Page 176 of Commanding Flame and Shield
The near-scalding water was absolute bliss as it poured from so many sides down the length of our embrace, and cleansed our skin. August wrapped his arm around my stomach, pulling our slick bodies together. Strong fingers traced the line of my collar bone, and then he brought the removable shower head against my chest. Warmth blossomed across my sternum as he danced the water across each of my breasts, using his free hand to gently caress the skin. With so much care it brought tears to my eyes, August washed each wound, and kissed every new mark and healing scar, all the while whispering that he loved me.
When the blood had all been washed down the drain, he took the time to wash my long hair. Delicately, I returned the favor, taking time to clean the wounds across his ribs, and chest. Full lips upturned in the timidest of smiles, August turned off the water, and swept my legs out from under me, lifting my body as though it weighed nothing.
August laid me down with breathtaking reverence, deliberately propping his weight on his arm. My heart stuttered as he cupped my breast, his lips pressing against my jaw line. August grazed the skin across my neck with his elongated canines, and I arched into him, a whimper crossing my lips, pulse racing.
“Ally,” he purred my name against my neck, between kisses. His warm hands traced tickling patterns across my belly, down the crease of my hip, and along my thigh before he slowly, so slowly, inched back up. I wrapped my hands through his hair to lock him to me, bucking my hips against his, wanting more.
He panted again, my name like a chant on his tongue, “Ally.”
I wrapped my injured leg around his waist, ignoring the tug of barely healed skin, and pulling his body over onto mine. Bucking my hips again, he nearly growled, his desire evident as the hard length of him slid across my entrance.
“Mine,” August growled, pressing his forehead to my own as he slid one hand down to the inside of my leg, more firmly this time, steadily caressing his way to the apex of my thighs.
“Prove it,” I panted back, voice breathless. His hunger took over then, and everything was fire, my power licking against my skin as though it needed to merge with his as much as my body did. August's movements turned feral as he dug his fingers into my ribs, encompassing the cage, and ran the pad of his other palm over my needy clit. My breath caught as a wave of pleasure shook through me, his fingers continuing to work against that bundle of nerves in expert motions.
The insatiable need for him became so overwhelming that it wouldn’t take him long to bring a peak crashing over me. I gasped as the wet tip of him slipped between my thighs again, the teasing anticipation torturous.
With a bit of effort, I squeezed my hand between us to wrap my fingers around his hard, smooth shaft. Two could play that game, and he granted me a low groan in response. The heat that had been building exploded when I touched him, burning through every inch of me as my core wound so tight, I felt likely to burst if his fingers continued their movements.
“August,please,” I panted, and a breathless chuckle rumbled in his chest. He moaned as his fingers pressed across my center, coming away soaked with my need for him. He set his head on my shoulder, breath hot against my chest as he slipped his finger into my entrance. A curse slipped through his lips right as my spine bowed off the mattress in a spasm of pleasure. He growled, the vibration glittering across my neck where his lips rested.
“Never thought I’d get to feel you again,” he whispered before dragging himself out of me. August brought his fingers to his mouth, sucking on two before sliding one back into me. “Fuuck, baby, you taste even better than I remember.” He pumped his digit again, this time growling, “Fuckingmine.” My muscles rippled around him, pleasure coiling to an unbearable level as I nodded incoherently. Right when I thought I’d come apart around him, he slid out, and put two fingers back in, palm demanding against that bundle of nerves as he curled his fingers against my walls, my body writhing under his touch.
“God,” I gasped. “August!” He continued his steady, leisurely pump as my body stretched around him. A dull ache formed as he worked in steady motions, his lips pressing kisses to my neck.
“Open up for me, little nova.” August curled his fingers, hitting nerves so heightened that I lost control entirely, my eyes rolling back as my head fell to the mattress.
“August,” I cried out on a desperate exhale.
August slid his fingers out, quickly wrapping both of his arms behind me, locking our bodies together to hoist our weight upright. He sat on his knees, and held me over his lap, body still wrapped in his arms, like a vice. He reared back, eyes sweeping over my bare skin.
“You’re so fucking perfect…Beautiful,” he breathed against my skin, trailing kisses around my breast until his tongue lashed out against my already pebbled nipple. The air hitched in my throat, goosebumps erupting down my body.
Gently, he nipped his teeth at my flesh, the teasing pain heightening the anticipation even more before he soothed the skin with a kiss. “Soaked,” he said quietly, rumbling deep in his throat. Slowly, August slid his grip down to my waist, eyes locked on mine as he gently lowered me onto the length of him, pausing every few seconds to let my body stretch.
A moan of pleasure escaped me as my insides convulsed around him, ignoring the slight twinge of pain, and reveling in the fullness. I closed my eyes, head falling back as I breathed him in.
August panted against my throat, teeth tracing along my skin as he allowed me time to adjust to him. “And all fucking mine.” I could feel the smile across his warm lips as we rocked together. He brought his mouth to the tender skin where my neck and shoulder met, kissing and sucking, sending waves of heat down my body.
My arms wrapped around him, fingers digging into his muscled back of their own accord, and then I pulled him forward, urging us back to the bed, needing his solid body over mine. He followed, mouth firmly planted against my own as we collapsed against the mattress. Something between us stirred, like fire and sparks colliding. With agonizing slowness, he dragged himself out of me, and then thrust back in. Again and again, gradually speeding his movements up, knowing the way my body ached for release.
My heart hammered relentlessly against my ribs, and I knew he could hear it, just as I could hear his thundering away. August rose on one arm as he slid out again, eyes stealing one last lock with my own as he stroked his fingers across my cheek, my jaw, before he buried his face in the damp hair against my neck, and pushed inside me again, sheathing himself fully. I cried out in pleasure, bucked my hips to meet his movement, and my mouth fell open as he reached his free hand around to cup my ass, and pull me tighter against him.
I couldn’t remember—who I was, where we were, or why we hadn't been devouring each other the whole time. Couldn't remember mynameas he thrust into me again, as his kisses grew bruising with desperation and release barreled towards us both. That coil wound tighter and tighter within me. A gasp tore through me as that soul bond burned hotter, as though we were being welded together with each thrust, claw against flesh, and wild kiss.
August’s movements were fluid, as he drove himself in and out of me, panting against my neck until sweet, desperate release finally tore from my body, eyes fluttering shut as I trembled with the force of it. He groaned as my body spasmed around him, and my waves of pleasure pushed him right over the edge. He thrust harder and faster until he stilled, buried to the hilt, as his own release pulsed, and he spilled himself inside me.
As he pulled out, August shifted his weight back onto the bed before guiding me onto his chest, arm around my shoulders. I laid against him, leg wrapped across his hips, careful not to lay my face over the clotted slice in his pectoral muscle.
Gradually, our breathing slowed, and hearts steadied, as August traced feather-light patterns on my arm with those wonderfully calloused fingers. When our flesh had cooled considerably, he lifted the crisp sheet over us, and I nuzzled tighter against him, wordlessly kissing his chest. I could feel his smile before he chuckled and pressed his lips to the crown of my head. My eyes fell closed.
So softly I could barely detect the whisper, August said, “Goodnight, Mrs. Porter.”
I managed a small smile against the heat of his chest before sleep whisked me away.
EIGHTY-ONE
FAMILY
