Page 172 of The Last Guardian

My other hand curled on the sheets, gripping with all my strength as the rhythm intensified. Shaken breaths, trembled moans escaped my throat.

Every stroke sent me to a cliff that I both never wanted to leave, but wanted to leap from; brought me to the edge of the universe. Dancing through the dark, with the stars, lighting up my body in explosions of light and fire. My thighs clenched around his head.

I straightened up, sitting on the edge of the bed, as he ate me alive, savoring each cry. My hips moved in circles, again and again, against his mouth.

Until I shattered.

Every nerve of my body pulsed in a trail of fire. My vision faded to black. I felt Zaid remove himself from me. His hand found my neck as he claimed my mouth with his. A moan escaped us both as his arm found root on my back in a sweet embrace.

“I am fucking weak when it comes to you,” Zaid whispered against my mouth. “You have no idea how many times I’ve dreamed of hearing you cry out my name like that.” Zaid smiled, bringing his lips to mine in a sweet kiss, letting a pleasant sound vibrate through me. “Know that this precise moment will come back to me every time I see you. Think of you.”

His arms lifted me back up to the top of the bed as he covered me with the sheets.

I felt Zaid’s weight on the mattress, wrapping me in the curve of his arm. His hand stroked my hair, falling onto my back, his touch sending shivers down my spine.

I shifted on the bed to face him, taking in his beauty. I slid my hand into his messy hair as his eyes scanned every inch of my face, searching. A soft smile bloomed on my lips. “What is it?” I whispered.

His face softened, his thumb brushing my cheek. “I want to make sure you are all right.”

My mouth went dry.

Tears welled up in my eyes. And before they fell on my cheeks, I brought my lips to his, kissing him slowly. Painfully slow. A moan vibrated from his mouth to mine as his hand found the side of my face, deepening the kiss.

“More than all right,” I whispered against his lips, a giggle traveling my chest. He chuckled back, his striking grin drawing on his face. His thumb touched the corner of my mouth as he brushed his nose against mine.

We stayed silent, enjoying the warmth of each other. Skin against skin. Breath mingling with breath. Lips brushing lips.

I nibbled my upper lip and I pinned him with my gaze. “Is the night already over?”

Astonishment crossed his face as he grinned, heat in his eyes. “You are ravenous.”

“Just surprised,” I said with an innocent tone. My lips traveled down his throat, provoking a rumble from him. “You claimed you never sleep when a woman is in your bed.”

He laughed—the most delicious sound I had ever heard. His fingers traveled down my body and stopped, brushing my nipple in a slow torture. He purred, “Oh, you were paying attention then.”

His fingers circled my sensitive nerves. I gasped. A satisfied smile grew on his face when his fingers stopped. I moaned, “Do not stop.”

His eyes darkened as he said against my lips, “What do you want, love?”

His hands moved down, slowly, exploring every curve of my body, his fingertips etching themselves into my skin.

I watched him, memorizing every detail of his face, carving this moment into my soul. “You,” I murmured, his eyes flared.

“You already have me,” he whispered, laying me down on my back, his body pressing into mine. His lips traveled down my jaw before his eyes found mine. “Everything I am is yours, Alyana.”

My lips met his, begging for the closeness between us to never break. Every second of that night, he touched me, pleased me, teased me—again and again. Every part of me unraveled beneath his touch as he worshipped my being. And I surrendered entirely to him. Willingly.

Slumber claimed us both when dawn broke through the sky, and we fell asleep in each other’s arms—clinging to each other as if nothing else mattered. I prayed silently to the stars to let me stop time at his side. Forever.

BATHED IN A golden gleam, the whole room was filled with an aroma of cedar and roses spreading on the sheets.

Our scents.

My hand reached out to the other side of the bed to meet nothing but an empty place. I scanned the room, my leather suit lying on the sofa, and breakfast waiting for me on the table. A bath had already been filled.

A flush spread on my cheeks at the memory of us, on his desk, on his gigantic bed, with his lips all over me, devouring me…

The thought of Zaid made my core pool again.