The Church (The Cloister Trilogy 3)

He reaches in his pocket for the key card, but his fine motor skills aren’t there yet. I reach in and grab it for him, then swipe it through the lock. Anticipation buzzes through me like a drug.

When the light turns green and the lock clicks over, he shoves the door open and pulls me inside. He shoves me against the hotel room wall, his body pressing into mine as his mouth takes over again, kissing and caressing, his hands roving my body. I wrap my arms around his neck, standing on my tiptoes, my body lengthened and feeling every bit of contact from him.

He pushes his thigh between my legs, my skirt giving just enough for him to press against my most sensitive spot. I moan and my toes curl.

“Fuck.” He breaks our kiss and scoops me up in his arms, though he’s careful of the still-stitched area across my upper back.

Carrying me to the bed, he sets me on my feet and turns me around. Though it takes a few tries, he gets my dress unzipped. It pools around my ankles. His fingers start at my shoulders, touching every bit of bare skin with something verging on reverence. His lips follow, tracing a path that raises goosebumps and makes my stomach clench.

I want this. I want him so badly. But when I close my eyes, I see the walls of my room at the Cloister, hear the screams from the other Maidens. My breathing speeds up.

“Hey.” He turns me around to face him, his dark eyes filled with concern. “What’s going on up here?” He draws his fingertips along my temple.

Tears prickle behind my eyes. “I think maybe I’m messed up now. Because of what happened,” I whisper my biggest fears, safe in the knowledge that he, above all others, will understand. “I don’t want to think of that place when we’re together. I want it to be new, clean. Just you and me.”

He kisses me gently. “It’s just you and me. No one but us. The door behind me? You can open it and leave whenever you want. You are free.” He strokes my cheek. “Though I can’t promise I won’t follow. You may not have noticed, but I can’t be without you. I love you.”

I take a deep breath and let it out. He’s telling the truth. I am free. There’s no one watching, no ulterior motives at play. It’s just us, and all those ghosts that still haunt me can’t fit in the space between us. I won’t let them.

It’s a leap of faith—a sign of my trust—when I kiss him. He rests his hands at my waist, his thumbs teasing my hip bones. I swipe my tongue inside his mouth, and he lets me take the lead. My fingers go to the knot of his tie, undoing it and sliding it to the ground. Then I work on his buttons as his hands grip a little tighter, his heart beating faster against my hand. He’s trying to keep himself reined in. I smile against him, enjoying what has turned into a wicked tease.

I strip his shirt off, my hands easing down his hard chest to his chiseled waist. When I grab his belt buckle, he groans into my mouth and smooths his hands up until he’s unclasping my bra. The whole time, our tongues are seeking and caressing, our breaths coming faster and faster. The tightness in my stomach only increases, and I know my panties are wet.

He slides off my bra as I undo his pants and let them fall to the floor.

“No underwear?” I stare at his hard cock, the smooth skin and rounded tip.

He shrugs, then jerks as I run my finger along the side of it.

Breaking our kiss, he drops to his knees and presses his nose against my mound. Looking up, his eyes half-lidded, he asks, “May I?”

My nipples ache, and I think I might combust, but I nod.

He pulls my panties down, then spreads his palm across my stomach, gently pushing me back until I’m sitting on the bed. Spreading my legs, he nuzzles against my soft flesh, and tingles shoot through me.

“I want to please you, little lamb. To show you I’m worthy.” He kisses me, his tongue darting against my clit.

I grip the bedspread.

He presses his mouth against me, opening wide as his tongue sweeps from bottom to top. I moan and spread my legs wider.

He takes the invitation and presses his tongue inside me, his palms pushing my legs open as he devours me. I stare down at him, his dark hair falling across his forehead, his strong back tense as he pleasures me with his tongue. I run one hand through his hair, pulling him closer, guiding him to my clit. He flicks his tongue across it, and my legs shake. Then he seizes on it, pinching it lightly between his teeth before running the broad side of his tongue against it again and again. He speeds his pace, each lick a flame adding to the fire burning inside me.