Iron Seas 03 - Riveted

mingling with hers.
    “It’s still perfect,” he said.
    And could be more perfect. She wound her arms around his neck. “If you carry me to our bed.”
    The muscles in his shoulders stiffened. “You’re certain?”
    “I want to.” But still she felt his hesitation. “You don’t?”
    “Oh, yes. But there’s more to consider than that.” His palm covered her belly. “Other consequences.”
    He would be a good father. But he was right. Annika wasn’t yet sure what she’d do next, where she’d go when he finished the project in Smoke Cove. It might be best to wait before having a baby. “Then don’t spend your seed inside me.”
    “There’s still a risk.”
    “I’ll take it.”
    “Not alone. I’ll take it with you.” He lifted her out of the chair, her bare feet dripping. “A father or not, I’ll be there for you, give you anything you ever need.”
    He’d already given her his love. That was all she needed.
    Her heart pounded with every step. He carried her through the snow tunnel, ducking into the chamber. She couldn’t look away from the bed. The lamp burned low, dancing shadows across the ice walls. He eased down with her, no candy between them now, but the kiss just as sweet.
    He paused to look at her, his hand shaking as he caressed her cheek. Then his mouth was on hers again until she was panting, breathless. Her head fell back and his lips trailed the length of her neck, wringing a moan from her throat. Big palms cupped her breasts, fingers teasing the peaks into aching hardness. Oh, he’d learned her body so quickly.
    She pulled the hem of her tunic up and over her head. Cool air kissed her nipples, drawing gooseflesh and a shiver over her skin.
    His tongue traced the curve of her breast, flicked across her nipple, and she shuddered again.
    “Too cold?”
    “No.” Inside, she was burning.
    “Do you want the light on?”
    “It makes no difference. I just imagine you over me.”
    He nodded, kissed the tip of her breast before sitting back. With his gaze on hers, he reached for his collar, dragged his shirt off over his head.
    Oh. She hadn’t imagined him perfectly, but near to. Her fingers had already traveled the corrugated muscle of his abdomen, the hard planes of his chest. His runes gathered in the hollow of his throat, swinging away from his skin as he leaned forward, tossing the shirt across their trunk. Strong collarbones supported broad shoulders. Muscles bunched in his upper arms, leaving a smooth meld from flesh to steel above his hinged elbow.
    Her gaze rose to his again, and she saw the vulnerability there. He’d made this effort. She’d offer honesty in return.
    “I knew that prosthetic was well made, and thought I might stare at it in appreciation. But, David, it hardly compares to the rest. I don’t know if I’ll be able to take my eyes off any of you.”
    He laughed, shaking his head. “I’m not sure I’m brave enough to show you the rest.”
    “I wouldn’t care if you never did.” She bit her lip. “No, that is a lie. I want to see this.”
    She stroked her hand down the front of his trousers, found him hard and ready. He stiffened and groaned in response.
    “May I look now?” She was utterly a wolf.
    “Yes.”
    By touch, she unbuckled the waist, watching his expression. His smile was teasing, his gaze hot.
    “You won’t see it if you’re looking at my face.”
    “If it keeps growing, it will be tall enough to pop up between us.”
    His body shook on a laugh. She grinned, glanced down. Oh. She’d imagined this, too, but not everything. Fine black hair arrowed down from his navel and thickened at the base of his shaft. His heavy length overfilled her two hands, his testicles a firm weight in her palm. Tight skin stretched over the head—and had been so silky against her tongue, salty and slick. Her fingers closed around him.
    David sucked a sharp breath. “No, Annika. I want to last inside you.”
    This time. She let go, spreading his trousers farther open and back over his rigid buttocks, exposing ridges of muscle than ran in a V from his lean hips to his groin. Annika moaned, her body clenching as she realized: all of that strength would be behind his long shaft, driving into her.
    Then David was over her again, his lips on her breast a shock of heat after the cool air. Annika cried out, her back arching as he sucked her nipple deep into his mouth. Bracing his weight on one hand, he slipped the other down over her stomach, beneath her