Page 122 of Sanctuary of the Shadow
“Of course I forgive you,” she said fervently. “I love you.”
Studying his hands with intense focus, he murmured, “From what I understand about love, I think I love you too.”
Her eyes filled with tears. Again. But this time, these were the kind of tears she wanted to spill.
“You really want this. With me.” His head lifted, and he searched her face carefully as if looking for signs of doubt. She let him stare all he wanted—he wouldn’t find a single one.
“Yes, you silly man. I already told you that.”
He smiled slightly, though it was still hesitant. “Darya said you were stubborn.”
She chuckled. “The most stubborn. And I always get what I want.”
“I’ve never had what I wanted before,” he said, breaking her heart into a hundred pieces. “I never even knew how to want something. Until you.”
“I want you to have what you want.”
“You’re what I want.”
“And you have me.”
He was still smiling softly at her, but he looked so uncomfortable, his big body squished into her tiny chair, that she felt compelled to say, “Will you come closer so I can see you better?”
His smile widened. “When I said that to you yesterday, you ran at me so fast, you blurred.”
She grinned. “I bet you can go faster.”
She was right. She didn’t even see him move. One moment, he was in the chair, and the next, she was flat on her back with him above her. Their eyes met. He was still smiling, and it was so pure her chest ached.
But then, he brushed her hair aside and saw the scars on her shoulders where his taloned wingtips had pinned her to the ground. His face fell.
“Don’t go there,” she said. “Stay with me.”
Their eyes met again. “Always.”
“Always.”
He lifted a finger to trail down her cheek. “You let me touch you with my wraith skin.”
“Mm-hmm.” She squirmed at the memory.
“You liked it.” His gaze heated.
“Oh yes.” She shivered in appreciation. “And I want to do it again.”
Fiery eyes burning, he dropped his head and kissed her, needing no further prompting. Immediately, she wound her arms around his neck, pulling him closer, as close as she could get him. Their bodies pressed together, the heat of his skin like a brand against her, even through the barrier of the bedsheet.
“I want everything,” she murmured, his taste and scent swamping her senses. “Don’t hold back.”
Despite her urgings, however, he continued to kiss her leisurely. Forearms braced on either side of her head, he simply covered her with his heated body and explored her mouth with lazy flicks of his tongue.
With her arms still wrapped around his neck, she tried to pull him even closer, lifting her pelvis to seek the friction she craved. He let her play, but he was in no hurry to give her what she wanted.
The sheet tangled around her suddenly felt obtrusive, and she unwound her arms, struggled to yank it off, and then kicked it away, leaving her naked beneath him. Still, he never moved to assist her, content to watch hungrily as she wriggled beneath him.
Sliding her hands up his strong back, she buried her fingers in his silky hair and clenched them slightly, enough to convey her impatience. “Raith.”
It was all she needed to say. His lips curved into a devastating smile, and she just knew he’d been waiting for her to beg a little.
