue moved down my slick center, hard and claiming. There was nothing gentle about the way his tongue moved over me, and I let out a whimper of pleasure.

“Gods, I’ve been dying for the taste of you. You’re so wet for me.” His tone was almost reverent. I felt his breath on the most intimate part of me and nearly trembled. He turned, kissing my inner thigh, tracing his lips up to where my leg met more sensitive areas. Nibbling and sucking the sensitive skin, he moved his way back to where I needed him, gently sliding his tongue between the delicate flesh. He was taking his time. Dragging his tongue back down, he circled my entrance for only a second before he pushed in deeply. A strangled moan burst from my lips as he feasted on me.

“Am I the first to taste you?” He paused only for a second before his tongue continued its torture, pushing deep into me, deeper than I thought he’d be able to, and I groaned.

“Yes.” My voice was ragged, breathless. No one had touched me like this, made me feel like this. What he was doing felt almost decadent; too much for me to handle but too good to let him stop.

“Mmm, a shame. Not that I mind.” His tongue skimmed up the length of me again. “You taste exquisite. You taste like mine. If I’d gotten a taste of you back then, I would have died without you.” His words were a growl against my sensitive skin, and I shuddered against him.

He lowered his mouth to my clit and gently sucked. I let out a loud cry as I dug my hands into his hair. He traced his tongue from base to top again before focusing solely on that sensitive spot, sucking and nibbling ever so gently at the bundle of nerves until my eyes were rolling back in my head. I couldn’t stop the moans that kept coming from me, and I was almost embarrassed. Nothing had ever felt like this before. Rain’s encouraging noises vibrated against me, and it made it harder to stay quiet.

He stopped for a moment while he adjusted our bodies, bringing my other leg over his shoulder as well, pulling me even closer to him. I whimpered at his absence, and he looked up, grinning like a demon, his lips glistening in the light, before he returned his tongue to my clit. I pushed my head back and closed my eyes, luxuriating in the sensation. He used one hand to keep me spread open as he traced tiny circles on that spot, my legs twitching to the rhythm he wrote on my body.

“Give me those eyes, Em.”

I opened them, finding him watching me. He held my gaze, tongue still working me, as he slid one finger inside me. I cried out again and lifted my hips in answer. I couldn’t control myself as I began undulating, grinding on his hand. I couldn’t help it; I needed more. Wanted more. I felt him huff a laugh against me, and another moan broke past my lips. Release began to build low in my stomach and spine as warmth spread through my body. I bucked against his hand and face as he slid his finger into me, curling upwards into a spot that made me see stars. My voice came out a yell when I said his name, consumed. The fire was building throughout my veins, and I knew I couldn’t take much more.

“I want to hear you say my name again, just like that. Come for me, Em.” I felt him adjust again; it looked as if he grabbed himself, but I couldn’t see to be sure, let alone focus on much more than his tongue on me. His mouth was still there, nibbling out a beat on my clit he matched with his fingers as he slid one more inside me. I rolled my hips, moving on his hand with reckless abandon, pushing upwards against his mouth. I saw the muscles in his shoulder flex and realized he was matching the beat on his own body. There was nothing more arousing than watching him pleasure himself while he pleasured me. I felt white-hot all over, and I grabbed my breasts, squeezing tight, melding pain and rapture, as I ebbed over the edge.

“Divine fucking hell, Rain!” My voice was a shout, and I couldn’t stop myself as I nearly screamed, the orgasm crashing over me. Trying to keep my eyes open as I watched him, I felt them roll back as I arched off the pallet. He kept licking me and slamming his fingers into me as I moaned through the shockwaves, feeling myself pulse around his fingers. He exhaled hard on my center and let out a guttural sound as he finished, collapsing onto me.

The world stopped spinning, and everything went in slow motion as I laid there in the throes of ecstasy, too exhausted and sated to move. His head rested on my thigh for a moment or an hour, I couldn’t be sure, before he started kissing up my leg, and I shuddered. He stood then, and I watched his ass flex as he walked to his pack, where he grabbed a cloth and poured water on it from his canteen. Walking back, he pressed it to me, gently cleaning where he’d licked and where I’d become slick for him. I was still so sensitive I jerked a bit, and his touch became even more gentle, a small smile on his mouth, almost smug. Instead of my usual desire to humble him, I smiled back, exhaling as I watched him, in awe of the man he’d become. Part of me hurt, knowing I could have had those smiles all these years, this intimacy, this fire. I scooted farther up onto the pallet and pulled a blanket over me, suddenly aware of my nakedness. He cleaned himself up and knelt down where he’d been a few moments ago, cleaning the rug as well. I felt myself flush, thinking about the mess he made. I clamped my legs together tightly, remembering how it felt when he rubbed his cock on me. I needed to control myself. He finally put a damper on the brazier before he returned, crawling onto the pallet next to me and sliding underneath the blanket, his warm skin against mine.

He pulled me toward him and tucked me into his chest, kissing me on my forehead as he ran his fingers through my hair. I pushed a leg in between his, entwining with his warm body, wrapping my arm around him as I delicately traced my fingers across his back.

“I don’t want to add to what you’re going through; I don’t want to complicate things for you. But I can’t—won’t—go the rest of my life without doing that again. I hope you know that.” He gave me another smile, but I could tell it was a question he’d love for me to answer in time. But I wasn’t ready yet.

I didn’t have words, so instead, I tilted my head up and kissed him, soft and sweet. He had one arm tucked under me, his fingertips gently twirling my hair, while the other arm traced designs on my lower back, just like what I was doing to him. He kissed me back gently, and we both fell asleep like that with our lips on each other.

Chapter 30

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