The Darkest Craving (Lords of the Underworld #10)(71)
Author: Gena Showalter

“I know. But not as low as actually sleeping with her would have been,” he added, hoping she’d agree.

Slowly, she nodded. “All right. I’ll give you that.”

He’d been devastated by her rejection, and he’d wanted out of that ballroom so badly he’d leaped at the first opportunity. Sleeping with Synda had never been a consideration. “I tucked her in to bed, then sat on the couch in the adjacent room most of the night, making sure she stayed put and out of trouble. At least, I thought I was making sure. She used a secret passage I didn’t know about and snuck out to have sex with Red in the garden.”

Tink slid her hand across the small space between them and traced her fingers over the center of his chest, where the dragon brand had been. The pleasure…it was too much, not enough. He hooked one of her legs over his waist, twining their bodies as much as possible while they were still clothed.

He could barely breathe, but he could do nothing until he’d told her the truth about him. He’d made too many mistakes with her to make another. She would think less of him, yes. How could she not? But he was going to be with her. Here. Tonight. He wanted this marriage cemented. And if he had a negative reaction to something she did, he didn’t want her worried about the reason or thinking he didn’t want her.

“The other women I mentioned…I told the truth. I was with them before I found you. I thought sex with them would make me forget what had happened in hell, that I’d forget about being helpless, but it only made me feel worse. Memories taunted me and I…vomited after every encounter.”

“Oh, Kane,” she said, shifting her fingers through his hair. “I’m sorry.”

No judgment. Just compassion.

Once he had thought he hated compassion, the cousin to pity. Not today. “You make me crave things I never thought I’d crave again.” He nuzzled the side of her neck. “I want to be with you, Tinker Bell.” Wanted everything she had to give.

“I…I…want to be with you, too. I want to smother your bad memories with good. I want to be all you know, all you see.” So softly admitted. “What I said at the ball, in the secret room…Kane, I believe in you. I really do. You are the strongest, bravest male I know, but I couldn’t bear the thought of being the reason your life was thrown into another war.”

Any remaining hurt was soothed.

War. Disaster laughed. I’ll give her war. I’ll make sure you break her heart before I kill her.

He wouldn’t break her heart. He wouldn’t let her be hurt…ever.

“Some things are worth fighting for, Tink, and I’ll prove it. Give me a minute.” Kane left her in bed and prowled through the room, stacking all lamps and wall hangings in the bathroom, then shutting the door and rigging the lock. Soft moonlight drifted into the space as he crawled back into bed.

Tink softened against him, warm and welcoming.

Now…now he was finally going to have her.

“I want you,” he said, the hunger gnawing at him now. “All of you.”

A moment passed before she nodded.

“Roll over.”

This time, there was no hesitation. She obeyed.

“I want to be everything you need,” she said, “the way you’re everything I need.”

A heart he’d thought hardened beyond redemption thrilled. “You already are.” He rose on an elbow and unbuttoned the back of her uniform. As the material parted, his eyes adjusted to the dark and he was able to see the plain white undergarments she wore. Lovely. Pure.

Every inch his.

“All right. On your back.”

Again she obeyed.

As he eased the gown from her shoulders, down her waist, and over her feet, she shivered. The undergarments and then her ring and gloves received the same treatment, at last leaving her bare. Beautifully, exquisitely bare.

He looked her over more leisurely. She lay utterly still, allowing him to drink his fill. He could only marvel. Every inch of her had been made for his specific tastes. Lush, yet slender. Ripe for plucking, yet delightfully innocent. She undid him. Destroyed him. Ruined him for all other females.

My woman is perfect.

“Wait, my ring,” she said, trying to swipe it out of his hold.

He held it back, out of reach. “Not until you promise the gloves are gone for good.”

“I don’t know why it’s so important to you, but all right.”

“We’re going to be what’s known as a disgustingly lovey-dovey couple. I want skin, not leather.”

As her features softened, she said, “I promise.”

He slid the ring back on her finger.

Her lips lifted in a slooow grin. A vixen’s grin. “Now, it’s time for you to take something off. It’s only fair.”

“I do want to be fair.” A dark fever drove him as he ripped off his clothing. Tink’s eyes devoured with the same greed he had displayed. He wished he had the patience to let her study as he had studied, but need could no longer be denied. He stretched on top of her, remembering at the last second to brace his weight on his elbows, and oh, the agony. The agony of being this close to her and not being inside her.

Have to get inside her.

“Spread your legs,” he demanded, and she obeyed.

Suddenly he could feel her against him, the most intimate part of her, all barriers gone; the exquisite, moist heat nearly pushed him over the edge.

“Oh, Kane. It’s…it’s…” With her nails in his back, she arched against him.

As he swooped in to kiss her, the bed began to shake, stopping him even while grinding him against her with far more force.

He hissed. She cried out.

“Silly demon,” she said on a moan. “This is actually…oh…oh! Don’t stop, Kane. Please, don’t stop.”

Disaster cursed. The bed ceased moving.

Growling, Kane smashed his mouth into her. He’d meant to proceed gently, but…screw gentleness. She hadn’t wanted it any time before.

She opened for him immediately, welcoming him, moaning with her pleasure; he swallowed the sound. He kissed her, kissed her harder, kissed her deeper, every second wrought with more tension than the last. As his hands moved on her br**sts, her stomach, between her legs, she came alive.

A crack echoed. He caught the scent of plaster in the air. The wall was taking the brunt of the demon’s fury.

Tink started.

“Forget him,” Kane said. He fit his hand between her lower back and the mattress, and lifted her, drawing her more firmly against him, fitting them together until not even a whisper separated them.