Shiver(88)

Now why should she give him a minute, when he hadn’t spared her any?

She was turned on more than she ever thought she would be by taking control. She opened the foil wrapper and took out the flimsy, thin condom, and then looked at Aidan’s thick, pulsing erection.

How the hell was this supposed to cover that?

Being ever so careful, Raven placed the condom on the tip of Aidan’s penis. He jerked, and his hands fisted. “Raven,” he said in a ragged breath. “I need some time.”

“Time’s up.” She fumbled in her attempts to roll the slick condom down his hot, throbbing shaft.

Aidan swore again, and pushed her hands out of the way. In one expert move, he sheathed himself, flipped her over onto her back and entered her.

Her breath escaped in a whoosh as her body tried to adjust to his hard penetration.

“I’m sorry,” he said, thrusting into her. “Next time. We’ll. Practice.” Then he was lost in her body, grabbing her hips as he plunged into her, their joined bodies automatically lining up their tattoos.

Raven melted around him, relishing that she’d made the man she craved lose control. Next time she was taking top position. Just knowing that there would be a next time had her inner muscles contracting. Aidan moaned, and his thrusts increased. The veins on his neck protruded, the muscles in his shoulders and arms flexed. And then he was grinding against her as he climaxed, her name a guttural prayer on his lips.

She took off in flight right after him.



They’d used up Tern’s box of condoms before they were sated with each other. Raven’s body still twitched from the electrical overload of so much pleasure. If she put her mind to it, she swore she could levitate. Aidan lay next to her, sprawled out on the bed, breathing heavy.

“You okay?” she asked.

“I think you’ve killed me.”

She leaned up on her elbow and twirled a finger around his taut nipple. He was beautiful in the moonlight cascading through her windows. His dark hair on her pillow, his naked body taking up most of her bed, felt so right.

“I’ve ascended onto another plane of existence.” He turned to look at her, wonder in his eyes. His hand came up to cover her fingers, splaying their clasped hands over his heart. “There’s no other explanation for the level of happiness I feel right now.”

Tears tickled behind her eyes and she had to duck her head to hide them. She kissed his knuckles where their hands were joined. “I have something for you.” She reached over to the night table, and opened the drawer, taking out the leather choker she’d kept all these years, not able to throw it away even in her angriest moments. “You’ll need this to help navigate your way.”

She held up the leather braid, a hand-carved face of a timber wolf dangling as a talisman.

Reverently, he reached for the wolf his own mother had carved him as a boy, before the alcohol had taken its toll. “I never thought I’d see this again.” He looked at her. “You kept it?”

She shrugged, emotions making it hard to speak. He’d given the necklace to her that last summer as a sort of promise ring. “I couldn’t throw it away. The wolf is your totem, your protector.” Sitting up, she opened the clasp. “You need to have it with you.” She reached around his neck—he lifted his head to help her—and she secured the leather, smoothing the wolf in place to hang in the hollow of his collarbone. “Perfect, like it’s home.”

He caught her fingers, bringing them to his lips for a kiss. “Thank you.”

Tears threaten again, so she snuggled down into his arms. He wrapped his good arm around her, bringing her in close to his heart. They stayed that way for a while and then Raven whispered, “Don’t go alone.”

He stilled. “Was this what tonight had been all about?” She stiffened, and he immediately responded, “Forget I said that. Please.” Remorse was heavy in his voice.

“There’s still a lot we need to learn about and forgive each other for, isn’t there?”

He kissed her forehead, pulling her tighter against him. “Promise me, you’ll give us time.”

“I promise, as long as you promise not to get yourself killed.”

He chuckled. “I promise. I suddenly have too much to live for.”

She snuggled down into his arms, his body a warm, comforting blanket that soothed her into a deep, restful sleep.

When she woke, he was gone.





CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

“Fox!” Raven yanked on her overalls and t-shirt, struggling into socks as she raced for the kitchen. “Fox, we overslept. Hurry!” She had to get him to school and then find Aidan. She searched the main room. No sign. No clothes lay about. He’d even put the sofa bed back together.