Chapter 12 PRIMAL NEEDS

Ryan’s lips reclaimed hers again. His tongue swept against hers and she couldn't resist.

"Ryan," she breathed against his mouth. Her fingers, which had been resting on his shoulders, now delving into his hair

"Shh," he murmured. His hands were back on her, tracing the curve of her waist, his thumbs brushing the underside of her breasts through the dress "Just feel."

He walked her backward until her legs hit the edge of the king-sized bed. With a gentle but insistent pressure, he lowered her onto it, following her down. He looked down at her, his dark eyes intense with longing.

"You have no idea," he said, his voice thick, "how long I've wanted this."

The confession, so unexpected from him, sent a jolt straight to her core.

Her hands, steadier now, came up to unbutton his shirt.

She exposed the warm skin of his chest, the solid wall of muscle. He helped her, shrugging it off completely, and the sight of him, bare-chested above her, stole the air from her.

He didn't rush. His movements were deliberate, a slow, seduction that was more intoxicating than a frantic rush. He unzipped her dress, placing kisses on the newly exposed skin of her chest and stomach.

Her silk bra came next, the front-clasp opening with a practiced flick of his fingers. He looked his fill, a low groan escaping his throat.

"Perfect," he rasped, before lowering his head to take one hardened nipple into his mouth. It was a lightning storm of sensation.

He paid the same loving attention to her other breast, lavishing it with his tongue until she was writhing beneath him.

His lips traced a path down her body, over the quivering plane of her stomach. He knelt on the floor at the foot of the bed, his hands hooking into her panties, drawing them down together in one slow pull. She was completely exposed to his intense gaze.

"So beautiful," he whispered.

He parted her gently, and Marie's entire body went taut with anticipation. The first swipe of his tongue against her most sensitive flesh was a shock. She cried out, her hips bucking involuntarily. Ryan chuckled, a masculine sound of pure satisfaction.

"Easy," he soothed, holding her hips steady with a firm grip. "I've got you."

And then he feasted. He licked and sucked, his tongue delving deep, exploring every every secret place.

He learned her responses with patience, finding the rhythm that made her gasp, the pressure that made her moan, the exact spot that made her whole body tremble. He circled the tight bundle of nerves, teasing, before sealing his lips around it and sucking hard.

A hot wave of pleasure crashed over her, starting deep in her core and radiating outwards until her toes curled. Her hands fisted in the sheets, a strangled scream catching in her throat. It was what she'd never known existed, a shattering release that left her breathless.

He stayed with her, gentling her through the aftershocks with soft kisses, until she was limp. He rose over her again, his expression one of primal triumph. He unfastened his trousers, pushing them and his boxers down. His erection sprang free, thick and imposing. Marie's eyes widened, a fresh wave of fear mingling with the lingering aftershocks of her orgasm.

"Ryan.. We shouldn't…." she started, her voice shaky.

“Does it matter?”

He positioned himself between her thighs, the broad head of his cock nudging against her still-sensitive entrance. He paused, bracing himself over her, his forearms caging her head. He looked down at her, searching her gaze.

"Look at me," he commanded softly.

Her eyes locked with his. He pushed forward. The pressure was intense, a stretching burn that bordered on pain. She was tight, impossibly so. A frown creased Ryan's brow, and he stopped, buried just an inch inside her.

"Marie," he said, strained. "Has anyone...?"

The flush that spread from her chest to her cheeks was enough. She bit her lip, unable to meet his eyes "No," she whispered.

He went utterly still. The only sounds were their ragged breaths. Then a wicked smile spread across his face. It was possessive.

"Well now," he murmured, his voice dropping . "This changes everything."

He didn't pull out. Instead, he lowered his head, capturing her mouth in a kiss, swallowing her gasps as he pushed forward again, deeper, until he met the thin, barrier of her innocence. He stilled once more.

"This might hurt," he warned, his tone surprisingly gentle.

"I know," she breathed against his lips.

"Don't stop."

With a slow, powerful thrust, he broke through. A sharp pain made her cry out, her fingernails digging into the muscles of his shoulders. He held perfectly still, buried to the hilt, giving her body a chance to adjust to the intrusion. The pain was already receding, replaced by a strange, full sensation, a feeling of being completely claimed.

He began to move, a slow, deep rhythm that was both torturous and good. With each withdrawal, she felt a hollow ache; with each powerful thrust, he filled her completely. The pain was forgotten, drowned in a rising tide of pleasure.

His pace increased slightly. "Look at you taking me. So fucking tight, Marie. So perfect."

His words were as arousing as his actions. She wrapped her legs around his waist, pulling him deeper, matching his rhythm. The bed frame began to rock, the soft squeak a counterpoint to their increasingly frantic movements, the slap of skin against skin. The room, once a sanctuary of quiet luxury, was now filled with his harsh groans and her moans.

He shifted slightly, changing the angle, and the new pressure against her clit sent her spiraling toward another peak. "Ryan," she gasped, her hands scrabbling "Oh god, Ryan... don't stop..."

He growled, his thrusts becoming harder. He was taking her with a single-minded intensity, a primal possession that left no room for doubt.

The tension coiled in her belly, tighter and tighter, a spring winding to its breaking point. "I'm... I'm..." she couldn't finish the sentence.

"I know," he rasped, reaching between them to roughly thumb her clit. "Let go for me, Marie. Cum for me."

Her orgasm ripped through her, a violent, convulsive wave that left her shaking and sobbing his name. Her inner muscles clamped down around him, and he groaned, a deep, guttural sound as he lost the last vestiges of his control. He thrust into her once, twice more, hard and deep, before spilling himself inside her with a hoarse shout of her name.

He collapsed on top of her, his heavy weight a welcome anchor in the storm. They lay tangled together for a long moment, their bodies slick with sweat, their breathing slowly returning to normal. The only sound was the frantic thumping of her own heart in her ears.

Eventually, he rolled to the side, pulling her with him so her head was pillowed on his chest. He traced lazy patterns on her shoulder. Marie closed her eyes, listening to the steady, reassuring beat of his heart, feeling the comforting h

eat of his skin.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice a low murmur.

“Yes, I am”