“You do.” Anchoring one knee on the bed again, he settled against her, his very hard shaft probing her softened entrance. Her heart softened right along with the rest of her. He had made sure she was ready for him. Had completely put her comfort before his.
She tangled both of her hands in his hair. “You’re perfect.”
He kissed her hard, going deep. “Yeah, I figured you were nuts. But you go ahead and think I’m perfect.” Slowly, he penetrated her, taking his time but giving no quarter.
It truly was the most exquisite feeling in the entire world. “I had no idea,” she said, her voice hushed.
He dropped his forehead to hers. “Me, either.” For two heartbeats, they were completely connected and still. Then he began to move. Slowly at first and then with increasing speed, he powered into her.
She shut her eyes so she could just feel, holding his hair and lifting her knees to take more of him. He hammered wildly for several long moments until that wire heated up inside her again. She bit her lip, so close to paradise. Then she toppled over, crying out, holding on to him as the waves swept her away.
He groaned against her neck, pounding into her, prolonging her ecstasy. Only then did he shove inside her and jerk with his own release. Slowly, still inside her, he lifted his head and kissed her so tenderly that tears pricked the backs of her eyes.
She blinked, shocked. “I think I love you, Benjamin.”
He stiffened.
She slapped her hand against her mouth. What had she just done in the haze of lovemaking? “Oh, no. I’m so sorry.”
His jaw tightened, and as sure as the sun would rise, he flipped her over and bit her butt.
Chapter Twenty-Five
The sun was barely peeking over the mountain as Benny skipped another rock across the river. Clouds rolled in from the east, promising a heck of an autumn storm. Even now, the dew on the weeds had dampened his boots and the bottoms of his jeans.
“What are you up to?” Mercy jogged up the river, her leggings the same color as the turning leaves on the other side.
He double checked for threats. Nope. “Nothing. Just thinking.”
Mercy stopped. “Does it hurt?”
He snorted. The fairy was the closest thing to a sister that he’d never wanted, and he pretty much adored her. She was crazier than he, which was kind of nice. Plus, with her one green and one blue eye, she was always interesting to look at, and that was even when she wasn’t driving poor Logan insane. “Yes, my brain hurts when I think. Happy now?”
“No.” She leaned down and fetched a smooth rock. “It’s no fun messing with you when you agree. What’s the matter?” She expertly skipped the rock across the entire span of water, her curly hair bouncing in the chilly breeze.
He looked around. “Where’s Logan?” It was odd to see Mercy out jogging without her mate.
She put her hands on slim hips covered by a bright orange hoodie that kind of matched her leggings. “Why? Do you think I can’t go jogging by myself?”
“Not usually,” Benny admitted. “Where is he?”
She huffed and picked up another rock. “We saw you, and I said I wanted to talk to you, so he returned to the control room to search for Sam. Again.” Her eyebrows drew together, and she threw the rock too hard. It splashed twice and then sank to the bottom.
Benny handed her another rock. “This is a good one. Don’t worry. We’ll find Sam.” He’d left Karma sleeping peacefully in his bed, hoping Linda would visit her and be helpful. He wasn’t counting on it, though. “What time are we calling Zane and the demon nation?”
Mercy grimaced. “By noon. We can’t wait longer than that.”
Man, this might mean war. Brother against brother, family against family, and mates caught in the middle. Benny plucked a smooth rock off the ground and zinged it across the water, skipping it at least ten times.
“Nice,” Mercy said, side-arming her rock. It skipped eleven times. “Tell me what’s going on in your head. I can smell Karma all over you, but I don’t sense matehood. So you got some, huh?” She grinned.
“Watch it or I’ll toss you in,” he said, kind of meaning it. “She’s a lady.”
“Does the lady have moves?” Mercy danced around him, her eyes full of sparkle. “Are you in luuuuuv?”
He rolled his eyes. While he’d like to discuss what Karma had said about mating, he didn’t want to break her confidence. “I like her, you know?”
Mercy’s expression turned dreamy. “Yeah. Are you going to mate?”
He lifted a shoulder. “I’m not sure. She’s never been on her own or had choices, and I don’t want to lock her down before she has a chance to see some of the world. Plus, there’s the final battle coming up, and you know not all of us are going to survive. She also has two little girls, and I’m terrible around kids. Probably. What if I scare them? Finally, I like her, but I’m not into the whole white-picket, forever, roses, and mushy crap.” He wasn’t enough for a female who wanted all the trimmings.
Mercy’s expression softened. She moved toward him, stretched up on her toes…and punched him right in the eye.
He growled and stepped back, clapping a hand over his brutalized eye. “What did you do that for, you crazy fairy?”
“Fae,” she said, huffing. “I did that because you’re a moron.”
He sent healing cells to his eye to make sure it wasn’t truly damaged. Nope. It just hurt like hell. What had he been thinking to seek advice from a Fae? “That was unnecessary,” he complained, removing his hand and blinking into the soft light of the morning.
She reached for a rock and straightened up.
He paused and watched her carefully, just in case she decided to throw it at his head.
A small smile played on her pixie-like face, and she skipped the rock across the river. Twelve times. “One, Karma is old enough, by far, to make her own choices. If she’s dumb enough to choose you, then thank your lucky stars. Two, I am so tired of hearing about that final battle. If Ulric makes it back here, we’ll all deal with him as a team. Third, you’re half-crazy, which kids just love. Any little girls lucky enough to have you around would love their very safe and probably wild life. And fourth, what makes you think any of us want white picket fences or roses? Personally, I like metal throwing stars and tulips.” She turned to face him, her stance set.
He took two very cautious steps back. It wouldn’t be the first time Mercy had kicked him in the neck, but he just wasn’t in the mood. “I have no idea how Logan puts up with you.” He kind of meant it, but his voice was still soft because this was Mercy.