playfully growled at me. “Otherwise I’m dragging you back into bed.”
I grabbed my pants and fled.
I rushed through the shower, nervous anticipation fluttering in my belly. Once I was clean, I put my clothes in the circular shower stall and started a clothes cycle. Sonic showers used a light mist of cleaning fluid instead of gallons and gallons of water, so realistically, my clothes would be damp but wearable as soon as the cycle completed.
Fear gave me pause. Maybe I should wait for the cycle to complete. I stared in the mirror, trying to see myself from Ian’s point of view. I was petite and too thin. I looked like what I was—someone who had been sick for a long time and who was just now starting to recover. I’d lost over fifteen kilograms and only in the last two months had I gained any back.
What if Ian saw only the sickness and not the strength?
I shook my head. Now I was just letting fear rule me. And procrastinating. I opened the door, determined.
Only to nearly run into Ian. His hot gaze made it to my breasts before he snapped his eyes closed and blew out a breath. He blindly held out a sheet. “I brought you this, in case you were uncomfortable. I should’ve sent it with you earlier. I wasn’t thinking.”
I stepped around the proffered sheet and ran my hands across his bare chest. “If you had taken that sheet off earlier, I never would’ve made it out of the room.”
He looked down at me, doing an admirable job of keeping his eyes glued to my face. “Are you sure, Bianca? I don’t want to rush you.”
“I’m sure.” I stepped close enough that his hardening length pressed against my belly and my breasts pressed against his chest. I ducked my head and gave him another truth. “It’s been a while, and you’re not small, so . . .” I trailed off.
Ian made a deep sound in his chest. “Are you going to fuss at me if I pick you up?”
“Are you truly healed?” I asked. He nodded. “Then I won’t fuss. Not that I ever fuss.”
He grinned and grabbed my ass. He lifted me easily. I hooked my legs around his waist for balance. I shivered as his length pressed against my clit.
He slid me up a few centimeters, his eyes going heavy lidded. I glided easily against him. I wanted him enough that he could probably pull back and thrust home without any difficulty, despite my recent celibacy. I squirmed, angling for just that outcome, but Ian clamped his arm around my waist, pinning me in place.
“Now who’s rushing?” he asked. He carried me to the bed and lowered me onto my back. He followed me down, his hips wedged between my legs. So close.
Then his lips were on mine and my thoughts scattered. I slid my tongue into his mouth only to pull back with a gasp when his fingers closed around my nipple. I arched into his touch. “Yes,” I hissed.
He trailed kisses down to my other nipple before giving it a teasing lick. I buried a hand in his hair and pulled him closer. He groaned and drew the tight bud into his mouth.
I made a noise that was half moan, half whine. I arched again, trying to get him inside me. He chuckled against my skin and slid down farther. Now I did whine, until I caught the intent in his eyes. My breath hitched as he knelt beside the bed and angled my body toward him.
His first touch was tentative, reverent. A whisper-soft glide of one finger over my clit. My hips jerked, chasing the feeling. Ian smiled, a true, blinding expression of joy, before it gained a wicked edge. He pressed his other hand against my hip, holding me still.
Another touch, as light as the first. “Ian,” I gasped, straining toward him, “you’re killing me.”
“It’ll be a glorious death,” he promised. Then he bent his head and fastened his mouth around my clit. His lips and tongue stroked me and it was indeed glorious. He pressed two fingers inside, a slow thrust that caused my whole body to clench in need.
I was so close.
When I pinched my own nipples, desperate to fall over the edge, Ian groaned against me and that was all it took. Pleasure exploded, bowing my back and stealing my breath.
After I recovered, Ian crawled up my body, his intent clear, but I decided he’d been in charge