Page 18 of Hart's Redemption

“Less talking, more touching.” I followed the command with an even deeper kiss and arched into him. His growl as he conquered my mouth addled whatever was left of my senses. “I need you,” I whispered breathily.

He abandoned his delicate hold on my neck and gripped my sides, then promptly lifted me. I moaned into his mouth and wrapped my legs around him. His resulting groan vibrated through my core, obliterating every thought that wasn’t him. Hisfingers dug into my ass hard enough to bruise as pushed me against the nearest tree. I was so consumed with the man before me the rough bark didn’t even register.

Every fiber of my being cried out for him, desperate in a way that should have terrified me. Except it didn’t, not in the least. I tangled my fingers in Elijah’s hair and squirmed in his hold, needing so much more. He pressed me harder against the tree, wedging me in place so he could free one hand. He brought it to his mouth, presumably to spit in it, but before he could, I grabbed his hand and sucked his middle and ring fingers into my mouth.

The smell of Elijah’s desire spiked, making me dizzy. Once his fingers were good and wet, he held my gaze as he slowly thrust them in and out of my mouth before finally removing them. He slashed his mouth over mine at the same time his now slick fingers tapped at my entrance. I moaned into him with wanton abandon as he slowly pressed them inside. He’d scarcely begun stretching me when I couldn’t bear it anymore.

“Now,” I panted. “I need you now.”

Where I expected him to argue about not wanting to hurt me, he removed his fingers, leaving my hole to clench empty air. He hitched me higher, and this time when he went to spit in his hand, I didn’t stop him. It took all my focus not to rut against his abdomen so he could slick his cock and guide it to my hole. But whether it was the moon, Mein Zeke, or because it had been so damnlong, my usual patience was conspicuously absent.

I bore down on his fat cock as he slid into me with a possessive growl. There was a sharp sting of pain that vanished almost the second it registered as he pushed past both tight rings of muscle and buried his full length. I groaned at the deep connection and tangled my tongue with his. I’d never known just how empty I’d been before Elijah, and now I couldn’t ever imagine going back to that again.

I dug the heels of my feet into his lower back as he separated from the intense kiss to breathe heavily into the hollow of my neck. When I didn’t think I could take a second more, he slowly slid out then slammed back home. Electricity raced along every nerve, and a sense of rightness ignited in my soul. I groaned deeply as I bucked into him, desperate for more, desperate for everything.

We’d had impressive sex before I’d turned, but nothing compared to this. The multitude of sensations threatened to drown me. The moonlight coursing through my veins burned brighter. I held on tighter to the only thing I could—Elijah.

“I love you.” The words seemed to have a life of their own as they found their way out between panted breaths. His mouth closed back over mine, completing the connection I’d craved for weeks,neededon an inhuman level. Time, the forest, even the moonlight vanished as he owned me body and soul.

Elijah

Josh stumbled on weak legs towards his abandoned clothes. That he was so unsteady only added to my guilt, not to mention that he was undoubtedly still high as a fucking kite on moonlight.

What the hell was I thinking?

The obvious answer was that I hadn’t been. I’d been so desperate to be with him again, and he’d done so well. There’d even been a few shining moments where he’d beenmyJosh again. I hadn’t thought at all, and that rankled. I snatched my pants from the ground, furious with myself and my utter lack of control in all things Josh.

“Seven hells.”

I spun around at the sudden exclamation, my forgotten pants falling from numb fingers. “What? What is it? Are you okay?” Panic threatened to strangle me. We’d almost made it.

Josh slowly turned around, his gaze focused on where his hand rested over his heart. “What? No, I’m not injured.” He massaged his pectoral. “Is it always like this?”

My brow furrowed. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Awe filled his green eyes as he lifted his head. He quickly closed the space between us, somehow steadier than he’d been moments before.

“Josh, what’s going on? Are you sure you’re okay? What are you talking about?”

He reached out a shaking hand, his fingertips hovering over my heart a moment before settling. “Is this what you’ve always felt? It’s…beautiful.”

“I still don’t know what you’re talking about.”

His gaze snapped up, and all the wonder I’d guessed at earlier shone on his face. “The bond.”

Oh shit.

“Fuck, Elijah. I loved you before, but it pales compared to… to whatever this is. I justknowthat I’ll never love anyone as much or as deeply as I love you. This is incredible. I justknow. I mean, I’ve read what it's supposed to be like, but this is so much more. So, so much more. If I didn't already love you, I definitely do…” His words trailed off. I watched as a range of emotions flashed across his face. Hurt, fear, anger, betrayal, confusion. He stumbled back, breaking the contact as horror finally took precedence.

“Josh, wait.”

"You didn't want the bond. You… you called it a death sentence. You called being bonded to me a death sentence."

"Josh."

He shook his head as he came to the last conclusion I wanted at that moment. "You let me believe..."

Bile crawled up my throat at the hurt that laced his scent. "Josh, please." I stepped forward, and he stepped back, his gaze lost and uncertain.