Dark Flame (Flame 3)

“Is that something you’d like to do?” His brows were drawn together and a dart of concern flashed through his green eyes.

She reached up and kissed him on the lips. “Yes, so much. You have no idea. I mean, if you knew what you were like, I mean when we made love—”

“I caught a glimpse of it in the dreamglide. The last time I was there, I felt how close we’d become and that sensation hasn’t left even though the memories are still spotty.”

While holding his arms, she smoothed her thumbs over his arms. His skin was warm beneath her hands and so real. She was overcome again and leaned into him, settling her head against his shoulder.

She wanted this so much with him. At the very least she wanted to date.

It occurred to her she’d made the ultimate mistake in engaging with Brannick in the first place because now she craved him. “Remember when we first met? At the White Flame club after Mary recommended me to you?”

His arms tightened around her. “How I could ever forget? You were so sincere, so determined to help.”

“I was. I am. Nothing else matters very much. But I loved your commitment as well. It got to me. I think that’s why I found you in the dreamglide.” Her breath caught. She’d almost told him the truth, but she doubted he had enough knowledge of fae things to fill in the blanks.

He drew back and took her shoulders gently in hands. “If I’d felt in any way free, I would have asked you out then and there. I kept biting my tongue to stop myself from asking for a second meeting. I kept trying to think up a reasonable excuse to see you again.”

She smiled and caressed his face. “I was doing the same thing. I was so attracted to you. Maybe it was your intensity, I don’t know.” She slid her finger down the habitual pinch between his brows, smoothing out the skin. “This is always here, you know. I see it as your doggedness to do what you can in our world.”

He inclined his head slowly. “That’s not likely to change anytime soon, if ever.”

“I know. But it’s part of what I love about you and yes, that’s me saying I’d love to date you, whatever that looks like in Crescent or here in Revel. Even if it’s a stolen, brief, secret time, I don’t care.”

She knew when the last words left her mouth she’d just described the five months of their dreamglide sex: Stolen, brief and secret. So, secret that even Brann didn’t fully know what had happened between them.

“Then it’s settled. Once we figure out how to neutralize Roche’s i

ntentions toward you and Mary, we’ll start going out.”

She smiled, if a little. “We should revisit the White Flame since they honor all five species.”

“We’ll definitely do that.”

“Then you can take me back to your place and we’ll do some wrestling in your Alabama Crimson sheets.”

He drew back and held her gaze. “We’ll wrestle, and I’ll use my tongue a lot, the way you like it.”

She caught his face in her hand. “I love your tongue. Everywhere.”

“I know you do. And I love your mouth surrounding my cock and taking me in as far as you can.”

She nodded in three quick jerks of her head. Her lips had parted mostly because she was finding it hard to breathe. Her whole body trembled with anticipation.

He released her and turned to get the water flowing. “First, I’m going to clean you up really good.”

~ ~ ~

Brannick used a lot of foamed up soap on his hands and took his time with her body. He’d never thought he’d be with Juliet like this, though his fantasies were often full of her, especially when he woke up first thing at night.

He massaged her breasts, taking his time. She had sensitive breasts, and he was pretty sure he could make her come easily with a couple of fingers buried inside her and his mouth tugging on a nipple. “Have I made you come like this in the dreamglide? With my mouth I mean?”

Her lips were parted and her nostrils flared. “Yes.” The word came out hushed, almost hoarse.

“Thought so. How about you spread your legs and let me make it happen now.”

She moaned as she sidestepped and gave him room. He rinsed off her chest, took her breast in his mouth and began to suckle. He slipped two fingers inside her sex and her back arched. “Oh, God that feels good. So real.”

He chuckled, then licked her stiff nipple. He knew what she meant. He could sense the dreamglide sex had rocked, but this was his tongue on her breast, in real-time.