Page 65 of Tail, Dark and Handsome: Celestial Mates
Something bright and tense shifted inside her, filling her with the zing of anticipation.
Chapter 13
Rehab? Rebel Cayne, former pop sensation, voluntarily checked in to a wellness clinic on the luxury destination of Fortune. A spokesperson for the Cayne family says they support Rebel in her choice to put her health first. Meanwhile, other sources imply the stint in rehab is not optional…
-Tal Tattler
Winter
One hour later, after the ship cleared the asteroid field and new command codes were set, Winter needed a shower. He craved several things, all involving Marigold, but a hot shower could suffice.
When he emerged from the cleansing room, hair damp and the towel slung low on his hips, Marigold waited for him outside his cabin.
His tail perked, asking her if she liked what she saw. The towel slid down precariously.
“Don’t make a big deal about this, but whose cabin has better soundproofing?” she asked.
He answered by pulling her into his. Their bodies slammed against the door as soon as it slid shut, Winter pinning Mari in place. He covered her in consuming kisses, wanting the air from her lungs, her gasps and moans, and her shivers of delight. Everything. He would have everything.
Mari tugged his ear, and the sensation went straight to his cock. He growled, his entire chest rumbling.
Winter unfastened the top of her trousers, then paused. This was a reaction to stress and coming down from adrenaline, he suspected, but their attraction had been a long time coming. He needed to be certain.
He met her gaze. “Yes?”
“Yes. Yes, please. I’m tired of waiting,” she said, hurriedly pushing down fabric. Once her lower half was free from her pants and undergarments, he lifted her and pressed her back against the door. Her legs wrapped around him.
“You will have to remain quiet,” he ordered, and damn if she didn’t quiver.
“I can.” She bucked her hips. Magically, his towel had fallen away.
“Doubtful.” He wanted her moans and all her little gasps and pants. They belonged to him.
“Wanna bet, Mr. Growly Claws?”
Chuckling, he carried her to the bed. Carefully, he set her at the edge and pushed her back flat to the mattress.
Mari scrambled backward, divesting herself of her clothes while he grabbed the supplies in his nightstand.
“Claw caps,” he explained, wiggling his fingers. The silicone caps fit snug over his fingertips. They felt like nothing at all but would prevent his claws from unsheathing.
“You prepared for this.”
“Of course. I will have you as my mate.” He had never been with a human, let alone touched one, but researching their anatomical differences was not a hardship. They were compatible, but a Tal had to take precautions so as not to damage their human partner.
Winter loomed over her, his ears and tail casting a shadow over her. The soft lighting emphasized the curves of her hips and chest. He knew the feel of her round, generous proportions, but seeing them on display was a pleasure in its own right. Her skin seemed to go on in an endless stretch, the shade of her complexion darkening in patches and paler where hidden by her clothing.
Her arm briefly crossed over her chest, as if hiding herself, but then her chin lifted and her arm dropped away. She presented herself for him, vulnerable and nude, and so very human.
They drank in the sight of each other.
“Does it bother you that I am not human?” he asked.
She leaned back on her elbows as if to assess him better. “Does it bother you that I’m not Tal?”
She glowed with her own inner goodness, like she had been made from the stars. He had never known anyone like her, calm when she needed to be, resolved when required, and not afraid to be frightened. She was kind, giving, and open. All her thoughts were there on her strange face.
The back of his hand brushed the side of her face. He just had to learn how to read them. “You are beautiful, and I will make a big deal about having you in my bed.”
