When he’d reached Honor, she’d been freezing to death.
She was warm now. He pulled her closer and listened to the steady beat of her heart. He watched her face as she slept and slowly felt the terrible rage in him calm.
He dragged in a deep breath. He had to admit that he was no longer fully in control of his nanami. His arms tightened on Honor. He’d hoped he’d have many more years before he reached this stage, but it was time to accept that soon, he’d no longer be able to function normally.
He’d become like his father.
Colm’s jaw locked. But he would never let himself risk hurting someone weaker.
And definitely not Honor.
She stirred, her hair tickling his nose. This was his last chance to hold her. He would get her back to her people, and then he knew his time was over.
When he returned to Markaria, he’d head to the Northern Wastelands. It was time. Kavon was mated and settled. His friend had turned his estate into one of the most powerful on Markaria.
Colm wouldn’t be needed anymore.
Honor stirred again. Her cheeks were pink with warmth, and the pinched look was gone from her face. She pressed into him and made a small noise that made his desire rise. She was out of danger now.
And he had to have her.
He rolled her beneath him, settling into the cradle of her thighs. As her eyelids fluttered open, her eyes meeting his, he thrust inside her.
Her mouth opened in a silent cry, more heat filling her cheeks. Colm moved slowly this time, his nanami strangely calm. He kept his eyes locked with her green ones. By the warrior, it felt like she was made for him. She was tight and slick around him, and he kept plunging his cock into her over and over.
Colm reached down, sliding his hand between their thrusting bodies. He touched her, felt where she was stretched around him, and then slid his thumb up to find the tiny nub above. He rubbed it and felt her jerk against him with a husky cry.
He worked her hard and didn’t slow his firm thrusts. A second later, her release hit her, and he watched the emotions skitter across her face.
As her body contracted on his, he couldn’t hold off his own release any longer. Pleasure slammed into him, he thrust himself deep to the root and held himself there as he poured himself inside her.
Colm dropped onto the fur and pulled her close, her legs tangled with his. Then, exhausted, he fell into a light sleep.
When he stirred, he thought he was dreaming. But as he stared at the ice roof above him and felt the warm lips traveling down his body, he realized that this wasn’t a dream.
It was so much better.
Honor was on top of him, her lips tracing a trail down his chest. She stopped every now and then to lick and suck and tease. She nipped at the ridges of his stomach and he drew in a sharp breath. She scooted further down and her mouth pressed to his hipbone.
“Time for me to drive you a little crazy, warrior.”
As her hand circled his cock, he wondered if he’d survive this.
When she sucked the head of his cock into her mouth, a strangled growl broke free from his throat.
She licked and sucked, working her mouth down, taking more of his large cock into her mouth. Colm had to watch. He lifted his head and wasn’t sure he had ever seen anything so arousing as watching Honor pleasure him.
Involuntarily, his hand slid into her hair and he directed her. He urged her to take him a little deeper. Unable to stop himself he bumped his hips up, forcing more of his cock into her mouth.
She didn’t protest. Instead, she made a humming sound that vibrated through him and made him groan.
She pulled back with a pop. “Just let go, warrior, this time I’ve got you.”
Colm had never given up his control to anybody. He’d spent his life honing his control, knowing he’d need it to control the wrongness inside him.
But in this moment, this intimate moment with this woman—his woman—he let her take the lead.
As his orgasm hit him, he spilled inside her mouth, his back arching with the most intense sensations he’d ever felt. And for the first time in his life, he worried about nothing but pleasure.
Chapter Twelve
When Honor woke, she stretched her arms above her head, feeling pretty darn good.
She stared up at the ice roof above her. Despite the dangerous creatures within, these caves— with their sparkling moss and pretty ice—were really beautiful. She turned her head and saw Colm was already up, rummaging around in their remaining backpack.
The caves weren’t quite as beautiful as her warrior.
He raised his head. When he saw she was awake, he grabbed a nutri-bar and brought it over to her.
Honor pulled the fur closer around her naked body. She opened the packaging of the food supplement and studied him. She sensed he wasn’t feeling loose and satisfied like she was. Instead, that terrible tension was back.