Selective/Memory: The "Depth of Emotion" Book 2 (The Depth of Emotion) (26 page)

She gave him a look of sensuality and lust. What she saw in return was fire, fuel, and power.

Breathlessly, she took his moment of pause, feeling compelled to say her peace after such a painful time, and to let him know how much injury he’d caused.

“You hurt me!” she said, bursts of gold exploding with her words in the orbs before him.

He softly gripped the sides of her face, worn eyes boring straight into her heart. Placing his lips to hers, he spoke the words into her, so that she could feel them, as well as hear them.

“I know…” he said, in a voice that sounded like a wounded beast, desperate to be relieved of its pain.

She wove her fingers into his hair and pulled his mouth closer to her, inviting him to love her. He was instantly a man reborn—drawn to what he sorely missed—a moth to a flame.

Her response amazed him. The fire that raged within her was like none he’d ever known. Her passion was tumultuous—the lust was incomparable.

Neither one doubted what would transpire. Their heat was all consuming. She gouged her fingers into his back, as if to convey a message, but her fire spoke a language of its own.

No further comment was offered. He was done with idle talk. Kissing her, his tongue found hers as he took ownership of her. Sweeping his hand down to caress the curve of her shoulder, it continued to trail downward, reaching the small of her back. He pulled her close, crushing her against him.

Her hands roamed over the cotton covering the hardness of his back and chest. She fumbled to remove his shirt, hating that it hindered her access. Finally impatient, she tore at the fabric, hearing the clicking sound of buttons hitting the floor. She was rewarded for her actions by the low rumble of his laughter.

He pressed himself into her thighs, evidencing the effect she had on him as he grew more inflexible and pained. His hands proved to be as impatient as hers, reaching down and coming under the back of her dress. He enjoyed the moment, cupping her curves as his thumbs ran along the rim of her lace panties. Effortlessly lifting her, he tore the panties in two while effectively removing the dress, then he leaned back giving her a wicked smile.

She sucked in her breath—his smile always did that—and as he gripped underneath her thighs, he spread and wrapped her around him as he pushed himself against her. He carried her into the dining room, laying her beautifully on the table. Her head fell back as she moaned with pleasure, dark curls splaying out in all their beauty, and his lips found her throat as he licked and tasted the delicacy of her skin.

God, I missed her!

She savored the sight of his beautiful tattoo. Attempting to gain some control, she tried to maneuver to take the lead, but Declan was always the master and didn’t relinquish his power. She moaned as his hand grazed the inside of her thigh, finding the places he’d claimed—and she felt dark, hidden locations that had been dry with the sadness of his absence, now soaking in desire at his return.

He pulled back, moving her slightly to gain better access. He paused just enough to look at her expression. In return, she gave him the look that always snared and ripped his heart, and she heard his deep, rich baritone…

“Beautiful…”

She didn’t realize how she craved his voice. It was the sound, the tone that she missed. It was dark with gravel and ragged like rust, and to her, there was nothing like it that ever compared. The word he said with such emotion gave her a double pleasure, for it wasn’t just a description; it was both his name for her and a confirmation—and it made her crave him all the more.

Aria had been deprived and malnourished of the life Declan added to her existence for far too long. Every want and need that she had denied screamed with his nearness, and her wantonness became unbridled as he kissed his way down her body. As senses of touch and smell engaged, she breathed him in, groaning, wanting him more and more.

He growled into her flesh, blistering with desire of his own. His hands cupped, his thumbs teased at her flesh, and he inflicted sweet torture over and over as she spiraled upward. He wouldn’t let her go, using his hands, his mouth, and his tongue to bring her to the end of her coherency. When she could no longer hold back, she called his name, moaning as he catapulted her into blissful stars.

He gave her a moment to breathe, she was still consumed by the result of his ministering touch. She let her eyes close, surrendered to the bliss. He couldn’t take his eyes off of her, kissing her as he continued to touch and make her ready to ease his own cravings.

He realized his life had been void of beauty since the time she had been gone. He loved her, and as much as he knew he should, now that he’d had her, he couldn’t let her go. He had to have her—no matter the consequences. Her lips were meant for his; he couldn’t risk losing her again. Seeing her with someone else had driven him completely insane. There was a force at this moment that compelled him.

As she lay before him, he had to have her. She was an intoxication, and his appetite for her grew as it made its way from his core, pounding through his blood and making him granite hard with wanting and lust. Though he tried to convince himself otherwise, he had been dying each day he had lived without her.

She allowed herself to enjoy the bliss of every touch, every caress, as she relaxed into his movements. She didn’t want this moment to end. As she felt his motions, she held him. There were no words; they were insufficient, inadequate, and unnecessary.

His leg trembled as he pushed her back, holding her breast and flicking her sensitive flesh. Determined to savor each and every moment, he took his time caressing, teasing, and tasting her beautiful body. This was the woman he loved, but so callously had allowed to suffer. He’d move heaven and earth to protect her, he was certain of that now. She set his passions on fire and quenched his secret desires.

His lips were delicious torture and caused a renewed craving within her that made her instinctively tighten her legs around his waist.

She loved the feel of him. Thoughts of being without him had occupied too many of her lonely nights, but the reality of this night would be certain to satisfy their needs. It was beyond passion, beyond reason.

He’d made her strong.

She was no longer the reserved girl he met at the beach, but the woman he’d made believe in her own beauty, sensuousness, and sexuality. As she felt him against her, she knew his body, his mind, and his heart belonged to her. She’d find a way to make him believe—and make him remember.

