touch.
Merivic’s response was immediate and it nearly overtook his better judgment as he swept Anya off her feet and into his arms. His mouth traveled down her neck to nip and tempt as he walked to the bed, then slowly eased her onto it.
A quiet moan from Anya shattered Merivic’s will to break away as she nestled into the mattress, and he found himself stretching out on top of her, his tongue trailing her collar bone. He ran his hands down her sides, grazing the sides of her breasts, and Anya gasped from the brief contact. In that single sound of breathlessness, he felt a power swell within him as he thought of what physical pleasures he could provide for her in their life together—intimate experiences she had not yet had with another. He absolutely loved her innocence and inexperience, and felt proud and empowered that he would be the one guiding her to those discoveries.
But not tonight.
He allowed himself a few more moments of pleasure—nestled in the crook of her neck, feeling her pulse hammering under his lips—before he made the valiant effort to break away from the smoldering woman.
Anya scowled and moaned in protest as Merivic eased back and pulled the thick blanket over her scantily-clad body. “Why will you not stay with me?”
“Perhaps it is because the temptation would be too great.” He donned an easy smile before kissing her forehead. “And I would feel better if I were out there on watch myself.”
“I believe your men are more than capable of securing the area without you.”
“As do I, or they would not be a part of my infantry. However, peace of mind goes a long way. And to attain that, I must be among them.”
“Will you stay awhile? At least until I fall asleep?” She snuggled into the blanket and looked up at him with a slight pout and wide emerald eyes.
Merivic chuckled as he wrapped his arms around her. “Can I deny you nothing?”
“I would like to see you try,” Anya murmured, playfully, as she tucked her head under his chin, curling into his broad chest.
“That sounds like a challenge, Miss Anya,” Merivic stated lightly, running his fingers through her thick, shiny hair.
“Quite possibly it is, Lord Merivic. Do you think you are up to it?”
He snickered as he drew her closer. “No, honestly I do not think I am. But it may be fun to try.”
Anya giggled as she fisted her hand in his shirt to hold him still, then arched her neck until her mouth met his throat. She worked her tongue over his salty skin, grazing her teeth along the way. “Try to deny me this,” she dared, hoping to provoke the primal urges he had strapped down within.
“Anya, you must not push me so.” His voice was strained as he began to pull away.
“All right, I will stop.” Anya did not want him to leave her, so she mentally vowed to behave…for now. She heaved a heavy sigh.
“Please, do not be frustrated with me. Do you not realize how much I want you? But I fear I will not be able to stop once I start, and I will not have you until we are properly wed.”
“I understand,” she grumbled, her eagerness to explore her inclinations plummeting down to the pit of her stomach.
Merivic issued a husky chuckle. “Soon, my dear, sweet Anya. You must let me build up to it—a tolerance, if you will. For as of now, even the thought of your touch forces me to the edge. It takes all I have not to ravage and plunder, to take what I desire most.”
“With talk like that, you are not doing much for my self-control either.”
“Perhaps I wish you to suffer as I am.”
She giggled at his admission, a tingle prickling her skin. It was nearly just as exciting to know how much he wanted her as to physically feel it for herself. The anticipation of having this man as her own was that strong. “I am sure suffer is an exaggeration.” Although, inwardly, she admitted it was a painfully accurate description—for herself, anyhow.
“You sound as if you could truly doubt me.” He shook his head.
Merivic’s response was immediate and it nearly overtook his better judgment as he swept Anya off her feet and into his arms. His mouth traveled down her neck to nip and tempt as he walked to the bed, then slowly eased her onto it.
A quiet moan from Anya shattered Merivic’s will to break away as she nestled into the mattress, and he found himself stretching out on top of her, his tongue trailing her collar bone. He ran his hands down her sides, grazing the sides of her breasts, and Anya gasped from the brief contact. In that single sound of breathlessness, he felt a power swell within him as he thought of what physical pleasures he could provide for her in their life together—intimate experiences she had not yet had with another. He absolutely loved her innocence and inexperience, and felt proud and empowered that he would be the one guiding her to those discoveries.
But not tonight.
He allowed himself a few more moments of pleasure—nestled in the crook of her neck, feeling her pulse hammering under his lips—before he made the valiant effort to break away from the smoldering woman.
Anya scowled and moaned in protest as Merivic eased back and pulled the thick blanket over her scantily-clad body. “Why will you not stay with me?”
“Perhaps it is because the temptation would be too great.” He donned an easy smile before kissing her forehead. “And I would feel better if I were out there on watch myself.”
“I believe your men are more than capable of securing the area without you.”
“As do I, or they would not be a part of my infantry. However, peace of mind goes a long way. And to attain that, I must be among them.”
“Will you stay awhile? At least until I fall asleep?” She snuggled into the blanket and looked up at him with a slight pout and wide emerald eyes.
Merivic chuckled as he wrapped his arms around her. “Can I deny you nothing?”
“I would like to see you try,” Anya murmured, playfully, as she tucked her head under his chin, curling into his broad chest.
“That sounds like a challenge, Miss Anya,” Merivic stated lightly, running his fingers through her thick, shiny hair.
“Quite possibly it is, Lord Merivic. Do you think you are up to it?”
He snickered as he drew her closer. “No, honestly I do not think I am. But it may be fun to try.”
Anya giggled as she fisted her hand in his shirt to hold him still, then arched her neck until her mouth met his throat. She worked her tongue over his salty skin, grazing her teeth along the way. “Try to deny me this,” she dared, hoping to provoke the primal urges he had strapped down within.
“Anya, you must not push me so.” His voice was strained as he began to pull away.
“All right, I will stop.” Anya did not want him to leave her, so she mentally vowed to behave…for now. She heaved a heavy sigh.
“Please, do not be frustrated with me. Do you not realize how much I want you? But I fear I will not be able to stop once I start, and I will not have you until we are properly wed.”
“I understand,” she grumbled, her eagerness to explore her inclinations plummeting down to the pit of her stomach.
Merivic issued a husky chuckle. “Soon, my dear, sweet Anya. You must let me build up to it—a tolerance, if you will. For as of now, even the thought of your touch forces me to the edge. It takes all I have not to ravage and plunder, to take what I desire most.”
“With talk like that, you are not doing much for my self-control either.”
“Perhaps I wish you to suffer as I am.”
She giggled at his admission, a tingle prickling her skin. It was nearly just as exciting to know how much he wanted her as to physically feel it for herself. The anticipation of having this man as her own was that strong. “I am sure suffer is an exaggeration.” Although, inwardly, she admitted it was a painfully accurate description—for herself, anyhow.
“You sound as if you could truly doubt me.” He shook his head.
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