Rise of the Dark Alpha

~ SASHA ~

Being bathed by Zev was the most erotic thing she'd ever experienced. Her chest was heaving and her hands trembling as much from desire as cold.

His massive, burnished body gleamed in the low light of the lantern as he stepped out of the bath to plunge a fresh cloth into it, then cupped her jaw in one hand and kissed her even as he stroked her body with the cloth. Again, and again, and again, until she'd lost track of anything but his lips on hers, his tongue tracing the line of her lips, his warmth pressing against her.

Then with a low growl, he dropped the cloth and picked up the soap, lathering his hands.

Their eyes caught for a moment as he knelt to start at her legs and a jolt of pure pleasure shot from Sasha's belly, right to the places on her skin where his hands were stroking, massaging, the pads of his thumbs following the lines around her knee, his fingers trailing up the backs of her thighs as his palms slicked soap over her skin.

Unable to be completely free of the embarrassment when he was kneeling in front of her like that, Sasha closed her eyes and focused instead of the feeling of his touch, the slick warmth of his hands, the delicious flutter of the water—warmer now—when he gave up on the cloth and grabbed a small bowl from the shelf and used it to pour water from her chest, down her body.

He was shaking too, she realized, as he explored every inch of her, his trembling fingers following the lines of her muscles, the dip in at her waist, tracing her nipples—and his eyes got bigger and darker every time she chanced a look.

Within minutes Sasha was little more than a puddle herself, panting shallow breaths and holding onto his shoulders as he first toweled her dry, then threw it aside to kiss her and trailed fingers up the inside of her thigh.

She shuddered when he found her and a groaning huff escaped his throat.

"So ready for me," he whispered.

Sasha nodded. "So ready, Zev. I've waited. It's been too long. Please!"

She felt him jolt, felt his fingers close on her, heard his breath catch, and she thought that was it. He was going to finally, finally give in. She clung to his neck, opening her eyes to hold his gaze as he straightened to loom over her. But rather than tearing her out of the bath, he reached up to comb back her hair from her face, his eyes searching hers until he lowered his head and kissed her, featherlight, his lips barely tracing hers. But he didn't pull away either.

"No more interruptions. No more danger. This is it, Sash," he whispered against her mouth. "Are you ready?"

For an answer, she took his mouth again. And a moment later, with a snarl of pleasure, Zev snapped his leash.

He lifted her bodily, one arm behind her shoulders, the other under her knees as he swung her out of the bath. She had her arms around him and her lips on his neck as he carried her to the bed, shivering when he rasped her name. He set her on her feet next to the bed, then reached to throw the furs back and lifted her again, sliding her between their warm softness, groaning as he followed her up onto the bed, crawling after her even as she pulled him closer, grabbed his shoulders and pulled him down.

Then finally, for the first time in five years, Zev lay between her thighs, whispering her name, his lips on her neck, his hands exploring her skin, and Sasha almost cried with pure relief.

But there was no time for tears. She was too busy shuddering under his touch, groaning his name, exploring his back, following the lines of muscle and that gorgeous dip down his spine, reveling in the warmth of him, pleading with God to make sure they were never interrupted.

Zev was braced, his elbows either side of her head, his hands cupped over her hair, his lips exploring hers, his tongue making promises she begged him to keep. And his body… his body sought hers.

When she stroked up his abs, they tightened and he dropped his hips, sliding against her, his hips already beginning to roll, though he hadn't even taken her yet. And when he passed over her most sensitive skin, Sasha cried out, her senses assaulted with both the pleasure he was building, making her ache, and the memory of when he'd done this before.

Her whole world tunneled to the warm darkness of the furs, the sound and flutter of his breath on her cheek, and the zinging pleasure he shot through her veins every time he ground against her.

"Oh, shit, Sash," he gasped when she grabbed his buttocks and pulled in against her, seeking him.

"Please, Zev. We've waited… we've waited so long."

"God, I love you, Sash."

"I love you too. I need you, Zev. I need to be with you."

A tormented groan shuddered out of him, and she felt the vibrations of his deep voice in his chest. Careful to avoid his sore side, she reached for his shoulder on that side, and his waist on the other, pulling him closer, lifting her hips, so when he passed over her, he almost took her.

He cursed, and dropped his head to that spot where her shoulder met her neck, but he did it again, and again, until he was there, poised and ready, and they both froze.

Her fingers were clawed into his hair, and his lips were against her neck when they both went still. Sasha held her breath, pleading with him not to delay again.

He swore again, his voice shaking. But he nuzzled the corner of her jaw, and lifted his head only far enough to whisper in her ear, "Mine."

Then he plunged into her in one, long, slow slide that washed her entire body in a wave of pleasure that began right at her core and rushed out to every corner of her skin.