Page 102 of Dawn of Hope
His lips move across my jaw, tracing a trail that starts down my neck. I throw my head back into the tree, giving him more access. His lips caress a spot at the base of my neck, just above my collarbone. His tongue flicks out and strokes my skin, sending shivers down my spine.
I close my eyes, and instantly a pair of teal eyes flash before mine.
Please.
I squeeze them tighter, willing them away. I can’t think about how he made me feel, the way he made my stomach heat and my knees buckle. The way every inch of my skin that he touched made me burn. Not right now.
Not ever.
I pull Dane’s face back to mine. He opens my mouth with his lips, his tongue slowly sliding against mine. He angles his head and leans over me, hiking my body higher and firmer against his.
I kiss him harder, trying to push everything that happened today out of my mind, but they won’t stop. Flashes of those eyes. His eyelashes. The strong jaw. The perfect lips.
I wish these were his lips.
I break away from Dane’s kiss in shock at the uncontrolled thought that flashed through my mind. What am I thinking?
“Are you alright?” Dane pants, his eyes searching my face.
“Yes,” I lie, trying to break through the intrusive thoughts. I grab his face and bring it back to mine again. He meets my kisses strongly, his tongue working against mine and leaving me breathless.
Dane’s hand trails back up my thigh and to my shirt, pulling it from my waistband. He slides his hand up under it, causing me to gasp into his mouth, which only encourages him. His warm fingertips caress my skin, leaving goosebumps in their wake.
He chuckles into my mouth before he flattens his hand across my stomach, dragging it across to run his fingers up and down the curve in my side. He leans into me more, his hips lining up with mine so I can feel his excitement against my core.
I suck in a breath and groan into his kiss.
I want this.
Right?
Teal eyes flash across my vision again, the memory of his hips pinning me to the wall.
No. No, that was wrong. This is right.
Dane lets go with his other hand, using only the pressure from his hips and the strength of the tree to keep me aloft. His kisses are still strong and sensual, but I can’t get lost in them like I had on the beach. There is too much on my mind.
I try to only feel, to focus on the feel of his hands and breath on my skin.
His other hand slips under the edge of my shirt, both of them now slowly caressing my skin. His fingertips tease me, slowly making their way up. I feel my nipples harden as I wait for his touch. His knuckles brush the underside of my breasts, caressing the lace undergarment.
My breath hitches as his head lowers. He takes my nipple in his mouth, sucking through the fabric. I whimper and arch my back, pushing my chest closer to him, my mind finally clearing.
His fingers shift under my shirt, grasping my breast and bringing it farther into his mouth. All that’s left between his skin and mine is just a little lace and a bit of parchment…
FUCK.
My mind snaps into focus instantly.
The map.
The map is tucked into my undergarments.
Just a little higher, and he will find it. I can’t explain it. I just need to stop it.
“Wait, wait, wait,” I say. I reach down and grasp both of his wrists, pushing his hands down to rest on my stomach, where it was safe. “Stop, Dane, please. I need to stop.”
He releases my nipple and lets out a long breath.