She felt the beginnings of arousal bloom as he caressed her. Each stroke of his fingertips against her tight nipples sent a signal straight to her clit. He seemed to be able to draw out such intense responses from her. For a moment, she marvelled over the fact he was such an incredibly skilled lover.
A frown crossed her face as she realized that he had a lot of experience. She stiffened against him even as she tried to push the thought from her mind. After all, it’s not like she could have expected him to wait for her. And it wasn’t like she wasn’t reaping the benefits of his experience with every touch. Realizing that she was just one in a long line of lovers he’d take left her, understandably, a little cold.
“Lilly,” he asked. “What’s the matter?”
She relaxed back against him and said, “Nothing. Just a wayward thought. Feel free to continue what you were doing.”
Hi
s hands stilled and he made a noise of displeasure. “Uh-uh. What was the thought?”
Sighing deeply, she said, “It’s nothing. I just…I was thinking about how you’re so good at that and I realized it’s because you’ve got four hundred plus years of experience. I don’t like the thought that I’m just one of many lovers that you’ll have over your lifetime.”
When he froze behind her, she said, “Sorry. I know it’s not a fair thought. I don’t know what I’m thinking, honestly.”
Talan let out a sigh of his own and turned her to face him. She ducked her chin, feeling incredibly awkward. She let her forehead rest against his shirt until he tipped her face up.
The look in his eye was wary when he said, “I won’t lie to you. I haven’t been celibate, Lilly.”
“I know you haven’t,” she said, feeling foolish. “I wouldn’t expect you to be—”
“Shh. Let me finish,” he said, stopping her.
Feeling naked both literally and figuratively, Lilly waited.
“It’s not always like this. It’s never been like this for me. I’m just reacting to your body’s responses. The way you move, when your breathing picks up, the way you press into me. That’s what tells me you’re enjoying what I’m doing. It’s the combination of you and I together that makes this so good. Not my past experience.”
She gave him a sheepish smile and said, “I’m not normally one of those girls that needs constant reassurance. I’m sorry. I feel so silly, but I’m just a little bit out of my depth.”
Talan let out a shaky breath and said, “Lilly. I love you. I think I was half in love with you by the time you tried to return the bag. You’re anything but one of the many.”
Lilly’s breath backed up in her chest at his declaration. Holy shit. How was it even possible that this beautiful, sweet man could actually love her?
She stood there, speechless for so long that eventually, a pained look crossed his face as he said, “Say something. Please?”
“Talan,” she answered, her heart pounding. “I love you too. I don’t have any idea how this can possibly work between us, but I do love you.”
Talan’s hands reached up to cup her cheeks. The look on his face was absolutely indescribable. It was a combination of awe and pleasure. She had never seen him like this. He looked almost...boyish.
She hadn’t understood what she was feeling until he’d said it. As soon as he’d said the words, it was as if the she’d found the answer mirrored in her own soul. It was a relief to finally put a word to the tumultuous feelings. Love.
His eyes shining, he leaned down and took her mouth with his. Her heart beating wildly in her chest, she gave herself over to the kiss. As their tongues mated, she began to work the buttons free on his shirt. Now, more than anything, she wanted to be with him. She needed to be with him.
Talan groaned and started pulling haphazardly at the remaining buttons. Eventually, he tore the shirt free, the last few buttons popping off. He placed his hands over hers when she struggled with his belt buckle, and then took over the process.
Mouths still connected, they managed to strip off the rest of his remaining clothing. When they climbed on the bed, he rolled them until she straddled his hips. Their hands roamed over each other urgently as mouths continued to mate.
Lilly rolled her hips, rubbing her aching pussy against the ridge of his cock. Though her arousal grew, each time her damp flesh drug over him, she felt so empty. She wanted him buried inside her. His cock stretching her. Filling her to the brim.
He seemed to be on the same wavelength as he slowed the rolling of her hips with a groan and said, “Let me get a condom, love.”
She moved off of him, smiling at the endearment. No man had ever called her “love.” Certainly no one that had ever truly meant it.
Talan tore the wrapper on the condom and rolled it over his thick length. Lilly watched as his hand slowly rolled it down. There was something about seeing him stroke himself, even briefly, that left her breathless.
He looked up at her, saw the direction of her gaze, and said, “We’ll explore that more when I’m not aching to be inside you. Are you still hurting?”
“No. Not anymore,” she said breathlessly. “I need you inside me.”