Page 24 of Phantom’s Mate

Whoa.

Bit by bit he exposed her, making that growling noise deep in his chest that was so so so primal and hot. Like she made him lose control, turn into an animal.

Her thong fell away and his face was between her legs, kissing, licking, devouring her like he would never stop. Her hips bucked and he curled his arms around her thighs, pulling them apart so she was totally exposed to him. His tongue was everywhere, swirling and thrusting, deep inside her and then teasing her clit until she had to grip the blankets with one hand.

“Nick. Please,” she moaned.

He kissed his way back up and held himself poised above her. She rolled her hips, pushing against his shaft. She was so close…

He whispered, “I want to feel you come when I’m inside you.”

Oh, God. “Yes.”

He slid into her, filling her so full she almost exploded, and she felt him take a deep breath and then exhale, settling deep inside her like he’d reached nirvana. “Woman, you have no idea what you do to me.”

If it was anything like what he was doing to her, it must be incredible. It felt amazing not to have to use a condom, to have him bare inside her.

He started moving inside her, thrusting deep and slow—so slow she could hardly stand the exquisite pleasure of it.

Lacing his fingers through hers, he settled into a rhythm that did more than give her pleasure. It seemed to take away the pain inside her, assuage the loneliness, the fear of never leaving here, that nagging feeling she’d always had about not being good enough, not being enough. Not for her mother, for Chaz, for anyone.

Not even good enough for God.

Nick whispered to her not to worry, it was okay, he was here and she was beautiful. So beautiful. Precious.

Slowly, slowly, he brought her back to the edge, and then she was beyond the edge and she couldn’t take it, it was all too much, and she whispered, “Yes, please yes, oh God Nick now please…”

He shifted his weight, intensifying the rhythm and pressure. Each thrust stroked her clit, over and over and then she just came apart, seeing stars and comets and green glowing orbs like eyes in the dark.

She could feel Nick losing it, feel his need, feel him taking all her hurt and loneliness and replacing it with joy.

Then he gave one last thrust and pulled her close, pulsing inside her, their hearts beating in perfect harmony.

Chapter 12

Nick lay in Britt’s bed, listening to the crackling of the fire and the occasional patter of raindrops on the roof. While they were making love, he’d been dimly aware of the wind battering the cabin, slapping sheets of rain against the windows, but now it seemed to have calmed down.

Propping his head up with his hand, he trailed his fingers down the curve of her breast, brushing her hair back. Concentrating, he manifested a rosebud, sunshine-yellow with silky petals, and drew it over her skin.

She opened her eyes, and smiled when she saw it.

“Did you make that?”

“For you.” He kissed her. “No thorns. Because nothing should hurt you anymore.”

She bit her lip, and touched the petals with her finger, very gently. “It’s beautiful. I love the color.”

He created another, and another, and she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him before creating a vase to put them in.

“I wonder how long they’ll last.”

“It doesn’t matter. I’ll make you more.”

They kissed again, long and slow, not talking. Finally she said, “You know, I feel like I’ve known you forever, but we really don’t know anything about each other.”

She turned her head and kissed his bicep. “Except that you’re not an angel and you have a thing for black leather and lace, and I have questionable taste in Halloween costumes.”

“True. What do you want to know?”