Ella’s insides spiraled and her mind whirled. Raven’s hard muscled forearms felt glorious under her fingertips. Her hands traveled upward, over his broad shoulders and down the solid plane of his chest. His nipples hardened under her touch, and the rapid beat of his heart thundered against her palm.
The words. He wanted words. She stroked his chest, raised her hands to his beautiful masculine face, and caressed his chiseled jawline. She met his dark gaze with what she hoped was a look filled with joy and love. Love for her husband, her soulmate, the man who completed her. The man who stood before her, desiring her, needing her, loving her with all he was.
She swallowed, hoping with everything inside her that he understood how much he meant to her. How much she wished to give him. “I love you, Silver Raven. I love you, my wonderful, handsome, honorable husband. As long as I breathe, I’ll never love another.”
“Ella.” He whispered her name as if in prayer, slowly undressed her and then himself. The afternoon sun shone through the thin buffalo hide. Her nakedness was not veiled by the dark of night this time, but Ella felt no shame. The contrast of her rosy skin with Raven’s bronze beauty stole her breath and held her spellbound. His arousal stretched toward her, and her arm twitched with the urge to reach for it.
Raven let out a long breath. “You are beautiful, my wife.”
He touched her breast, and one finger traced a lazy circle around h
er pebbled nipple.
Ella sucked in a gulp of air. Such a tiny touch, but sensation blazed through her. Raven led her to the bed, pulled the buffalo skin aside, and gently laid her down.
Beside her, he caressed every inch of her skin and covered her with teasing kisses. Ella writhed as the place between her legs grew moist and pulsed with need. When he touched her there, fingering her wetness, she whispered, “please.”
One thick finger entered her, and she sighed at the pleasure.
“Raven?”
“Hmm?” He brushed his lips lightly over hers.
“I… That is, I want to touch you.”
“You may touch any part of me, tehila.”
“Even your…?”
“Especially that part.” His raspy laugh tickled her neck.
With awkward timidity, Ella extended her arm and brushed her fingers against his arousal. He moaned.
She jerked away. “I’m sorry.”
“No, tehila. It feels nice.”
“But you…”
He chuckled. “That means it feels good. I want you to touch me.”
He took her hand in his and led it back to his shaft. With his hand still covering hers, he showed her how to hold him and stroke him. The solid hardness, so warm to her touch, enraptured her. She wanted to kiss it, pleasure him with her mouth as he had her that first night under the stars.
But that would come later, because he rolled his body on top of hers with a breathy gasp. “I need you, Ella. I need to join with you.”
“Yes, please, Raven.” Her body pulsed with awareness. “I need you, too.”
He entered her with a swift thrust, and a sigh escaped Ella’s throat. Ah, so wonderful, so complete. Her whole body quaked as he pushed into her, and she cried out as the world exploded around her.
“Raven! I love you, Raven.”
“I love you, Ella, my tehila.” With one last thrust, he groaned and crushed his mouth to hers, enfolding her in a protective shield of love.
“I love you,” she whispered again. “Forever, Raven. Forever.”
As she closed her eyes and snuggled up to her husband’s loving warmth, a wayward thought niggled at her and a chill crept along her neck.
Her father would come for her. It was only a matter of when.