He brushed it away with his thumb. “Tell me whatever it is, and I’ll fix it.”
“I don’t want you to fix it.”
“You’re scaring me, Marina. What is it you need to tell me? I promise you, nothing you could say will change how I feel about you.”
His brow knitted even tighter, and she could bear it no longer. She ran her thumb along his furrowed brow to smooth it. She took a full breath and released it out loud. “I love you, Evan.”
Relief washed across his face for a few seconds before his brow furrowed again. “Are you unsure? You don’t have to say it for my benefit. I know you care for me. It doesn’t change my love for you either way.”
“No, that’s not it,” she insisted.
“Then what is it? I’m not going anywhere. I know I broke your trust, but I will work to earn your trust every day, if that is what you need.”
“Evan, no. I have forgiven you, and I trust you. You don’t have to prove anything to me.”
“Just tell me what you feel, Marina.”
She took a step back from him. “I have always been my own source of strength. I never needed anyone else. And that’s not the case any longer. I need you, Evan. What I feel for you is more than love. It’s realizing that I have found the other half of my being. For I am a better, stronger person with you by my side. I never hated you. I hated that I gave you my heart and knew I would never get it back. Never have I let my walls down and been more vulnerable with anyone but you, and it frightens me at times.”
Marina looked up from her feet and found him staring at her. He swallowed several times and his eyes shone with unshed tears. “I love you,” he said, his voice breaking. “We are stronger together.”
She threw herself into his arms and pressed her lips against his. One of his tears hit her cheek and she deepened their kiss. He swept her into his arms and carried her to the bed, setting her on her feet long enough to pull her night rail over her head before kissing her again.
Urging her to sit on the edge of her bed, he kneeled before her. He kissed and massaged her thigh while his other hand crept up herstomach to her breast. Kissing along her thigh, he found her pearl in her nest of curls and massaged his tongue against it. She cried out, and he put a finger over her lips to silence her while he dipped his tongue inside her core. He slipped his tongue inside of her, his cock throbbing from the delightful taste of her desire.
Putting her hand over his, she took his finger into her mouth and sucked on it, running her teeth along his finger before soothing it with her tongue. She sucked his finger deep into her mouth, sucking hard and massaging it with her tongue. She reveled in the effect she had on him and how his breathing became more ragged.
He groaned and pulled his mouth away from her core and slipped two fingers from his other hand inside of her. “You are going to be the death of me.”
She kissed the tip of his finger. “You love me.”
He pushed his fingers deeper inside of her and licked her nub again. “Indeed.”
“I think you want me, too,” she teased, spreading her legs wider. She had him right where she wanted him.
He released a low growl. “I know you want me, love. I have the proof on my tongue.”
Evan stood and worked on the buttons of his shirt while she unbuttoned his falls. She stroked his cock when it fell into her hand.
He moaned and buttons pinged on the floor as he ripped his way out of his shirt. She slid his breeches to the floor with her free hand, and he leaned down to kiss her, cupping her cheeks with his hands.
When he pulled back, he pulled her into his arms and she wrapped her legs around his body, anchoring herself to him where he stood. He reached for the covers and threw them back before attempting to lay her down on the bed.
“Take me like this,” she whispered, licking and sucking his neck.
He released a low growl and carried her to the nearest wall. Using the wall to support her, he shifted her up and slid her down on hiscock. Holding her against the wall, he thrust himself into her.
“Like that?” he asked, pulling back and thrusting again. “And that?” He increased his speed, causing her to bounce in a perfect rhythm on his shaft. “How about that?”
“Yes,” she cried out. “Don’t stop.” She was wanton and mad for the man who would be her husband. There wasn’t a thing he could do to her that her body didn’t crave.
He stilled and whispered in her ear, “You must be quiet. Only for tonight, and then you may be as loud as you wish at any hour of the day.”
“I can’t help it when you feel so good.”
He covered her mouth with his and he thrust into her as if he had come unhinged. She loved bringing out the feral, wild side in him. The intensity and need palpable between them.
She clenched and moaned when he climaxed, and he kissed her harder to muffle her cries, pumping deep into her when he released.
