78. Jasmine

78

JASMINE

J asmine rested her head on Ell-rom's chest and listened to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. The warmth of his body and the gentle rise and fall were soothing, but the current of awareness that still hummed through her veins kept sleep at bay.

She had known that he wasn't ready, but a small part of her had hoped for a miracle and that tonight Ell-rom would finally bite her.

She'd sensed his hesitation and had no problem with waiting however long it took him to get over his aversion, but in the meantime, they could make love as many times as they could manage on any given day.

The problem was that Ell-rom was not on board with that, and it wasn't because he suffered from low libido and didn't find her sexy enough.

He was just scared.

"Can't sleep?" Ell-rom's hand began to move, tracing lazy patterns on her back.

The simple touch sent shivers down Jasmine's spine, the good kind that translated into tingles in all the right places, and as she tilted her head, Ell-rom's gaze met hers in the dim light of their bedroom.

Love and need took on a ferocious gleam in his eyes, the hunger in them matching her own. Without a word, Jasmine shifted, bringing her lips to his.

He cupped the back of her head, taking over the kiss.

Jasmine liked the unexpected dominance and confidence he was suddenly displaying, and she had a feeling that this was the true Ell-rom, the one that she'd caught fleeting glimpses of before but who had hesitated to come out because he feared hurting her.

Her hands began to explore. Tracing the contours of Ell-rom's chest, she marveled at the play of lean muscles beneath her fingers. He was still very slim, and his ribs were still too prominent, but he was starting to fill out.

She loved his long, lean body, and she loved the way he responded to her touch, his breath hitching and his body leaning into every caress.

Ell-rom's hands were not idle either. They roamed over her back and her sides, leaving trails of fire in their wake. When his fingers brushed the sensitive skin at her waist, just under the hem of her shirt, Jasmine moaned in anticipation.

Ell-rom grew bolder and slipped his hand under her shirt, palm flattening against the small of her back, pulling her closer.

Jasmine arched into him and nipped gently at his lower lip, reveling in the low growl that rumbled in his chest in response. She could feel his arousal pressing against her thigh, matching the ache building in her core.

Ell-rom rolled them over, pinning her beneath him, and pulled back to look at her. "You're so beautiful." His voice was husky with desire. "Sometimes, I still can't believe you're real and not a dream."

Jasmine reached up, cupping his face in her hands. "I'm real, and I love you."

Her words seemed to break something loose in him, and he captured her lips again in a searing kiss. His hands roamed her body, mapping every curve and plane as if discovering it for the first time.

Would it always be like that between them?

Would every lovemaking feel like a gift?

"Take off your clothes," Jasmine murmured against his lips as she tugged at the hem of his shirt, desperate to feel his skin against hers.

He sat back and quickly divested himself of the garment before helping Jasmine out of hers.

As skin met skin, both of them let out a gasp of pleasure. Jasmine ran her hands over Ell-rom's back while he trailed kisses along her jaw, down the column of her throat, and when he reached the sensitive spot where her neck met her shoulder, he paused, his breath hot against her skin.

As she felt his body tense, Jasmine knew he was thinking about biting her. Edgar had never bitten her unless he was climaxing or on the verge, so Ell-rom couldn't be ready to bite her now, but since he was new to this, he might do things differently.

When his lips met her skin, Jasmine felt the sharp points of his fangs, and a shiver of anticipation ran through her, but Ell-rom didn't bite. Instead, he scraped his fangs gently along her skin, the sensation sending jolts of pleasure straight to her core.

She arched into him, a breathy moan escaping her lips. Her hands roamed his back, nails scraping lightly, urging him on.

Ell-rom's responses were becoming more primal, his touches more urgent. He lavished attention on her breasts, his clever mouth and hands drawing gasps and sighs of pleasure from her.

"We are still wearing too many clothes," she murmured between moans.