Losing It: A Collection of VCards (3 page)

He would oblige her.

He lifted her chin and kissed her neck, mouth lingering as he tasted her skin. Her floral perfume masked the hint of the minty soap left over from her bath this morning. He’d sat on the bed while she bathed, waiting and wishing he could join her. He’d striven to be the gentleman, to let her decide when she was ready to take it further.

It was safe to say she'd decided a while ago.

He grabbed the back of her neck with one hand and her waist with the other. His mouth found hers, and he leaned in with the pent up passion he'd been denying for months. She moaned and set her hands on either side of his head, pulling him closer.

Despite his joy, dread shot through his core like a knife to the heart. A rush of adrenaline pumped through him. His arms and legs shook, and blotches of his natural charcoal gray skin peeked through on his familiar olive arms.

He sucked in a breath and paused. He gripped Kara's waist with both hands, fingers curling beneath her shirt hem, and set his forehead on hers to brace himself. He took two more deep breaths.

His control had almost slipped. He'd almost shifted forms.

"Braeden, are you—"

He silenced her with a kiss.

He ached to dive in, to take her with everything he had, but he couldn't let his form slip. He didn't want to scare her or lose control. He'd need to take this slower if he wanted to keep a level head. Only, he didn't want to keep a level head. He wanted to rip her clothes off.

She leaned into him, but he broke away and kissed her ear. She hummed with pleasure and dug her fingernails into his shoulder. So she liked that—he'd have to take note for the future. With slow kisses, he worked his way across her cheek to her lips, slow and steady. Her eyelids fluttered, half-shut. The line of her cleavage tempted him to yank the shirt over her head, but he took a deep breath and closed his eyes.

Control yourself. Take it slow.

With each of his nibbles on her neck, a little moan escaped her lips.

Nibble.

Mmm.

Nibble.

Ah.

His hands sank to her ass. A tug against the cloth of his trousers silenced his last thread of worry. Her two flawless curves fit into his palms, perfect despite the layers of cotton separating her from him. He pulled her closer, until no gap existed between them. His body craved hers. Blood rushed through him, chipping at his resolve with every heartbeat.

Her lips hovered by his. “Is there something in your pocket, or are you happy to see me?”

“I’m incredibly happy to see you.”

“Yet I’m still wearing my pants.”

He laughed, though it came out as more of a thundering rumble from his chest. “I just don’t want to hurt you. If I lose control, if I shift forms, I could—”

“Good God, man. Take off my clothes before I hurl you out of this cave.”

A short bark of a laugh escaped him. His princess had given him an order he would happily obey.

In one fluid motion, he swept his hand under her knees and lifted her into his arms. She yelped and chuckled. He knelt and set her on the ground, one hand behind her head. She leaned into him, eyes narrowing. A brilliant smile broke across her face.

He straddled her and pressed his mouth to her lips, pushing her against the cave floor. Its smooth surface, worn flat from his years of pacing his secret fortress in worry, would serve now as a makeshift bed. At least all those years of isolated frustration did
some
good.

Kara’s fingers lifted the hem of his shirt. Her hands glided up his sides, her cool skin leaving a chill as the fabric raced toward his shoulders. The cloth sailed over his head and hooked on his chin. He laughed and tried to pull it off but lost sight of her for a few seconds. She grinned and hooked her hands on either side of his neck, holding him close.

Once free of his shirt, he grabbed hers and pulled it over her head. An emerald green bra blocked his view of her breasts and pressed them together. He kissed the line between them, and the lilac curl of her perfume filled his nose.

It didn't occur to him to tease her any more. Instead, he fumbled with the button holding her pants together. It fought him, only popping open when he gave it a rough yank. He grabbed the laces below it, tugging at each line until it came loose. She toyed with his pants button, apparently pausing to savor his touch as he fought to free her from her clothes.

After another few seconds, he broke the final lace free and tugged her pant leg. Her green panties peeked above the linen. He slid them off her smooth legs, his eyes lingering on the curves of her thighs. The pants caught on her knees, distracted as he was with admiring her. She giggled.

She reached for his pants, and he forced himself to allow it. He wanted to rip them off himself, since he could probably do it faster, but she seemed determined in the assist. He busied himself with kisses on her neck, aware of every movement of her hands. She undid the button and set to work on his laces, eyes fluttering with his every kiss.

Braeden sank into her touch, losing himself to the brush of her skin on his, to the growing warmth sizzling along his body. He could almost sense the steam that would pummel from his pores in his natural form—the one he’d hated his whole life. His body ached to turn to its natural state, but he quelled the impulse to relinquish his control to the darkness within.

Water crashed outside, the falls thundering louder with each passing moan. He heard a few of his own gasps mixed with Kara’s, but he slowly lost all sensation except for the warmth of her skin beneath his fingers. At some point, his pants finally slid down his legs.

