he said breathlessly. “I’ll try.”
And then she understood.
“It is all right.” Her hand curled around his neck. “I’ve done this before—” She broke off in horror, and their gazed locked. The tips of her breasts trembled against the smooth contours of his chest as he froze. Archer’s expression shifted, warring with jealousy and something deeper. His clear eyes gleamed, and she realized it was the masculine thrill of possession.
“But not with me.” And with those calm words, he entered, thick and hot and parting her swollen flesh so slowly that the whole of her senses focused on it. Lord, it was not like her first time. He was bigger. Almost too much for her. She felt stretched and invaded, yet a tight ache quivered in her belly, demanding that she be taken. And taken thoroughly. Heat crested over her skin at the thought, and she arched up into him, her legs parting on a breath, but he stopped, the line of his throat moving as he swallowed.
He hovered over her, his arms shaking with effort, the sinews along his shoulders and chest standing out in fine relief. “God.” He pushed a little deeper and then stilled again. “Too good,” he croaked.
“Too…” She cleared her throat. Desire steamed in her veins. “Too good?”
His muscles twitched, his breath ratcheting. “Jesus, yes.” Brows furrowed, eyes shut, he held a look of intense pain, but for the way his lips opened, panting and soft. So utterly delicious looking that she licked the tender column of his throat.
“Miri.” A bead of sweat trickled along his temple as he gave her a helpless look. “I’m a lit cannon about to go off.” He swallowed hard. “It’s been years and you’re… you.”
That he was all but undone by her sent a possessive thrill coursing through her veins. She wrapped her arms about him, wanting to bring him closer. Unhinge him the way he unhinged her.
“Don’t move,” he rasped. “For the love of God.”
Smiling, she smoothed her hands over the taut swells of his buttocks and gripped them. Her legs slid up his thighs to wrap around his waist, and he groaned hard, nudging a bit deeper. Pleasure scattered through her center. Poor Archer, he didn’t stand a chance. “Think of England, darling.”
A choked laugh burst from his lips. “Witch.” His eyes opened, and the pained expression broke into something so tender and hot her heart kicked. “God, I love you,” he whispered, then thrust in with a deep glide that made her moan.
His nostrils flared before the tight hold he had on himself broke. His mouth took hers, open and wanting. Their fingers twined, and he lifted her hands high above her head, holding them there as he pumped into her with hard, deep strokes. Liquid heat, thick and viscous like lamp oil, flowed through her limbs. She writhed against it, pain blurring with pleasure. So this was need. Little grunts rumbled in his throat as he took her harder.
More. More. And more. It was not enough. And too much. Her breasts trembled with each thrust, the silk carpet at her back abrading her skin. The floorboards squeaked as his rhythm increased. His tongue plunged into her mouth, tangling with hers, stealing her breath. A dark, swirling thing—need—gripped hot and strong. She moved against him, straining, reckless with it. Her nails scored his back to spur him on. He grunted and slipped a hand between them, finding the slick nub of sensitive flesh between her legs, and tweaked it. Her body tightened in white-hot pleasure, and her heels dug into the floor as sensation punched into her.
He watched her as she came apart. Pushed deep within her, he ground himself against that sensitive spot that fractured her, set her body on fire. Gasping, she gazed up at him, and those silver eyes held hers. For one sharp moment, he was whole and unchanged with golden skin, tousled black curls falling over his brow. A picture of the man he truly was inside. Mine. Tenderness, lust, and love crushed her chest, so brutal and sharp that she sobbed.
“Archer.” She touched his cheek. And like that he came. Hard. His shout reverberated through the room as he bucked above her, the tendons in his neck standing out like vines, his cock pulsing within her. Another wave of blinding heat took her. She clutched him as if she could pull him inside of her skin. They strained against each other for one tense moment before her hands fell weakly to