The words were a ragged whisper. The ground she was holding solid now, shattered her emotions into an earthquake. She wanted to help his memory come back.

Rising up, she leaned into him, resting her head against his shoulder.

“I said this once before to you” she whispered in his ear. “Do to me what only you can…make me forget my name,
…and make me scream yours.”

His dark eyes brightened and danced with liberating delight. Weathered from distress, they lifted to form wicked little lines in their corners. His lips lifted, giving her a lustful little grin.

“Now
that’s
my beautiful girl…” he quietly roared under his breath.

Declan needed no further incentive. He gently pushed her back, reclining her on the table. The roughness of his palms trailed over her soft hips and stomach, inciting tingles and raising flesh once again.

Her breath came faster as she heard the buckle of his belt being loosened, then heard his pants as they hit the floor. She felt his hands heating and exciting her skin to a fever pitch.

His fingers trailed, lingering at the crevice that joined her sex and top of her thigh as he made his way to her soft folds. He began delicately, teasing and taunting, making her almost incoherent with need.

As her desire grew, he expertly reminded her of what she had so sorely missed.

“Declan…” she breathlessly moaned.

“Wait…” he directed.

“Declan…” she pleaded, wanting him, unable to hide or contain her desire.

“I’ve got you beautiful…”

His hands came under her cheeks, pulling her to the table’s edge. He plunged, joining her to him, both of them groaning with pleasure and shared appetite. His size felt massive within her, the pulsation driving him mad. Her body responded, but it was his mind that was roaring. This was the first moment of true happiness he had known since the accident and the beast inside had lay dormant for too long.

No one but Aria made him feel this way.

As he rocked his hips, she responded to the rhythm, and they both were caught up in the craving. Like a sponge, she absorbed him. His arms were as powerful as his thrusts, holding her as he rocked harder and harder. Her hands came around his arms, gripping them. His breath was resistant and labored, and she matched him with her moans. His sweat met hers as it trickled down the front of their bodies.

She looked at his handsome face. His mouth was as sensuous as sin. She rose to an indescribable height, unable to focus on anything except the animalistic bliss clawing at her brain. He kept time with her, bending down to take her mouth, relentlessly pounding a desperate pace as they both traveled together, taking their passion to the edge and going over …

…when Aria cried out his name…

Lightly, she ran her finger along the intricate lines and patterns that were etched into his skin. It was something that she had always loved doing because it seemed to calm her. She wasn’t certain how long she’d been doing it, but it didn’t seem to bother him and it had been an eternity since she lost herself in the mindless, but pleasurable, pastime.

Uncertain of the reality they faced, she pressed closer into his arms. The last thing she wanted to do was over think everything that had just occurred. Right now, she wanted to be in the moment—with Declan at her side—enjoying the feeling of sated affection that had been so lost to her without him.

Allowing her hands to softly trail down, feeling the strong arms that held her, she let them wander to his back where she held him, ever so tightly, never wanting to let go. How they had arrived at the bedroom, Aria didn’t know, nor did she care.

The breezes of the island gently blew the palm trees against the night sky filled with hundreds of stars. Blessing or curse, Declan was right here beside her, and she felt more contentment at this very moment than she had known in many months.

“I’ve missed you,” came the deep, verbal tone that had haunted her dreams.

“Hmm…I could say the same,” she replied as she moved her head further against his chest.

His hand gently cupped and followed the curve of her head, entangling his fingers in her curled hair, then moved to fist it at her neck.

Pulling her up toward him, he stared into her face, lingering to take an especially long look into her eyes.

“I’ve missed this most of all…” he said, holding her steady so he could intensify his stare.

“More than the sex?” She laughed.

“More than the sex,” he rumbled. “Although,” he added, pulling her in for a kiss, “it’s definitely a close second.”

He caused Aria to giggle, and she placed her lips to his. A strong arm came around the back of her, drawing her closer into him. They shared the silence for a time, relishing the reconnection as they spoke with touch.

No words were necessary.

As Aria looked upon the man who had filled her thoughts and dreams, his features softened.

“You’re beautiful…” he said as he tenderly kissed her.

She ran her hands down his stomach and across his hips, urging him to love her once again. His hands served her memory well, refreshing her flesh to the things that she loved, and he moved to take her under him. The relentless torment of his mangled leg reconnected with his brain, and Aria saw him flinch in the pain and discomfort. It was her first experience with how his daily life had been altered, so she adapted for them both.

Moving slightly, she lifted herself, pushing softly, but firmly, at him, pressing his shoulders into the down of the plush pillows. Her hair fell, cascading around them as she placed her lips to his, whispering against them…

“Please…let me…” she crooned as he hesitated.

With her eyes on his, he lay back, feasting in her lovely aggression. Every wickedly, delicious thought that had played with her mind for months was released in the next hours as Declan relinquished his mind, body, and soul to the woman who had relentlessly haunted his thoughts and dreams.

Continuing through the hours, the two touched and teased until they shook from exhaustion.

When the beautiful Hawaiian sun began to make its way above the line of the horizon, Aria heard the deep, contented breathing of the one she loved as he slept, and before long, she joined him.

She heard the sound of running water, and it caused her to wake and become restless. Sleepy-eyed, she lifted her head, looking around to confirm his absence. Deliciously sore, her muscles rebelled as she rose from the bed, making her way into the bathroom.

Opening the shower door, Declan was seated in the hot, steamy shower. He lowered his head as she approached. Bewildered at his response, she frowned at him, for it could have been interpreted in too many ways.