He shakes his head, leaning in to kiss me again. ‘No more talking,’ he murmurs. ‘Just kissing.’
His lips trail lower, down my neck and over my collarbone. Then his weight leaves me, and I feel warm hands sliding up my calves. I open my eyes to see him kneeling before me. Myheart pounds, my breath coming in short gasps as his hands move higher, tracing fiery circles on my skin. Then he brushes a soft kiss on the inside of my knee. He looks up at me.
‘Don’t stop,’ I gasp.
His hands curve around the back of my hips and he pulls me towards him so I’m at the edge of the bed. He kisses my inner thigh, his tongue sliding across my skin like a touch of flame. I collapse back as his hands trace across my underwear, his mouth teasing me. Then he pulls my underwear aside and kisses me, right at my sensitive core. My hands clench on the quilt, my head going back. Pleasure bursts through me like a firework as his tongue flickers against me, like nothing I’ve ever experienced before. My body arches into his mouth, into the fire of his touch, wanting more.
My pleasure crests, sweetness rolling through me like a wave, and I cry out as his fingers slide inside me, as friction builds like embers catching, as his tongue swirls around the delicate bundle of nerves. I’m crying his name, wanting more as I shudder against him.
I finally come down, blushing as I realise how loud I’ve been. Yet at the same time I feel wonderful. Michael lowers himself onto me and kisses me, my hands in his hair, our tongues tangling. I can taste myself, a faint musk, and wonder how he would taste on my tongue. I reach between us, to the hard length straining against the front of his trousers. He groans as I free him, guiding him to where he needs to be. I moan as he rolls his hips, sliding into me, filling me.
He swears, his mouth against my neck, his hands gripping me tight. Then he withdraws, pulling back. He’s so beautiful, his blue eyes darkening, the hard length of him.
‘Why’d you stop?’
‘We do this, we do it properly,’ he growls. With one smooth movement he pulls his hoody over his head, dropping it on the floor. He takes off his trousers, everything, until he’s naked. Holding my gaze the entire time.
I bite my lip. He’s all muscled hardness, rippling abs. I want to explore every inch of him with my mouth, my hands. I pull my top over my head, then go to undo my bra, but he stops me.
‘Let me.’ His hands are so beautifully warm, and I can barely breathe as he leans over, unhooking the clasp then pulling it gently from my shoulders, dropping kisses as he goes. His mouth closes over one peak, and I arch against him, crying out. I’ve never felt this trembling need for someone. Even Kyle, when I thought I loved him, never made me feel this way.
Michael kisses me, pulling my underwear away. And then his weight is on me, all heat and hard muscle. His gaze is ocean-deep, so tender. I could stare at him for ever, do this with him for ever.
‘I need to tell you one more thing before we do this,’ he says, his hand moving between my thighs.
‘You do?’ I don’t care what other secrets he has. I just want him to not stop what he’s doing.
‘I love you, Emelia Raven. And I’m with you, to the end.’
His finger trails down my core, and I gasp as it slides inside me. He gasps as well, a slight groan, when he feels how ready I am.
‘Please,’ I whisper.
He shifts his weight, nudging at me. I reach down and guide him home.
Oh God. OhGod. Words leave me as he starts to move, thrusting in and out. He takes it slow at first, filling me to the hilt, all heat and hardness. I lift my hips to meet his, grabbing at his shoulders, wanting the heat and friction. He speeds up, each thrust teasing my sensitive core, pleasure coiling deep inside me. I wrap my arms around his neck as it builds, and we kiss and kiss and kiss some more, as though neither of us can get enough of each other. He pulls back, kneeling, and hauls me up against him. I straddle him as his hands find my hips, as he thrusts upwards, filling me again, moving harder, deeper, asI ride him. Oh Gods. I moan his name, my head going back as the pleasure intensifies. He groans, his pace quickening to match mine and we find our release together, circling through universes, stars bursting around and through me.
I sag against his chest, his arms around me. I run my hands down his back, along the ridged muscles, the trailing scars. He kisses me, long and deep, our bodies still joined. I don’t want to move, don’t ever want to be apart from him.
‘Are you okay?’
I almost laugh. I’m so far beyond okay I can’t find the words. I’m blissful, joy radiating through me. I run the back of my hand along his cheekbone, wanting to imprint the memory in my mind. The beauty of his face, the softness of his expression, this moment of our first joining. He kisses my fingers, his eyes never leaving mine.
This is not getting it out of my system. This is a realisation. Of who I truly want. Who I’ve wanted, all along.
He risked everything to come with me, to make sure I was safe. To make sure I wasn’t alone. I’ve spent my entire life feeling alone. But as we cling to each other, all warmth and joy, I know that, whatever happens, we’ll be all right as long as we’re together.
Because I love him, too. I can’t hold it in any longer. ‘I love you so much,’ I say.
His lips part, and there’s such joy in his gaze. He cradles me, leaning me back until we’re lying down again, skin to skin. He strokes my hair, soft kisses like butterflies.
‘There’s no one else for me, ever.’
I can’t offer him the same promise. Not with Joaquin still hanging around.
ChapterForty-One
WONDERLAND IN GREEN
