Page 68 of The Mating Fire
Speechless, she couldn’t find words. “You like birds.”
Jared rubbed a thumb across her knuckles, his head bent. “I know, it sounds incongruous. A Krampus who enjoys bird watching. Hunting birds and eating them is more in line with my identity, I suppose.”
Jared raised his head. In his dark eyes, here among the towering trees and majestic valleys and canyons, she saw a new emotion flare to life.
Hope, mingling with desire.
“Maybe we should go back,” she murmured. “We can always see the waterfall another time.”
“Yes,” he agreed, his voice husky.
A minute later, they were back at the castle, only this time in his bedchamber. Emotions rolled through her; desire, needand overwhelming awe that she’d found someone who truly understood her.
Gone were the feelings of being lost, the life she’d always known abandoned. There was only Jared, her friend from online who liked birds, who connected with her on a much deeper level than any human ever could.
Their gazes met. He tilted his head. “A shower after our hike sounds like a good idea. Care to join me?”
“Yes,” she murmured.
Jared hefted her into his arms. A lock of black hair spilled into his face. So handsome, the face of an angel with devilish dark eyes. A beast looked out of those eyes. Her beast.
“You’re shivering. I have plenty of hot water to warm you.”
Jared pushed open the bathroom door. Very gently, he set her down on the floor. Slowly she stripped out of her clothing, until she stood before him nude. Desire and approval flared on his expression. Never had she seen a man look at her with such appreciation.
Nor such tenderness.
She stepped into the shower, big enough for two. Closing her eyes, Harper sagged against the wall, every nerve ending tingling with sheer arousal as he removed his clothing.
The slow rasp of a zipper caught her attention. Jared shrugged out of his clothing and removed everything. His chest was broad, dusted with dark hair.
Muscles and sinew flexed as he bent over and tossed his clothing aside. Harper’s breath hitched as she thought of the passion between them threatening to consume them.
Jared stepped into the shower. One arm locked around her middle as he stood behind her and twisted the knobs. Warm water cascaded over her tired muscles. Harper sighed as he murmured assurances. He pushed a hand through her hair, his touch oddly soothing.
Jared reached for the soap and began washing her. His touch was gentle as he slid the bar over her arms, her torso. Delicious warmth stole over her body. Harper closed her eyes as he slid the soap lower, between her legs. Her body cried out in frustrated need. She rubbed against him, feeling the hardness of his erection behind her.
Water beat against her overly sensitive skin. A slow glide of soap over her midsection. She felt his big body grow taut as he stroked the bar back and forth.
He set down the soap. Cupping her chin in one hand, he forced her to turn.
Jared took her mouth.
His lips were firm and commanding as he kissed her. His scent of pine and spice filled her senses, sent brimming with readiness. Jared coaxed her lips apart and plunged his tongue inside. Sexual need made her body soft and pliant, and willing. She craved him like a drug.
A drug that could destroy her, but she could not resist. Harper turned into the kiss, tasting him, her mouth moving against his.
His mouth was on her skin now, lips lightly tasting the droplets on her shoulder. Harper’s breasts tingled. She opened her eyes, saw her body glow blue with power.
Taking the soap from him, she smiled. “My turn now.”
Emboldened with her own sense of power, she stroked the soap over his torso, his long, athletic legs, his muscled torso, and finally his erect penis. Up and down as he shuddered.
She put her mouth on him, humming as he sagged against the shower wall and moaned. Licked him slowly like her favorite ice cream cone. Then he pulled away and grabbed the soap.
“My turn again,” he rasped.
Jared stroked the bar of soap up and lathered one breast. He trailed a finger lazily over a pebbling nipple. She ached for histouch. Moisture gathered between her legs, her body betraying her.
