“Better?” he asked.
She nodded, too embarrassed to speak.
“Sesi means sweetheart,” he added. “Petti coicin is little girl.”
The breath lodge in Saedra’s chest. Sweetheart? It was an endearment. Little girl she wasn’t so sure about. More teasing? “Are you making fun of me?”
She needed to know.
He snorted. “Hardly. I’m impressed by what you’ve done.”
“Did you mean what you said when I rescued you?”
***
Garik frowned at the back of Saedra’s head. Listening to her cries had torn him apart. Unsure what to do, he’d just held her and whispered reassurances. That wasn’t something he was used to doing. Her sudden question caught him off-guard. Turning her carefully so he could see her expression, he asked, “What did I say?”
Her gaze dipped, studiously avoiding his own. “That you would make sure no one hurt me anymore?”
At the needy expression in her brown eyes, his chest clenched and his heart skipped a beat. The vow. She was referencing the bonding vow. The protective urge he’d felt upon waking with her in his arms welled inside him. He tipped her chin up and made sure she read the promise reflected in his gaze. “I meant it.”
In the short time they’d been together, Garik was fairly certain he would kill anyone who looked at her wrong. There was something about Saedra pulling at the core of him that made him want to take care of her. Bonding vow or not, he was drawn to her.
“Thank you. No ones ever wanted to look out for me.”
Garik growled and leaned up on one elbow. He wanted to make sure she understood him. “You’re my mate. I will defend you. Never doubt that.”
Her smile trembled on the edges but it was there. “Alright. I trust you.”
She scoured his soul with that statement. How could she say that so easily? Garik closed his eyes and pressed his forehead to hers. “I am a dangerous man, Saedra.”
She laughed, the sound light and brief. “I know.”
Her agreement caused him to snort. Laughter had removed the pain from her brown eyes and they now glowed with a spark that was becoming familiar to him. The corner of Garik’s mouth curved up. “Of course, you know.”
She had no idea, no possible way of understanding what he did for the Guild. His work, his assignments, involved killing. The contract were planned meticulously, cleanly and without a trace of remorse.
An innocent woman like Saedra could never fully know that and Garik had no intention of going into detail. He’d let her believe she saw him clearly. He never wanted to frighten her with the truth.
Saedra reached up and traced her finger over his top lip. Sensations prickled from his mouth to his jaw. “Do you ever smile? Fully?”
Her touch as always struck like a match to tinder. Garik groaned and nipped at her fingertip. Saedra yelped, pulling her hand away and drawing another lip twitch from him. Garik caught her wrist and brought it back to his mouth. He tongued the digit from the tip to the bottom then drew it deep into his mouth and sucked.
Saedra gasped and her mouth formed a perfect O. Garik couldn’t have resisted if he wanted to. He released her hand and dropped down on the bed to curve his arms around her and tug her into his chest. His mouth landed on hers, catching her surprised breath. She softened against him and rubbed her legs between his. Garik parted his thighs, accepted her weight with a grateful moan as her breasts pressed into his chest.
He teased her with his tongue, flicking it with hers until she responded. Tentative, but with enthusiasm, her tongue ventured into his mouth. Shivers rolled down Garik’s spine. He cupped the back of her head and held her in place while he explored her mouth and gave her space to do the same to him.
Saedra’s hands delved into his hair, nails raking his scalp. He broke the kiss and gritted his teeth. The taste of her had been sweet, her inexperience obvious but her desire honest and true. For someone like Garik, it was an irresistible combination. He craved what she was giving to him.
Hepetti, he could totally get behind that. Though arousal beat at his senses, Garik refused to rush into undressing. Instead, he aligned her curves to his and thrust his hips up and down.
“Ohhh.” Surprise widened Saedra’s eyes.
“Feel good?” he asked.
“Yessss,” she dragged out.
Perfect. Garik gripped her hips and guided her in a slow grind on his lap. Pink circles popped on her cheeks as she arched on a low moan. Garik slid one hand up her back, encouraging her to sit up. Her legs moved and bracketed his hips. The position also had the benefit of pushing her breasts closer to his face. Garik leaned forward and latched on to the prominent point of her left nipple. There eyes locked on one another. He waited one beat then lowered his lids and sucked. Saedra cried out, her thighs pressing tight as she rocked faster.
His gaze flicked up to take in the beautiful picture she made as she rode his clothed cock. Face flushed, body trembling and the skirts of her dress bunched up about her thighs. The visual imagery and physical stimulation crashed together. So good it made him want to extend the feelings forever.
Except they really shouldn’t be doing this now. Garik released her nipple on an indrawn breath. “We should stop.”
It killed him to make that admission.
Saedra’s cheeks were a bright red. Her mouth formed a pout and she rocked again. “No. I want this.”
At this rate, she was going to make him come in his pants. He pressed lightly on her back and gave attention to her other breast with the same nip, then suck.
Saedra fell forward and fisted her hands in his hair to choke out, “You feel good. Please don’t stop.”
Everything he was feeling was reflected on her face. She was wrapped in the same vortex of pleasure, except if the quivering in her thighs was any indication, closer to climax. Flushed and gasping, she was the prettiest sight he’d ever seen. He wanted her to come. Right now, like this and intended to make sure she found the release she was eagerly chasing while he watched and enjoyed the sight.
Garik eased off her nipple and took in the two damp spots on her thin white shift from where he’d been sucking. Shit. Forget his plan to remain calm through this. He worked his hips up and down, hands clamped tight as he moved her over him. The orgasm racing toward him like an out of control shuttle was going to collide with hers.
“Please, Garik,” she whined as her head dropped and dark hair cascaded about his chest and face.
“I’ve got you, Saedra. Don’t be afraid, sesi. It’s all yours.”
I’m all yours, he wanted to add.
Their clothes provided a thin barrier but neither of them seemed to care. Their hips smashed together amidst his deep grunts and her whimpering cries. Tingles raced up Garik’s spine, the impending explosion unstoppable. Saedra’s panting grew louder.
“Yes. Yes. Yes,” she chanted.
Suddenly, she jerked upright, dug her nails into his chest and slammed down on him with a scream. Garik reached up to cover her mouth with his hand as a crazy display of lights blasted over his vision. He used his other hand to hold her tight as he watched her rock and pump in a frenzy.
Chapter 10
Shudders still rocked Saedra’s frame as she sat stunned atop Garik’s lap. She’d orgasmed. Not her first but greater than anything she’d given herself in the darkness under the covers in her room when curiosity had beat out misplaced decorum. Gasping for air, she glanced down at the man lying between her legs.