and stretching her as she licked at his pulse. A harsh groan escaped him.
Her teeth nipped his skin and she felt the instant jerk of his erection. She bit down and he slammed his hips hard, burying himself deep, holding her bottom with one hand, forcing her to accept his wildly plunging body. She felt the taste of him exploding inside of her, filling her with his essence. She'd never felt so complete. So loved. She swept her tongue across the pinpricks on his throat and let her body go up another time, this time without resistance.
She could hear her own soft gasps, smell their combined scents as the waves broke over her again and again before he found his own release.
They lay together, their arms around each other, their bodies joined, neither wanting to move. It was several minutes before Razvan found the strength to move, rolling off her to stare up at the glittering ceiling, his fingers linking behind his head.
"Give me a few minutes and I will carry you to the pool."
He turned his head, his smile tender, sending her heart somersaulting. He looked different. Younger. Happier. That same serenity was there, but this time there was love looking back at her with pure, undiluted happiness and joy. She wished she could share her emotions with him aloud, but she contented herself with surrounding him with the deepest feelings she had for him, overwhelming love, so much she couldn't give voice, even telepathically.
His fingers moved over hers, stroked small caresses until she linked her fingers with his. "Thank you, Ivory."
"For what?" A smile escaped. "I think I should be thanking you."
His smiled widened. "You have given me the most beautiful experience of my life. Whatever else happens, I will always have the memory of you giving yourself to me."
"I was afraid," she confessed in a low voice.
"I know you were," he said gently, "which made your gift all the more treasured."
"Are you really going to carry me to the pool?"
"Don't sound so scared," he teased. "Somehow I will manage to find the strength. I promise, I will not drop you."
She tightened her fingers around his. "I know that. I just might feel silly."
"No one is here but us, Ivory," he pointed out, his tone more tender than ever.
She felt her heart twist again. He could do that so easily to her. Move her. Make her melt. It wasn't his incredible body or the way he took her to such heights, it was that enduring love he seemed to have for her. A rock. A foundation. Strong and accepting that made her feel as if she could always count on him.
"I know."
"Do you think I will think less of you?"
She was silent, contemplating his question, turning it over and over in her mind. She just felt ridiculous feeling about him the way that she did. Why couldn't she let herself go in the way that he did?
"I don't think I know how to be a woman." She didn't know how else to say it.
Razvan turned on his side and propped himself up on his elbow. "Ivory, you are my woman. You do not have to be like any other. I do not want any other. There is no comparison. Be who you are. Make no apologies, certainly not to me." A small smile curved his mouth and he leaned forward to brush kisses over her mouth. "I love the way you are, that little reluctance you have to tell me I am the greatest man in all the world."
His soft laughter stroked over her skin. He sounded so boyish, carefree even, less inhibited for the first time in his life.
He managed to climb to his feet and lifted her, cradling her in his arms as if she were as light as a child. "You have worn me out, warrior woman."
Ivory couldn't help laughing. "If you were truly the greatest man in all the world, you would not be worn out. You would be ready to service my every need."
His eyebrow shot up. "I believe that is a challenge." He fastened his mouth to hers as he took her through to the next room where the water spilled out of the rock wall into the smooth basin. "I am more than up for servicing your every need." He whispered the words against her mouth, his tongue flicking over her lips, savoring her taste.
"Really? I am not quite as certain." She used her haughtiest tone.
He dropped her into the water.