AllFreeNovel
Share Us
But instead, everything changed, as if, when the demon disappeared, it took all his armor with it, leaving only him. A man so broken by all the horrors of his past, he thought cruelty was the only way to keep anyone safe. A man so scared of the monster inside, he’d do anything to keep it away from me. Seeing his pain and self-hatred laid bare was like suddenly discovering a raw wound he’d spent all this time trying to hide. But as visceral and real as that agony was, it had nothing on the desperate openness in his eyes when he revealed he craved me every bit as much as I wanted him.
And now he was kissing me.
If this was a dream, I prayed I didn’t wake up.
As ever, he wasn’t what I expected, though. Not savage or forceful. His lips were gentle on my own, and a bit hesitant, almost like he was afraid I’d vanish too. Slowly, his hands slid farther around my body, holding me to him like I was as fragile as a snowflake that might melt in his grasp.
Was he still afraid of the demon? Of losing control and hurting me?
His hard length came into contact with my middle. He groaned against my lips, and heat tangled through my core as a needy sound escaped me involuntarily in response. I parted my lips, inviting him to explore me, even as my body ached to take this to farther. To strip down and pull his rough blanket of branches and weeds aside so that I could feel all of his body against mine.
But he delved into me carefully, his hands still only lightly touching me. His hips jerked toward me when I rocked into him, but immediately he pulled back again, staying focused on kissing me.
My hunger and need for him began to clamor higher, but worry nibbled at the edges of my mind. Why was he being so cautious? Was he afraid he might make some mistake?
Did he think this was a mistake?
I broke away from his lips, looking up at him. “What is it? What’s wrong?”
Worry flashed over his face. “Nothing. I just…”
“Is it the demon?”
His head shook.
I hesitated and then drew closer, pressing myself against his hard length again. “Then what?”
A quiver rolled through his muscles.
“I want you too, Roan. I swear to you that I do.”
He let out a breath, but his tension didn’t fade. Instead, his gaze only slipped away like he was embarrassed to look at me. “You… you should know, though, I’ve never actually…” He grimaced like he couldn’t bring himself to say the words. “I don’t…”
I blinked, surprised in spite of myself. Wait, was this cold, cocky, sometimes-asshole of a man trying to tell me what I thought he was trying to tell me? “Roan, are you saying you’ve never lain with anyone before?”
He shook his head in a short, tight motion. “Couldn’t risk it. If the demon—if I lost control—” His eyes squeezed shut briefly. “I just don’t want you to be… disappointed. If I’m not… If it’s too fast, or if I can’t give you what the others…”
Oh my gods.
I hesitated and then reached up, putting a hand to his cheek.
A shuddering breath escaped him.
“I promise you,” I said firmly. “Disappointment is not a possibility here.”
He winced like he thought I was just being kind.
“Are you calling me a liar, Roan?”
His dark eyes flicked to mine with alarm.
“You’re here with me,” I continued. “We get to share this with each other. That is…” I searched for a word that could possibly encompass it. “Breathtaking to me. I could never be disappointed in something as special as that.”
He didn’t move. Didn’t say a word. And then air left him and his head tilted in a nod. “Okay.”
I smiled. Stepping back from him, I lifted the hem of my sweater, stripping it and my underclothes off, leaving my breasts bare.
His lips parted like the sight of me stole his breath.
