Page 109 of The Lost Guardian

He drove into her then, one hand gripping her waist, the other finding her clit. He played with her as he thrust, feeling and hearing the requests of her body until she tensed completely.

Ali broke again, every inch of her tightening around him. He listened to her lose herself in pleasure, savoring the melody.

He kissed her anywhere he could find her skin in the dark: her brow, her ear, her neck, her shoulder.

Burning need collected low in his belly. Ali’s hands roamed his body and the sensation spread, compelled by her fingers and whispered endearments. He couldn’t believe he was here, with her, kissing her, touching her, inside her. He wanted to stay locked in this sliver of time, heart and body laid bare to this intoxicating woman with nothing but wild nature around them.

It was beyond anything he could have imagined, and he never wanted it to end. His body demanded it, though, the feeling far too good to deny. Helpless with it, he quickened his pace, chasing his own release. When it came, he caged her body with his, his face lost in her hair, a forest of sugar and honey.

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Santiago would rather saw his arm off with a butter knife than move it a single inch from where it was wrapped around Ali’s body. Never mind that he was starting to lose feeling in it. He would stay that way, drawing lazy patterns on her skin, for as long as she allowed it.

Ali was quiet, but Santiago knew she wasn’t asleep. Not by the way that she curled into him, grazing her fingertips over his body. When she placed a sweet, soft kiss against his chest, Santiago felt the warmth of it travel straight through to his heart, melting it into a puddle beneath his ribs. Instinctively, he responded, placing a kiss in turn to the top of her tangled curls.

The night was so dark that he let the largest, goofiest grin invade his face, knowing that she wouldn’t be able to see it.

“For the record, I want you to know that Trish was wrong,” Ali said suddenly.

Santiago jerked a little, not expecting to hear his ex’s name from her lips. Especially not now.

“Huh?”

He felt her smile against him. “You are definitely not boring.”

The goofy grin came back. Santiago wanted to ask for specifics. He wanted to know exactly what she liked, her favorite way to be touched. He wanted to tell her that he hadn’t done even a fraction of the things that he wanted to do with her, both in and out of bed. Or, well, tent. That he could spend a year learning the secrets of her body, reading her like the map they followed.

Moving from point to point until he memorized every ceque, every etching, every constellation of freckles across her skin. Santiago wanted to keep her there, in his arms, over her, under her, inside her, until he learned every sound her body was capable of making. He could only hope that she would let him.

A thought occurred to him.

José, you sly dog…

“Do you think the first aid kit in my pack has a condom, too?” he asked.

He felt Ali lift her head off him, and while he couldn’t see her expression, he knew she smirked.

“Why do you ask, Rios?” she teased him, her voice smug. “Thinking about going again?”

As much as Santiago was dying to see Ali, he found himself very grateful for the dark that hid his blush. Ignoring the heat in his cheeks, he dragged his hand down her exposed shoulder, traced her spine, and lingered on the soft flesh of her backside. He was rewarded with her soft gasp.

“Rios?” he asked, pleased that his voice sounded steadier than he felt. “A few minutes ago, I was Santiago.”

“I—” Ali started, but Santiago followed the sound to her mouth, covering it with a deep kiss. She made a pleased hum in the back of her throat, and Santiago gripped her tighter against him.

Then he moved his mouth, lightly grazing his teeth against her jaw and down her throat. He traced the sensitive skin with his tongue before blowing a loud raspberry against her neck.

“Santiago!” Ali shrieked with laughter, wriggling against him.

He released her with a triumphant grin. “Much better,” he said.

She slapped at his chest.

“I hate you,” she teased.

I love you, Santiago thought.

Oh no. No, no, no. He barely knew Ali. They had met less than a week ago. There was no way he could be in love with her.