“Janwar,” she breathed, his name full of longing and desire.
“I want you,” he murmured against her lips. “All of you.” He couldn’t remember ever before feeling this desperate to bury himself balls deep inside a woman, to tease and taste and explore every part of her. Not even his first time had fired his blood like this.
She nodded. “Then take your damned clothes off.”
Chuckling, he lowered her feet to the floor. They instantly began tugging at each other’s clothing, exchanging kisses, caresses, and more laughter when they nearly tripped and face-planted on the floor in their haste. He had never experienced anything like it.
Janwar had been on the run since he was seventeen. A criminal. A bounty hunter’s dream capture. As a result, every coupling he’d engaged in had been the mere scratch of an itch and a quick release with nameless strangers. Strangers with whom he had always had to keep his guard up, something that had become even more apparent after a pleasure worker managed to drug Krigara and came damned close to handing him over to a bounty hunter.
With Simone, it could not be more different.
The two of them had been practically inseparable since she’d first stepped foot on the Tangata. Janwar liked her, had enjoyed the time they’d spent together, and treasured the friendship that had swiftly grown between them. It meant so much more when her lips touched his. When she smiled and drew a tender hand down his beard. Though he wanted nothing more than to get naked, bury himself inside her, and take her fast and hard, joy filled him as they chuckled over their impatience, the clumsiness of their attempts to divest each other of their pants only to be hindered by their combat boots.
With Simone, it was fun.
No. It was more than fun. It was something he couldn’t adequately describe.
He just knew he never wanted it to end.
Simone was practically panting by the time she and Janwar finally stood naked before each other.
“You’re beautiful,” he declared, his voice hoarse.
Even as his words thrilled her, she devoured him with her gaze.
Janwar was packed with muscle, the reddish tinge to his skin alluring, with dark hair on his chest that she couldn’t wait to toy with.
Her gaze traveled down rippling abs and found more dark hair surrounding the base of the hard cock that jutted toward her. He was big all over. And she was relieved to see that there was nothing bizarre going on down there. She hadn’t really thought there would be, since Akselis were very similar to humans.
“So are you,” she told him. Beautiful from head to toe. Closing the distance between them, she rested her hands on his chest. His skin was warm, his heart pounding beneath her touch. Dragging her fingers through the crisp hair, she rose onto her toes so she could lean in and press her lips to his neck. “I love your scent,” she said softly, breathing it in, and touched her tongue to his soft skin. “Your taste.”
The gentle contact seemed to shatter his control.
Locking one arm around her, he drew her so close that even air couldn’t pass between them. Fisting a hand in her hair, he tugged her head back and captured her lips, plundering, devouring, and driving the flames ever higher.
Lifting her, he urged her to lock her legs around him again.
Simone did so eagerly, pleasure streaking through her as she ground against him. It had been so long that she feared for a moment she would come before they even made it to the bed.
Then Janwar strode forward, kneeled on the mattress that would be waist-high to her, and leaned down. Her back touched cushy bedding.
Loosening his hold, he eased back and sat on his heels between her spread thighs.
Against her will, Simone felt heat creep into her cheeks. Her sexual encounters since transforming had been few and very far between. She had always believed there should be an emotional connection between two people before they pursued anything intimate. But it was hard to form that connection with someone you couldn’t tell you were immortal.
“Look at you,” he said, his deep voice rough with need. Those big hands of his clasped her ankles, slid up her shins, her thighs, his thumbs coming sooooo close to the place she craved his touch the most, and continued up her sides until he reached her breasts.
“Perfect,” he murmured, cradling them in his palms, squeezing, teasing the tight buds, and sparking shocks of pleasure.
Gasping, she shifted her hips restlessly.
His lips curled up in a knowing smile as he leaned over her and lowered his head.
Simone moaned when he captured one taut peak between his lips. Burying her hands in his long hair again, she gripped his braids as he teased her with his teeth and tongue.
“Janwar,” she whimpered, arching against him. “Take me. I need you.”
But instead of plunging his long hard length inside her, he shifted his mouth to her other breast, driving that need higher. When he trailed heated kisses down her stomach, she released him and fisted the bedding on either side of her. If he did what she thought he was going to do, she wouldn’t last two seconds.
His warm breath brushed her clit, even that light contact making her gasp. Then, his eyes meeting and holding hers, he lowered his head and took her with his mouth.
Simone moaned long and low. The things he did. With his teeth and his tongue. Stroking, sucking, and teasing as she writhed beneath him.
He slipped two fingers inside her, adding to the sensual torment. “You’re so wet for me.”
She nodded, unable to speak or think beyond the pleasure as he drove her higher and higher. An orgasm crashed through her. Simone cried out as his tongue and fingers lengthened and extended it, keeping the ripples of pleasure going on and on until she collapsed against the covers.
Janwar kissed his way up her body again and settled between her thighs. “Beautiful,” he declared once more.
Simone stared up at him, something indefinable filling her as her empathic gift infused her with the same emotions she read in his heated gaze as he stared down at her. There was much more in those russet eyes than rudimentary lust or desire. There was friendship, affection, and—dare she believe it?—burgeoning love.
She cupped his handsome face in her hands. “Janwar,” she whispered.
Dipping his head, he brushed his lips against hers, the contact tender despite the need that tightened every muscle pressed against her.
Simone poured everything she felt for him into that kiss, swiftly turning into a fiery conflagration. Heat swept through her, the urgency she’d felt earlier returning full force. Slipping a hand between them to his chest, she gave the hair there a tug and toyed with his nipple.
“Simone,” he groaned.
She continued to explore, sliding her hand down between them until she could curl her fingers around his hard cock. A shudder of pleasure shook him when she guided it to her entrance. Abandoning his talented mouth, she trailed kisses across his cheek and gave his earlobe a little nip. “Take me.”
He didn’t hesitate, pressing forward with rigid control. “You’re so small,” he gritted. “So tight.”
When he started to withdraw, she locked her legs around him. “Don’t stop!”
Bracing his weight on his hands, he chuckled. “I didn’t intend to. I just wanted to give you time to adjust. Let me know if I hurt you.” He pressed forward again, deeper this time. Withdrew then pushed forward again.