Fionn raised himself over her and brought his lips down on hers. His tongue slipped inside her mouth. She sucked on it hard, drawing him in so deep, she lost track of where she stopped and he began. He tasted of nearly forgotten summers, of abandon and freedom.
The length of him pressed against her thigh, hot and hard. With a shock, she realized the bottom half of his body was naked. Shoving frantically at the waistband of her pants, she finally remembered these were different pants and they had both buttons and a zipper. Somehow, she managed to get them down enough to pull one leg out. He rolled her onto her back, probing for entrance almost immediately. Drawing her knees back, she gripped his hips and pulled recklessly. She wanted him inside. Deep. Now. Gasping and panting, she arched her back, trying to get just as close as she could. His breath mingled with hers. He took her lower lip between his teeth and bit down. She bit back, all fire and claws, taking his gambit and giving him one better. Fionn groaned as he sank into her and began the same long, slow strokes that had driven her crazy last time.
Aislinn lost track of how many times she came before she felt the spasms of his release. She tightened her grip on his shoulders and drew him against her. They fell back asleep like that before he shifted his weight off her and drew her into the circle of his arms, crooning softly. It was only when she woke again that she realized he’d been singing to her in Gaelic. It felt like she was a child again and her mother was holding her. She even thought she remembered that particular song. If it was the same one, he’d been telling her he’d care for her always and keep her safe.
Feeling more awake, she snorted to herself. Nice try, but nowhere is safe anymore. No point in deluding myself. He stirred next to her, but the cadence of his breathing told her he was still asleep. Wonder if Rune and I should leave?
Are you kidding? the other side of her brain demanded. He’s the best fuck I’ve ever had. Why would I want to walk away from that?
It comes with strings. Remember last night?
She rubbed her eyes, not wanting to wake him before she’d had time to sort out her thoughts. Yes, Fionn did come with strings. Was she already tangled up in them? She’d barely had a chance to get used to sharing her life with the wolf. Maybe she and Fionn could take a little break from each other. See how they really felt before they got in much deeper.
Nope, not a good idea. The way things were today, with no reliable way to communicate over distances, either they stayed together—until one of them decided they were done—or they parted right now. She didn’t see any other choices. Besides, survival was scarcely a foregone conclusion. If they went their separate ways, one of them could be killed, and the other would never know. She thought about how it would be to have him dead, and a part deep inside her ached, the pain so intense that it felt like a knife in her guts.
How could I be so attached? I barely know him. She tried to slip quietly out of their bed, but the movement woke him. He closed a hand about her wrist and pulled her back, said something in Gaelic, and then switched to English. “Sorry. Sometimes when I’m still half asleep, I forget.”
She gaped at him. “That’s an old form of Gaelic.”
“And how would ye be knowing that?” He aped an Irish accent so perfectly that it made her laugh.
“Because my mother was Irish, and she used to talk to me—in Gaelic and in Irish. I recognize the difference. Gaelic has a different cadence.”
“So it does. Come back here. There’s nothing so pressing we can’t have a good morning hug.” The accent was very nearly gone. The words such perfect English, she might not have noticed the slight twang beneath them if she weren’t paying attention.
His body was warm against hers. And quite naked. Just the touch of his full length against her was enough to start her blood humming. She squirmed, trying to get away. “We’ll never get anything else done,” she protested.
“And what could be more important than this?” he demanded, perfect teeth very white against his scraggly beard as he smiled at her. Gently taking one of her hands, he pushed it downward until it wrapped around his shaft. Ridged flesh jumped in her hand, then again. Obviously ready for more of what they’d shared the night before.
Good question. She tried to gin up an answer, but couldn’t come up with anything. Rune and Bella could take care of themselves. She had no job to go to. No school. Only this man and her and the magic their bodies made together.
“Just remember”—she cupped the side of his face with her free hand—“you asked for this.”
Aislinn let go of him and yanked the covers out of the way so she could look at him. Really look at him. She kindled her mage light, since his wasn’t bright enough for her purposes. What a gorgeous man. Leanly muscled arms and shoulders funneled to a flat stomach and slender hips. A light dusting of golden hair sparkled against bronzed skin. She ran a fingertip from shoulder to groin and then traced his leg all the way to his feet. He flexed his toes and made a feral, possessive noise deep in his throat.