Page 56 of Leviathan's Song
He stroked my skin and held me against him for a long time, while his body cooled and my heart calmed. When he finally spoke again, his voice was a whisper.
“I will never insist that you stay with me, though I’ll always want it. Always.” He swallowed thickly, and his enchantment pushed and pulled in the same sentence, as if he were focusing on it and trying to lessen its effects. “But I wantyouto have a choice. I won’t demand anything from you.”
There was a hint of desolation in his voice, as if he knew his worst fear was coming true but he was trying not to brace himself. It broke me.
“My choice is already made.” I didn’t hesitate at all as I leaned over him and took his mouth with mine.
Chapter 21
His response was immediate,parting his lips enough to meet my tongue with his own in a kiss that surprised me with its gentleness. In my periphery, I saw him raise his hands to embrace me, only to hesitate with them in the air for a few beats before he settled them on my back.
I didn’t want his gentleness right now. The fire building in me burned too bright, was too consuming. Ilovedthis man. And he was mine. If he didn’t regret it, I wasn’t going to either. I let joy win.
I deepened our kiss, wanting more of him, and smoothed my fingers from his jaw to the rounded caps of muscle on his shoulders. I reveled in how masculine he felt under my hands, his collarbones and chest substantial and strong under my smaller frame. He was sturdy and solid, and I loved it.
I trailed my fingers down his stomach, and he flinched and flexed his abs on reflex. His breath hitched. Fingers tangled in my hair. He brushed his lips along my jaw, kissing and nipping his way to the side of my neck, sucking gently as he scraped his nails along the back of my scalp.
I heard myself moan, and before I even knew I’d moved, I was in his lap again, straddling his hips. Needing to be closer to him. Right back where I’d been last night. But this time I was really,reallynaked, and he wasmine.
Levi tensed underneath me, taking a few heaving breaths. “What are you doing, little Empress?” His voice was hoarse, and I grinned at the endearment as his enchantment rolled over me, tearing across my ward.
“I love you,” I whispered against his cheek as I nuzzled closer, and the truth of those words settled deep in my bones. “And if the bond is already permanent, then I want to have you. Right now.” I leaned forward against him to nip at his collarbone and felt his hands clutch at my back in response.
“But you’re not touching me,” I said.
I sat back in his lap to look at him and felt his hardness against my thigh, evidence that he wanted me too. At least… I hoped? I looked between his eyes, suddenly self-conscious of my impulsiveness, to find them dazed and so black his irises were just the slightest sliver of blue around the rim.
He groaned and flexed up against me once, panting to catch his breath. “I stripped you… because of your wounds. I didn’t want… to take advantage.” He kept his eyes fixed squarely on my face.
I narrowed my eyes at him in defiance and grabbed his arms, moving them until his hands were on the sides of my breasts where he’d put them last night. “You can touch me.”
He surged up from under me, pressing into me and rolling me on to my back with a groan that sounded more like a growl. His mouth was on mine as he rocked against my center with a maddening friction that only made me crave him more.
He braced himself near my head, making me feel bracketed in and protected. He was everywhere. I’d never experienced what it felt like to lie underneath so much muscle and strength, but it made me feel protected and safe and I thrilled in it.
He finally, finally began to touch and caress me with his free hand, dragging it down my ribs to my waist, palming my breast and thumbing my nipple, cradling and stroking my flesh.
I gave in to my own curiosity, trailing my fingers down his abs and hesitating at the waistband of his pants to give him time to object. When he pressed himself against me, I dipped my fingers inside, sliding them along the intriguing hardness I found there. The skin felt different here, velvety and soft, utterly delicious.
Levi’s breath shuddered out of him, and he pressed himself harder into my palm, trailing his mouth to my neck and giving me a nip with teeth so sharp it made me gasp. He soothed it with his tongue and brushed his hand down the back of my thigh, making me squirm. I needed more. He was teasing me. It left me feeling desperate, and a little unhinged.
I began pushing his pants down further when his fingers brushed around my thigh and dipped inside me.Oh. That… was necessary.He caressed me, stroked me, winding me tighter, pressing his palm against me hard enough to make me choke on a gasp.
“Oh—”
He kissed my neck, stroking me higher, but stilled as I clutched at him, struggling to get closer, gasping for breath.
“Oh. Please. Please, Levi. I need…” I didn’t know what I needed, but I was desperate for more. I could scream for it.
“I know,” he murmured against my jaw. “I’ve got you. I know what you need.”
I wanted to sob with relief.
He began pressing harder with the palm of his hand, curling his finger inside of me, rubbing a place that had me stiffening and chasing his hand, working me higher until I felt like I was going to snap. I was panting with desperation.
It wasn’t enough. “I need you. I need more. I want you inside me, please.” I was begging. I didn’t care. I was out of my mind with need for him. I squeezed his shaft harder, causing him to thrust toward me on a groan.
“I know,” he whispered. “I just… It’s probably going to hurt.” He took a few panting breaths, never pausing in his rhythmic ministrations.
