face, each of his gasps and moans urging her onward.
Suddenly, he caught both wrists and pinned her arms against the blanket. He looked almost angry for a second, then the tension eased and his expression morphed, reflecting the hunger so apparent in his mind. It wasn’t anger but consuming need. The realization made her shiver. His mouth settled over hers, the kiss slow and deep. She was determined to rush him, so he was showing her that he wouldn’t be controlled by her urgency.
On and on he kissed her. His lips caressed and his tongue stroked as he ignored her moans and squirming. She could feel how badly he wanted her, every bit as badly as she wanted him, but his control was greater. She’d never wanted anyone the way she wanted Salvo. His mouth moved over her jaw and along her arched neck as he quickly unbuttoned her blouse. A temperate breeze drifted in off the ocean, sending another shiver through her body. His gaze moved over her bared breasts for a long, tense moment. She arched, squirming restlessly. He captured one of her nipples between his lips as he reached beneath her skirt and drew her panties down.
He paused, lightly caressing her thighs as he stared into her eyes. Longing, achingly intense flowed out of him and Natalie moaned. How did he keep himself in check? He had to ache as badly as she did.
“I never thought I’d find a mate much less a soulmate,” he told her, his voice thick with emotion. “You have no idea how happy you’ve made me.”
“I haven’t accepted you yet,” she reminded playfully.
For the first time since they met, there was no uncertainty in his reaction. His emotions remained focused and well-defined, a dizzying combination of desire and tenderness. “Oh, you will,” he said with enough arrogance to make her grin. “Because I’m going to keep persuading you until you do.”
Before she could reply, he pushed her skirt to her waist and urged her thighs apart. She bent her knees and opened for him, more than ready to be filled. He moved between her legs, but sank lower rather than arching over her. His hands swept down her thighs as he lowered his mouth.
“If this is what you mean by persuading, I might take a long, long time to make up my mind.”
He chuckled, but didn’t raise his head. Take all the time you need, my love. I will never tire of your taste.
His tongue circled her clit and Natalie gasped. He was so damn good at this and she wanted him so badly that it wouldn’t take long for her to come. Sometimes he would push her close to the edge then pull back so he could build the urgency again and again. Tonight he was a man on a mission. She could feel his consuming hunger and it fueled hers. He licked and gently sucked, arousing her with obvious purpose.
Finally, his lips closed around her clit and he gently sucked. She arched, following the blissful pressure. When his lips released, sensations detonated with concussive force. She cried out as sparks of light flickered in front of her eyes. Her core clenched almost violently and her orgasm spread through her entire body like the seismic waves of an earthquake.
And for just an instant he was there with her. The blinding intensity of his being surrounded her and flowed through her, infusing the physical pleasure with a metaphysical sweetness. Their souls touched, melding for one staggering moment then slipped apart again.
The sensations receded more gradually than they arrived. She floated between reality and dreams as his emotions washed over her mind, affection, protectiveness and all-consuming need. The mental intimacy would have satisfied her completely if it weren’t for that one moment of perfect bliss.
He entered her slowly, the now-familiar fullness pulling her back into her body. She blinked trying to refocus her eyes, but his face was shadowed by his long hair. Rather than feeling cheated by the dimness, she opened her mind, allowing his emotions, his vibrant energy to reassure her. She shared herself just as freely, no longer hindered by uncertainty.
“I’m here, love,” he whispered against her parted lips. “Nothing and no one will ever tear us apart.” He drew his hips back, pausing for a long kiss before thrusting deep again.
She clutched his back, legs drawn up against his sides. He moved faster, filling her completely with each firm stroke. She opened her body and mind, but something was