His hand reached around to her bra latch. He pinched it and slid his fingers apart, unable to unhook it until the third try. And as much as he wanted to, he couldn’t bring himself to look at her fully naked body. Not yet. Instead, he closed his eyes and set his nose in her hair, breathing deep as he slid the bra off her arms.

She set her hands on his shoulders and kissed his bare chest. His fingers traced the mark her bra had left on her body, gliding one hand over the lace indent as he explored her. Soft skin dipped beneath his hand, filling it. A pang of nerves fluttered in his gut. Did she like it when he did this? Should he shift his hand? Maybe he shouldn't hold her like that.

His boxers restrained him. He yanked them off and set his knees between her legs. With one arm on either side of her head, he opened his eyes to see the most stunning purple irises he’d ever experienced.

"Ready, handsome?" she asked.

"You sure you still want this, beautiful?"

She grinned. In answer, she grabbed his naked hips and pulled them toward hers. Heat pooled in his groin. Instinct and desire urged him forward. He happily obliged.

Inch by inch, he pushed his way inside her. She moaned and arched her back, dragging her nails along his sides. Small bubbles of pain blossomed on his back as her fingers dug in, but he grinned with pleasure and pushed deeper.

Once in, he paused to savor the victory. The only girl he'd ever wanted lay beneath him, gave herself to him fully. A flurry of desire crashed with the nerves in his stomach. He leaned into her hair and smiled as he cradled her face. He'd never felt this connected to anyone before. And for it to be her, of all people—his heart raced with joy and disbelief. He would cherish her, please her, and give her everything she ever wanted.

She wrapped her legs around his torso and ran her hands up his back, eyes closed. “I’ve wanted you to do this for
ages
.”

His voice failed him. All his attention, all his focus and control centered on keeping his human form and savoring every sensation. He could do only those two things.

A muscle popped in his arm from the strain of keeping his olive-skinned form, but waves of pleasure rippled through his groin and down his legs. It seemed the joy would silence his inner demon for a while longer.

He rocked against her. Her breath crashed against his chest. He leaned into her, setting his forehead against hers as he curved his body into hers again and again.

But in the intensity of her legs twisting beneath his, he let his mind wander from its primary duty of keeping his natural form in check. His control slipped.

A shiver raced down his spine. He froze. Another dagger of dread clung to his lower back like ice, rooting him in place. He remained inside her, but grimaced as he fought to maintain his control. A pocket of steam erupted along his shoulders, shooting into the air as he trod the thin line between his adopted and natural forms.

“Are you okay?” she asked, breathless.

Her voice chipped at the darkness. He shuddered, his restraint returning as swiftly as he lost it.

He managed to nod. He couldn’t speak, or he would shift.

Her thin hands held his face. He opened his eyes to see hers inches away. They drew him in, calming his nerves. The icy dread dissolved, slowly leaking into the fiery warmth of her body.

He kissed her, pressing her back against the cave floor. He grabbed her waist and curved into her, hard as ever with every thrust. She moaned again and smiled, face beaming. She pushed against his chest, nails dragging over his pecs as he ravaged her.

The waterfall kept them company, disguising their moans with pummeling water. Sunlight blurred across her skin. With each of her happy gasps, he cared less and less how long they spent in the cave. He ached to please her, to hear her scream with pleasure even though he never wanted it to end.

She dug her fingertips into his hips and tightened her thighs, back arcing. Her lips parted, eyes closed, and she moaned. His groin throbbed, begging to release even as he realized he could no longer contain himself. He leaned on his elbow, his other hand on her waist, and sighed as a wave of pleasure crashed through his torso.

He lay on top of her, suddenly aware of a breeze as it cooled the sweat on his back. A chill raced through him as he regained his composure.

She panted underneath him, taking heavy breaths as she fought to speak. "You made me come your first time? How is that possible?"

He shrugged and leaned his head against her breasts, grinning in triumph. He snuggled against her, weaving his arms around her body as he held her close. Whatever chaos awaited them beyond the cave could wait a while longer. For tonight, he would completely enjoy Kara and the peace she brought him.

He'd never known love before her. And now, he would never have to live his life without it.

About S. M. Boyce

S. M. Boyce is a lifelong writer with a knack for finding adventure and magic.

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Boyce's Novels

All novels available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and iBooks.

The Grimoire Saga

Lichgates (#1)

Treason (#2)

Heritage (#3)

Illusion (#4)

The Ourean Chronicles

The Misanthrope: Stone’s Story (#1)
Fall 2015

The First Vagabond: Cedric’s Story (#2)
Fall 2015

The Demon: Deidre’s Story (#3)
Fall 2015

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