Free Dark Diary by P. Anastasia Page A

shoulders… soft kisses across her chest.
    She wanted my skin pressed against hers… our breath in unison.
    She wanted to feel my hands holding her tightly at the waist… my fingers dragging over her thighs.
    The shortness of breath left me vulnerable. Hardwired, primitive instincts yearned to test the limits of my will. Her desire for me burned inside her trembling body and vivid thoughts of her flesh mingling with mine flashed through my mind. Her fingers tightened on my hands, which had unconsciously migrated to her hips.
    She wanted me with every beat of her fervent heart…
    And this time… she would have me.
    I pressed my fingertips against her thighs and let her leg slip back down to the floor. I took a step toward her, forcing her back.
    And another.
    And then another.
    Her calves met the heavy wood frame of her bed and she stumbled, flopping down onto her sheets and pulling her legs onto the bed as I knelt down beside her. There was curiosity in her eyes and she bit her lip in anticipation.
    As I approached, she parted the sides of my open tunic and exposed my skin to her touch. Fluid and unreserved, she stroked a gentle path down the center of my chest.
    I crawled up beside her and leaned over her body, bringing a slow, steady hand up along her ribs, feeling every tiny rise and fall of the lace ties along her dress.
    S he was so willing—so eager to give me anything I wanted from her.
    And right then and there, I wanted everything from her.
    A nervous shudder escaped her lips and I silenced her with a deep kiss. My hand moved across her shoulder and down her arm toward her wrist. I lingered there, tracing the edge of her palm with a graceful touch and teasing the tips of her fingers as my other arm stabilized my body above hers.
    A s we kissed, she quaked beneath me, electrifying my senses. Thrilling me. God, how I wanted her, and how the warmth of her skin made my body throb with the anticipation of having her.
    The powerful thumping of my heartbeat sent a flutter up my throat and my breath quickened. Part of me feared for our secret, but only part of me. I was too submerged in animalistic needs to rationalize. My fingers entwined with hers and I brought my lips to her throat and left a trail of kisses down her neck. I exhaled a hot breath behind her ear and her lips parted to release a groan of pleasure. Every heartbeat seduced me further until I was consumed by the vision of an endless night of us making love.
    A gentle tug on the cap of one of Kathryn’s sleeves sent it sliding off her shoulder and made her fingers tighten against my ribs. I lowered myself down to lay a firm kiss onto the base of her neck and yet another soft groan emerged as the ridge of my tongue trailed across her collarbone, tasting the salt on her glittering skin.
    Sweet-sounding whispers. Painfully eager tremors flowing through her hips. I couldn’t ignore how distracted I was by her incredible curves. For a moment, I had forgotten to breathe.
    The tips of her fingernails teased the jut of my hipbones as her palms pressed into my belt, forcing it lower. An involuntary shiver made my teeth clench. I wanted so much from her—so much of her, but I hesitated still.
    “I don’t want to hurt you,” I strained to speak. My hand traveled up to her wrist and I sat back on my heels so I could meet her gaze.
    “I’ll be fine. It would hurt no less if we waited,” she said reassuringly, desperation evident in her tone. “I know it will be worth the cost. I will be yours and only yours.” Her fingers tucked a lock of hair back behind my ear and then traced my cheek. “I know that there is no gentler a man on Earth than you.”
    She trusted me.
    She loved me.
    Still …
    She took my face between her hands and smiled. “It was meant to be you.”
    My blood tingled with the romance in her words.
    She was right … and I knew it.
    I shifted my position until I was nearly on top of her and sl ipped my free hand beneath the lace ribbon at