The Bond (Unbroken Raine Falling 4)

Why had he never known how much pleasure a woman could give him when he wasn’t commanding it?

Because he’d never let anyone ever have this sort of power over him.

For Raine, he stepped back. An involuntary groan of protest left his chest, but he kicked off his trousers and returned to the bed, hovering on his knees above her, just waiting.

She smiled as she ate him up with her gaze. She had the definite advantage since she remained fully dressed. Hammer found their role reversal ironic, but he didn’t care. He simply closed his eyes and memorized the feel of her soft, smooth hands claiming every part of him.

When she tongued her way up his abs and circled his aching cock with her fingers, Hammer’s hips bucked. She was undoing him—as she always did—but this experience was remarkably different. For a man who prided himself on control, she was unraveling him faster than a spool of yarn.

Surprisingly, he kind of…liked it.

“Raine, baby, I want to feel your skin. I have to kiss you all over.” He didn’t demand that she strip, and he didn’t tell her that he intended to peel off her clothes. He simply started removing them.

He wanted it to take forever.

Hammer tugged at the hem of her bright pink T-shirt, nudging it over her belly, smoothing it up her breasts and over her head. He eased to his feet, helped her up in front of him. Wrapping his hands around her waist, he felt for the snap and zipper of her little skirt. He released them and guided the garment down her hips. Her bra fell away next under his deft fingers. With a smile, he palmed his way down to cup her baby bump.

“I’ve changed.” She bit her lip.

“You’re beautiful. You look even more like a woman now. Like our woman.”

She was so exquisite, so petite and delicate compared to him and Liam. It was a wonder they hadn’t broken her. She was far more resilient than either of them in some ways. She’d be an amazing mother. Of that, he had no doubt. The changes in her body were more evident with each passing day. Something else he would miss. Another ache he couldn’t soothe away.

Because he couldn’t resist another minute, he dropped a kiss on her lips. But his brush turned into more. He sank into her, drowned in her, falling deeper and deeper…

Goddamn, he’d miss her. Every sigh, every scream of ecstasy, every panted wail, every giggle and laugh, every fighting word, and every fucking tear she cried over him.

When Hammer eased back to drink her in, he saw heartbreak lining her face.

She sucked in a ragged breath. “Mac—”

He seized her lips again, stealing her words. He didn’t want to talk about her future that probably wouldn’t include him and refused to waste another second mired in regret. He wanted to merge his heart and soul with hers and carry those priceless pieces of Raine with him for the rest of his days.

Her lips quivered under his. Macen felt her warm, wet tears roll between them. Melancholy gripped him. Hammer blocked it out. Nothing and no one would spoil their remaining time together.

Cupping her nape, he gently slid inside her mouth. Sweeping over every valley and swell, he sighed as their tongues joined in a slick, exalting glide.

As he eased back to nuzzle her cheek and anoint her with tender kisses, tiny sobs escaped her throat.

Hammer’s heart disintegrated. He’d finally confronted his ghosts, convinced himself that it was time to begin his life again…and now? He might lose everything.

Not without proving how much she means to me.

Thumbing the wetness from her cheeks, he shook his head. “No tears, precious. I’m giving you more power over me than I’ve ever voluntarily given anyone in my life. I want to commit every second of this night to memory. Will you do the same?”

Raine sucked in a shaky breath, then drew his palm to her lips. Pressing a kiss to the center, she placed his hand over her heart. “Tonight, tomorrow… I’ll carry you here with me forever, Macen.”

Her bottom lip trembled, but Raine kept herself together for him. She wrapped her hand around his neck and pulled him to her lips. Hammer went willingly, stroking the softness of her naked flesh, absorbing the feel of her as she lavished all her love on him. When she traced her tongue along the seam of his lips, he opened for her, letting Raine explore as she’d done for him.

Growing bolder, she circled her hand around his wrist and brought his palm to her breast. He obliged her desire and raised his other hand, kneading her heavy orbs, thumbs skimming her hard nipples. She gasped into his mouth and arched into his hands.

“I need you, Macen,” she murmured.

“I need you, too.”