Total pages in book: 118
Estimated words: 106646 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 533(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 355(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106646 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 533(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 355(@300wpm)
I fight back a smile. That might be the first time he's ever truly asked me for anything instead of just demanding. "You want just kisses?" I ask, skeptical. "Because I know A'tam, and I know he does not take an inch when there might be a mile."
"I do not know what those things are, but I understand your words," A'tam concedes. He trails his fingers through my hair, as if he can't bear to stop touching me, and his khui is so, so damn loud. "Because you know me well, I do not argue these things. If you are afraid of me taking too much, though, then I will let you be in control."
26
BRIDGET
“What?" I stare up at A’tam in surprise.
"This night, I have told you that I wish to spend it with you. How we spend this night is entirely your decision." He wraps his fingers in my hair and grabs a fist of it, as if fascinated by the tangle of strands against his skin. It's a small gesture and it should not be so damn sexy, but it is. Lord, it is. I imagine him holding my hair as he pins me down and—
—and that's a path that ends badly, I remind myself.
But he's looking down at me with gentle, patient eyes. As if he knows I've been pushed beyond my limits and he can't push me any further. I think about how I want to spend tonight, too. Do I want to go back to the women's cave? Squeeze in with Pak and Juth? Or spend the night snuggling with A'tam? I hesitate, and then make my choice, putting a hand on his chest. "If we touch tonight, we need to leave our clothes on," I tell him. "No sex."
I fully expect him to say no. I fully expect him to sneer at my suggestion, or storm away. That is the A'tam I know. But he looks down at me, thoughtful, and finally nods. "If this is what you need, this is what we will do."
And he grabs my hand.
I'm a little flabbergasted that he agrees so easily. Before, I've had to fight tooth and nail for every inch, and yet he agreed just like that? I follow behind him as he leads me toward the rocks instead of the cluster of huts on the opposite end of the beach. "Where are we going?"
"Someplace quiet. Private." He moves quickly, as if he knows just where he wants to go, and I follow behind out of sheer curiosity. Well, that, and more than a little lust.
"What about your hut?"
"Too far." He heads to the nearest cluster of rocks at the base of one of the cliffs and leans against it. The moment he does, he tugs me forward and pulls me into his arms. His tail locks around my waist and then his hands are all over me, caressing, as he captures my mouth with his.
Oh. For a moment, I'm utterly still, overwhelmed by his hunger. A'tam's big hands are on my ass, gripping it and hauling me against his lean, hard body. He kisses me with impatience, his mouth nipping at mine in a silent request for me to open up to him. His khui hums and sings just as loudly as ever, drowning out everything but A'tam and the pounding of my heart.
"Right…right here?" I manage between his frantic kisses.
"Right here." He nips at my lower lip.
I bite back a moan. His touch feels incredible, but I still feel open and vulnerable here on the beach. "Someone will see us," I protest, even as I slide my arm around his shoulders. "Someone is going to hear us."
"No," he says, nipping at my chin. "They do not know we are here. The waves will drown us out."
I don't know if I believe that. I grab a thick handful of his hair and tilt his head back, knowing this will make him groan, and I press a kiss to his throat.
A'tam groans, all right. Loudly. I scrape my teeth against his neck and then lift my head, looking around. Waiting.
The low conversation by the fire never stops. No one comes over to check out what's going on. "See?" he says, dragging me against him and nuzzling at my cheek. "You are all mine."
"Should we be doing this right here?" I whisper as he settles back a little more on the rocks. I'm practically leaning over him, and it's not the most comfortable of positions, but I'm not about to move. Not when it feels this good to be pressed against his body.
"Do you want to go behind the rocks?" he asks. "You will get sand in uncomfortable places and the shell-walkers will pinch this tender skin of yours." As if to prove his point, he pinches my butt.