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"I - " She took a tre up under his touch "I will hurt you if you don’t releaseyou down" Maybe he didn’t know the rules of civilized behavior, but he kneoman who bore such painful stripes on her back would hate to be restrained

A pause Then, "You know I can’t get up" It was a hissed accusation

Deeply satisfied with the situation, he kissed the top of her spine Hmm He kissed the next vertebra, then the next "Why would that be?"

She wiggled Fascinated by theover the lush curves that teht et about herhis way down her spine

"I’m all but naked," she blurted out at last "If you’d leave, I can get dressed and then - "

"Why would I want that?" he asked in genuine puzzlement "You looked pretty in the silver dress, but I like you even better bare and warht to light a la over her body Since he couldn’t, he indulged hi what her breasts would look like, all hot with her blush Itif this was torture

If it was, he’d take ers over the curve of her waist, played thee "You didn’t want to touch me, remember?"

He stopped, frowned, decided he needed to be in a better position Kicking off his boots in silence, he got on the bed to her gasp and stretched out alongside her, bracing himself on one elbow "Only because I was dirty" He replaced his hand on her lower back, nudged just a fraction lower

A long, long quiet Followed by, "Dirty?"

"There was much filth in the air, but on’t talk of it while I’ you"

Liliana didn’t knohich one of his statee first Finally, she decided on the least confusing one "You can’t just assu to welcome your kiss after you snarled at ly slow circles on her back "I did not snarl"

She couldn’t stand it any it up as she moved, she flipped onto her back, almost surprised when he didn’t stop her But his hand was on her abdooodness, because the slightly rough skin of his hand -

Her eyes ide "Your arone" All of it And while she could see pants of so a shirt

"Of course it is I needed to bathe"

"But - "

He h between her own, even as he kept his upper body braced above her "I don’t want to talk about anything except kissing now, Liliana"

"You - I - " Snapping her , she tried to relearn to breathe

Micah ran a finger down the side of her face, found a tendril of hair, tugged "Your hair is curly here I like it" Twisting that curl around his finger, he lifted it to hislotion"

"You stole the lotion froain, rubbed the strands between his fingers "I borrowed it"

It was near impossible to think with him so close His shoulders blocked out the world, the ainst the es Each time she took a breath, she took the primal scent of him into her body, until it felt as if he was already inside her

"Micah?" It took all her courage to speak

"Yes?"

Her heart a druainst her ribs, she said, "Will you come closer?"

Unhidden interest on his face, he dropped his head until strands of thick golden hair stroked across her forehead, his body war her nerve under the impact of him, she tipped up her head and pressed her lips to his jaw

The wild taste, the rough feel of the bristles on his skin, the sound of his breath so close, it overwhel her head back on the pillow, she stared up at hiainst her, brought his lips to her ear "Again"

Shivering at the quiet demand made in that voice, she dared curl her hands over the naked warave hiot bolder, trailing kisses along his jaw, her breasts crushed against his chest as he nuzzled at her neck, the thin sheet the only barrier between the and so breathtaking that she could hardly think Caressing his shoulders, she tasted hi his mouth over her throat, he sucked

"Micah"

"You’re so soft, Lily" A lick, hot and wet She melted

He’d called her Lily She’d never had a pet name before It was rather wonderful to have one now

Then he bit her

Her body jerked "You just used your teeth"