Conner knelt between her legs, surveying Isabeau for a long time before reaching out and dragging the second sleeping mat from his pack. He folded it and pushed it beneath her buttocks, raising the lower half of her body and opening her more fully to him. He studied her again. He loved the way she looked with her hair spilling around her and her body bare and open to him. There was moisture seeping between her thighs and he could scent her arousal.

He casually dropped his hand down to cover her tempting mound. She jerked, sensitive already with anticipation. He loved her welcoming moisture. There was something so satisfying about seeing his woman like this—so ready for his attention. Conner was ravenous for her and he didn’t pretend anything else and he loved that neither did she. She wasn’t ashamed of wanting him, of showing him how much she wanted him. And that was an aphrodisiac, pure and simple. Everything about Isabeau was to him.

Very slowly he lowered his body over hers, blanketing her completely like a cover, just holding her, absorbing her. She was so soft, that long expanse of skin and feminine curves. He sank into her heat, listening to the rapid beat of her heart. Her arms went around him, fingers lacing at the back of his neck. She didn’t stir, didn’t complain about his weight. She just absorbed him the way he was absorbing her as if she understood that great need to just hold her.

After a few moments, he rubbed his body along hers, scent-marking, claiming her, his shadowed jaw sliding down her neck where he nipped and kissed her before bringing up his head to fix his focused gaze on hers. He lowered his head slowly, watching her eyes close just before his mouth found hers. Every time he kissed her, it was as if he was lighting a match. Heat flared. Flames blazed, the fire leapt and there was no turning back. Her kisses had been his downfall from grace and honor back when she was completely an innocent. Now, her mouth moved under his, her tongue stroking and inciting so that he burned clean and hot and out of control.

His hand slipped to her breast and he felt her jump. Her hips bucked and her legs widened to give him better access. Conner kissed his way down her throat to her breasts, feasting there until she was making the little whimpering noises he loved. His body had been hot and hard and aching relentlessly since she’d wrapped her lips around him in the forest. He could feel her stomach muscles bunching when he tugged at her nipples and it was too tempting to stop there. He made his way down the slope of her belly and took control of her legs, spreading her wide, placing them over his arms as he bent his head to taste her.

“It’s been so fucking long,” he whispered and dipped his head.

Isabeau sucked in her breath, her fingers fisting in the mat to hold on as the rough rasp of his jaw along her thighs sent a thousand flames burning over her. Her entire body quivered. Her breasts heaved and she couldn’t stop the helpless jerk of her hips. His hands tightened, just as she knew they would. He sent her one glittering look that meant hold still, and she tried to obey, tried to draw air into her lungs.

Need was a living, breathing thing, gripping her in its fiery thrall. He pinned her thighs and spread her legs farther so that her breath came in harsh gasps. She heard herself scream when he lowered his mouth and lapped at her, licking like a large cat with a bowl of warm cream. Fireworks exploded in her head as his tongue stabbed deep, plunging into her over and over again until she thought she might come apart in a million pieces. He took his time, savoring every drop, using his teeth and tongue to draw out more whimpers and soft pleading sobs, begging for release.

Then he was rising above her, gripping her ankles, yanking her legs over his shoulders, holding her open to him. He looked fierce, his erection thick and hard and long, pressing, burning, demanding at her entrance. She felt him there and held her breath. He plunged deep, driving through tight hot folds, and she screamed again, the friction sending fiery tongues of heat streaking through her body. She felt her muscles grip him like a vise, stretching for his invasion. Her body shuddered with pleasure as he buried himself completely and then withdrew to plunge again. His rhythm was fast and hard, almost brutal, driving her up fast so that her breath came in ragged gasps and her body rose helplessly to meet the driving needs of his. He arched over her, bracing himself with his arms, her legs forced back, giving him the ability to go deeper.

Pinned beneath him, with her body going up in flames, he kept up the powerful strokes, hammering home over and over, drawing her deeper and deeper into a vortex of fire. Her body felt as though it was melting around his, scorching hot, her orgasm just out of reach, but building, always building. She writhed under him, desperate for release.

He held her with his strength, his rhythm steady, fast and hard, driving so deep she was afraid he was piercing her cervix with every stroke. Every nerve ending on fire, she felt her muscles clamp down hard on him. She stiffened, but he just gripped her harder and plunged again, sending her body flying into a million fragments. A haze covered her eyes and she felt flames streak through her veins as an explosion tore through her body, ripped through her stomach and breasts and down her thighs, settling in her deepest core as she felt her muscles grip Conner’s. She felt his hot release spill deep inside her, triggering another wildfire rushing over and through her.

Conner’s breathing was rough as he collapsed over her, holding her to him. She could feel his heavy erection, so desperate, almost brutal, slowly ease while her body bathed his in their combined liquid heat. His hands framed her face and his tongue speared deep into her mouth. “I love you, Isabeau,” he whispered, looking down into her eyes. “When this is over, marry me and have my children.”