It took more self-control than he knew he had to stop himself from turning around and thrusting into her.
Instead, once she’d washed the conditioner from his hair and tied it back up for him, he turned her around to face the wall. “My turn.”
His gaze dropped down her slender back to where her hips sloped into a generous curve. Her ass really was the perfect heart. Bitable.
The word stopped him.
Although his human teeth couldn’t hurt her, he’d never take them to her, even in sex play.
He couldn’t chance it.
The thought of accidentally hurting her burned in his gut.
The urge to slip into her, to feel her alive and throbbing around him, grew stronger.
Kiyo reached out and caressed her ass cheeks, squeezing her as he brushed his erection near the valley between.
Niamh fumbled for the wall, gasping. “I thought … you were washing my hair?”
He pressed his dick more firmly between her cheeks, sensation ripping through him making his balls draw up tight. He gritted his teeth as she panted with need.
One day he’d take her there.
But not yet.
He needed to work up to that.
Reluctantly releasing her ass, he took the shampoo bottle in hand. “Tip your head back.”
She did and her pale blond hair, turned honey with water, hung past her ass.
He tried not to let his thoughts wander as he washed it, but after rinsing out the shampoo, he massaged the conditioner in and leaned into her so she could feel him hard and wanting. And he whispered, “Did I mention I like the blond?”
She shook her head.
“I do.” He kissed her neck behind her ear. “But I’d take you any way I could get you. You could have no hair, Niamh Farren, not a speck of it on that sweet little head of yours … and I’d still want you.”
Something like a sob sounded from between her lips, and he wrapped an arm around her, pressing his hand over her breast where her heart pounded as hard as his.
“When we ran in the woods, I’d never felt anything like it,” he admitted. “Like you were my pack.”
Her breath caught.
“It fucked with me. And I treated you badly. I don’t have words for how sorry I am.” He lifted her now-scarred wrist and pressed the most reverent kiss to it.
Niamh turned her head. He lifted his eyes to meet hers. Her lips almost touched his as she whispered, “I forgive you.”
Kiyo brushed his mouth over hers. “I want you,” he repeated and pressed his hand harder against her heart. “But I want this too. If you can’t give me that, you need to say so now because I can’t take one without the other. Not with you.”
Her whole body seemed to sag into him. “You already have it,” she confessed. “I feel like you’ve had it forever.”
Exultation and possessiveness roared through him, and he turned her swiftly in his arms, crushing her against him. “Are you ready?” he growled with need.
She grinned cockily. “I was born ready for you.”
Kiyo was surprised by the laughter that rumbled from his chest and in that moment, he fell even harder.29If she was dreaming, Niamh didn’t want to wake up.
Though Kiyo hadn’t said the words, he’d said more than she’d ever thought possible of him, and she knew he loved her.
She wanted to tell him the secret that hung between them, but she was afraid he’d scorn the idea of destiny trying to trap him. That he needed this decision to be his own. After all, he’d made his opinion on the true mating bond very clear.
She throbbed with so much love as Kiyo gently towel dried her body. When he was done, he dropped the towel to the floor and cupped her breasts in his hands.
Niamh’s nipples tightened almost painfully as he dragged his thumbs over them. She leaned into him, his own body still a little damp. The urge to touch him was overwhelming, like she wasn’t in control of it. Her palm slid down his abs until she reached him, straining as he was. A gasp of need fell from her lips as he squeezed her breasts in response to her fingers wrapping around him.
His chest heaved as she gave him an experimental tug.
Dark eyes gleamed into hers with barely controlled hunger.
“You’re so thick,” she murmured, squeezing him harder.
He grunted, thrusting into her touch just before he shook his head and pulled away. “Can’t.” He gave her a friendly snarl. “I’ll come.”
“Isn’t that the point?” she teased.
Kiyo smirked. “Not for your first time. I have plans.”
“Oh?” Niamh burned so hot with want, she thought she might expire.
“I plan to make you come first. Many times.” His eyes narrowed. “So many, it’ll take weeks for the gold to leave your eyes.”
The promise made Niamh flush from head to foot.
He held out his hand to her. “This is going to happen like it should have at the lodge.”