"Come here." He drew her over to the bed, laid her down, and eased himself next to her so he was on his side and she on her back.
As he smoothed some of her hair out on the pillow, she closed her eyes and took a shuddering breath.
Gradually, the tension loosened in her body.
"You're right. That wouldn't have gone well."
"It isn't because I don't want you." As he kissed her on the shoulder, she turned her face to his hand and pressed her lips to his palm.
"Are you scared?" she said. "About what'll happen to you tomorrow?"
"No." The only thing he worried about was her. He didn't want her to watch him die. Prayed it wouldn't come to that.
"Butch... about your human family. Do you want them to be told if you-"
"Nope, there's no need to tell them anything. And don't talk like that. I'll be fine." Please, God, let her not have to see me pass.
"But won't they care?" When he shook his head, her expression grew sad. "You should be mourned by your blood."
"I will be. By the Brotherhood." As her eyes watered, he kissed her. "And no more about mourning. That's not part of the plan. Forget about it."
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"I-"
"Shh. We're not going there. You and me are staying right here."
He lay his head down next to hers and continued running his hands through her beautiful blond hair. When her breathing grew deep and even, he shuffled a little closer, tucked her against his bare chest, and shut his eyes.
He must have fallen asleep as well, because a little later he woke up. In the best possible way.
He was kissing her throat and his hand was moving up her side, heading for her breast. He'd thrown a leg over both of hers, and his erection was pushed up against her hip. With a curse, he backed off, but she followed, staying with him until she was half on top of him.
Her eyes flipped open. "Oh..."
He swept his hands up to her face and pushed her hair back. Their eyes met.
Lifting his head off the pillow, he kissed her softly on the mouth. Once. Twice. And... again.
"Is... something happening?" she whispered.
"Yeah. I think something's happening."
He drew her back into a kiss, then entered her with his tongue, stroking against hers. As he kept at it, their bodies began to move together, mimicking the sex act, his hips advancing and retreating, hers absorbing him, rubbing against him.
There was no rush and he took it slowly, undressing her with care. When she was naked, he eased back and looked at her body.
Oh... God. All that soft female skin. Her perfect breasts with their nipples straining. Her secrets. And her face was the best of all: It showed no fear, just erotic anticipation.
Which meant he was going to finish this between them. If there had been a lick of doubt in her eyes, he would have just pleasured her and left it at that. But she wanted the same thing he did, and he was certain there would be no pain for her this time.
Butch stood up and slipped off his loafers, the Guccis making a thunking sound one by one. She watched with wide eyes as his hands went to the waistband of his slacks and he popped the button, then unzipped. Boxers hit the floor with the pants and his erection shot straight out from his body. He covered himself with his hand, folding his cock against his belly, not wanting her to get unnerved.
As he lay down, she rolled into him.
"Oh, God," he breathed as their skin met.
"You're so very naked," she whispered against his shoulder.
He smiled into her hair. "So are you."
She ran her hands up and down his sides, and he felt the heat in him go nuclear, especially as she slipped one Page 242
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arm between their bodies and her palm headed south. When she hit his lower belly, his erection pulsed with the desperate need to be touched, to be stroked, to be squeezed until it exploded.
But he captured her wrist and withdrew her hand. "Marissa, I want you to do something for me."
"What?"
"Let me see you through this, okay? Let's have this time be all about you."
Before she could protest, he covered her mouth with his own.
Butch treated her with such exquisite care, Marissa thought. And with total restraint. Every touch was soft and gentle, every kiss was easy, unhurried. Even when his tongue was