Jake stood beside the bed rather than lying on it, but he was naked as she’d directed. Desire smoldered in his eyes and surged across their link. He sensed her need for control and held himself back. The obvious effort it cost him made him even more precious to her.
She moved slowly toward him, wanting to memorize every curve and angle of his amazing body. With broad shoulders and narrow hips, highly defined muscles and handsome features, he was the personification of masculine virility. And her tiger most definitely approved.
“I’m going to touch you, but you don’t have permission to touch me.”
His brows shot up at her claim and his mouth quirked at the corners. “I’m willing to indulge you for a time, but remember my turn will follow.”
Even within his momentary surrender, he exerted his will. He was a Therian male. Any other approach would have been dishonest. She pressed her hands against his chest, absorbing his heat and feeling the strong, steady thumping of his heart. He watched her, alert and ready to pounce, yet his arms remained at his sides.
She stroked up and over his shoulders, making the same motion with both hands. His muscles flexed beneath her fingers as her hands worked their way down his arms. “You’re so tense, love.” She leaned in close and whispered the comment in his ear. Her breasts brushed against his chest for a moment but she quickly stepped back and continued her exploration.
His shoulders were wonderfully broad, the muscles hard and starkly defined. Her fingers gave his biceps an approving squeeze as she paused over the impressive thickness. Her tiger appreciated the strength while she savored the softness of his skin and the care with which he held her.
After briefly tracing the ridges in his abdomen, she moved around behind him. His back offered a variety of terrains, each more appealing than the last. She rubbed his shoulders and outlined the shape of his shoulder blades until she reached the indentation of his spine. His strength was obvious in every corded muscle, yet he’d been nothing but gentle with her. Fascinated by the contradiction, she traced his spine downward, her fingers pausing over each vertebra.
The tight, round muscles of his ass drew her attention. He was never shy about touching her there. He squeezed and teased, nipped and nibbled, and used bold touches to create shockingly intense sensations. Ready to do some shocking of her own, she squeezed one side and then the other. He rewarded her with a muffled groan.
“Do you like being touched by me?”
“I like it better when I touch you too.” He voice was unusually low and gravelly.
Encouraged by the scalding lust blaring across their psychic connection, she grew bolder. She wrapped one arm around his middle and pressed against his side. Then she ran her fingertips from the nape of his neck to the small of his back, watching the restless bunch and flex of his muscles. She descended along one side of his back then teased her way up the other.
He pressed his arm over hers and intertwined their fingers. “The longer you make me wait, the longer I’ll make you wait.”
She laughed then pushed to her tiptoes and nipped his ear. “Anticipation only heightens the pleasure. Isn’t that what you’re always telling me?”
She followed his spine downward then eased her fingers into the crease between his ass cheeks. He tensed and she grinned, her long middle finger easily finding her target.
“Careful, angel. Don’t open a door you’re not ready to walk through.”
Deciding she’d been bold enough for now, she retreated to the small of his back then her other hand wiggled free of his fingers. She skimmed over his flat belly and descended until she found the base of his cock. “You’re generous with your touches, my love. But you’re stingy when it comes to being touched. It’s time I evened the score.”
Curving her fingers around his thick shaft, she stroked down his length and back, down and back, as he stood still within her embrace.
“Enough.” He growled and pulled her around in front of him.
“Not yet.” She smiled and slowly licked her lips. “I ate the entire sandwich and I’m still hungry.” Before he could argue, she slipped to her knees and took him into her mouth.
A violent shudder passed through him but he did nothing to hinder her. She stroked his shaft with one hand while her lips worked the tip. He rewarded each slow draw of her mouth and swirl of her tongue with a gasp or groan. And all the while his emotions flowed freely into her mind. Lust tempered by tenderness and his soul-deep need to satisfy her every desire.
Her tiger prowled restlessly, excited by their heightened emotions yet discontent as an observer. Wanting no distractions, Heather shifted her focus, easing her tiger’s input to the back of her mind.