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Ari goes quiet again. The rain echoes in my ears, tapping louder and louder against the roof above. The fire crackles with an undying flame. My pulse pounds in my ears, counting down to… I’m not even sure what.
I can’t believe I said that. Should I take it back? I should take it back.
Shit.
His lips graze my skin again and my toes twitch. The towel slowly falls from my shoulder, guided by his hands. He pushes my hair to the left and kisses me again, this time full of heat and longing. My survival instincts flare up. His kiss, his touch. It’s keeping me warm. My skin loses its biting edge.
But I want more.
I flick the buttons on my cardigan. Ari pauses, obviously observing as I pull it back off my shoulders. He takes hold of it and helps slide it off my arms, leaving them bare and wet as I shiver in my tank top. He tosses it away, along with the towel and bends down to kiss the skin between my shoulder blades.
I let out a trembling gasp; rugged and involuntary. Ari reaches one hand around me and rests it on my belly while the other slowly slides the strap down on my tank top. I allow myself to lean back, gently guided by his firm touch. I rest my head on his shoulder as he kisses me harder on the neck and pulls me closer to him.
“Tannis,”he whispers, his lips on my earlobe. “You feel amazing.”
I can’t say a word, completely lost in a cocoon of warmth, but I still tremble in cold, wet clothes. His hands glide down past my breasts, gripping the bottom of my tank — but he stops himself. I feel the hesitation on his breath as he battles with himself.
I shift, driven by nothing more than instinct, and slowly turn around to face him on my knees. Ari watches me, his eyes maintaining a gentleman’s focus on mine, as I slowly pull my tank off over my head. My chest heaves in my white bra as I drop the tank beside me, happy to be rid of another layer of damp clothing.
Ari licks his lips and takes a deep breath as he finally looks down. He pinches my hips, tension fighting through his body as he admires me.
“Haven’t you seen this before?” I ask.
He looks up. “What? You?”
I nod. “You’ve been watching me for... ever, right? I kind of figured that you’ve looked in while I was—”
“No,” he says over me.
I blink in surprise. “You haven’t?”
Ari smiles and hugs his arms around my waist. “Your body is yours to give, Tannis. Not mine to take.”
My breath hitches. “But I thought...”
“The deal I made promised a companion. You were never meant to be my slave, nor would I force you to be one.” He takes a breath. “I meant it when I said I didn’t own you, Tannis.” His eyes fall, though they never lose their warmth. “I never will.”
I kiss him, surprising myself as much as him. His hands crawl up my back and I cup his face, both of us embracing each other as only we can. He pulls me onto his lap and I feel his damp shirt on my skin.
My hands hover over his buttons, locked with nervous unease.
I’ve never undressed a man before.
I look at Ari and he gives me the slightest nod. I can continue if I want, it says. I can take my time or stop altogether. I can steal a peek or strip him down to nothing. I’m in control.
I’m in control of a god.
Whoa.
Thunder strikes overhead and I startle, bringing a lovable chuckle to his mouth. Ari kisses my collarbone and holds me closer, comforting me in case I need it. I kiss him one more time, still getting used to the action, as I pinch the first button on his shirt.
I slip it free. And another. And another. I hold my breath, feeling Ari’s eyes on me the whole time until I reach the end. Ari relaxes his arms down to his sides as I slowly push the shirt back over his wide shoulders. My mind flashes back to the dream and I’m surer than ever that it was real. I bite my lip, tempted by the same chiseled form I saw from his bed. I touch his pecs, far too nervous to dare and venture elsewhere.
Ari kisses my blushing cheek. “Are you okay?” he asks.
I nod. “Yeah,” I say, my voice a soft squeak.
“Do you want to go further?”
