Chapter eighteen

"Who's there?" she demanded, trying to keep her voice steady.

"Gods be damned, it's cold in your room." Tristan's voice came floating out of the darkness and she let her breath out in a harsh rush. She could hear the rustle of clothing and then Tristan was pulling back the bedcovers, letting the cold air rush in.

She gasped as her body broke out in goose bumps. "What are you doing?"

"Getting into bed before I freeze to death," he grumbled. He shoved her over until she and the rock were pressed against the wall. "Gods, girl, your bed is small."

"It's meant for one person," she said pointedly as he pressed his naked body against her back and wrapped his arm around her waist.

His hand brushed against the flannel-covered rock and he touched it curiously. "Why do you have a rock in your bed?"

She started to giggle as he picked up the rock and dropped it onto the floor behind him. It hit the floor with a loud thud, and she smacked his arm. "Hey, that's keeping me warm."

"You use a rock to keep you warm?" he asked with amusement in his voice.

"Aye. Some of us don't have fireplaces in our bedrooms," she replied.

He slipped his hand into the front of her nightgown and cupped her bare breast. "You don't

need the rock. I'll keep you warm."

"The rock is probably a better idea," she said breathlessly, trying not to arch her back as he

rubbed her nipple with the tip of his finger.

"The rock won't help you heal," he murmured before he switched to her other breast and

squeezed it gently.

This time she was helpless to stop her back from arching and he groaned appreciatively when

her ass pressed against his cock.

"I don't need to heal," she gasped.

"I know you healed my mother last night while we slept. Do not try and lie." He plucked on

her nipple and she grabbed his wrist, her fingers squeezing tightly as he circled and rubbed her nipple.

"I went to Maya afterward." She cleared her throat, trying to ignore the pleasure radiating from her breasts down to her pelvis. "She helped heal me."

"Are you sure?" he whispered. He slid his arm further into the loose neckline of her nightgown, circling her belly button with his warm fingers before tracing them back and forth from one hip bone to the other. "You seem a little pale to me."

She turned her head to face him. "Now you're just -"

He caught her mouth in a kiss, his tongue stroking against hers, and at his familiar taste she moaned and gave up protesting.

He pushed back the covers and pulled her nightgown up and over her head. She shivered as the cold air hit her body and he quickly pulled the bedcovers back up over them. He kissed her chest and throat before kissing his way down her body. He nipped and licked the sensitive undersides of her breasts as she clutched his head in her hands and moaned encouragingly.

He moved his body to the bottom of the bed, cursing a little when he nearly fell off the end of it. She giggled as he wedged his upper body between her thighs and muttered, "This would be much easier in my bed."

She lifted the covers and peered under them, snorting back the laughter as he stared at her, his eyes glowing in the faint light.

"What on earth are you trying to do?" She giggled again.

The laughter quickly turned into a moan when he bent his head and kissed her flat abdomen before licking her hipbone and the tops of her thighs. He moved further down until she could feel his warm breath on her core, and she inhaled sharply when he licked her with his warm tongue.

"Tristan, what are you doing?" she moaned, her hands gripping the bed sheets.

"Open your legs, girl."

He kissed the inside of one smooth thigh and with another soft moan she shifted her legs

apart until she was completely open to him. He licked her clit with wide, flat strokes of his tongue until she was twisting and moaning under him.

"Tristan, oh, Tristan." She reached for his head, groaning in frustration when she felt nothing but the covers. She shoved them back, not caring about the coldness of the room. She looked down and a spasm of pleasure rocketed through her belly at the sight of his head between her legs.

She clutched his head in her hands, pushing him further into her as she braced her feet on the bed and arched her pelvis against his mouth. He sucked hard on her clit and she cried out and came immediately, her body thrashing under his mouth.

Before she had finished climaxing, he was sliding up her body, his hot mouth everywhere and his hands rubbing and squeezing her soft flesh. He drove his cock deep inside of her, both of them crying out as her warm, smooth core squeezed involuntarily.

"You're so warm, so wet, Avery," he moaned before kissing her. She could taste herself on his mouth, and it sent a new spasm of excitement through her.

He lifted her leg, pushing it straight up until it was draped over his shoulder, and propped himself up on his hands above her. He plunged in and out as she wrapped her other leg around his hips and met each of his thrusts.

"Touch yourself," he whispered.

She hesitated and then, her face pink, reached between them and slipped her fingers between her legs. She rubbed delicately at her clit, moaning a little, and he slowed down his wild thrusting.

"Does that feel good, girl?" he murmured.

"Aye," she moaned. "So good."

He increased the pace, watching as she rubbed and circled and found the spots that gave her

the most pleasure. Her fingers were speeding up, and she rubbed and touched herself furiously. She stiffened beneath him, her fingers pressing down as she arched her body upward.

He moaned her name as he came inside of her. She could feel his body tensing as the pleasure rushed through him, until he finally collapsed against her soft body. He buried his face in her neck, breathing in her scent as she hugged him with her arms and legs, rubbing his back and stroking his long hair.

She loved the feel of his body on top of hers, but after a while she shifted slightly under him. He was starting to get too heavy for her, and she tapped him on the back. He pushed away from her warm body before pulling the covers up and lying on his back. Her bed was so small, and he was so wide that she was left with no choice but to sprawl mostly on top of him, their limbs entwined and her head resting on his chest.

He stroked her bare back, running his fingers up and down her spine. "Are you warmer now, girl?"

"Aye, thank you."

"Better than a rock?"

She could hear the amusement in his voice, and she lifted her head and smiled at him. "Well,

the rock was probably harder but you're definitely warmer."

He growled and slapped her playfully on the ass, making her giggle and squirm against him. He suddenly sobered. "Thank you for healing her, Avery. I owe you a debt."

"You're welcome."

She rested her head back against his chest. At the mention of his mother, her good mood had

deflated like a balloon. Despite what Tristan said, it was obvious that his mother's opinion mattered to him. His mother would never accept her as Tristan's mate, and by healing her she had ruined even a small chance of a life with Tristan. She was horrified to realize she was close to tears, and she took a deep, calming breath as Tristan traced the curve of her spine again.

"Tristan?"

"Hmm?"

"Have you – have you thought anymore about our earlier discussion? About selling me to

someone else?"

He stiffened beneath her. His hand which had moved to trace lazy circles on her hip

tightened painfully on her soft skin.

"No, I have not," he admitted.

She sighed. "I wish you would."

"Now is not a good time," he said. "My mother told me this afternoon that she has arranged

to have house guests visit us. Victoria and Hendrick are old friends from when I was a child. They'll be here before the end of the week and if I remember correctly, the Sanders like to travel with nearly their entire household."

He gave her a teasing smile. "Mrs. Lanning will need all the help she can get. Even from a Red."

She didn't return his smile. "My lord, please. You know we cannot continue to -"

"Enough, girl." His smile disappeared. "Can we not have just one time where our lovemaking does not end with you listing all the reasons why we shouldn't have done this?"

"Aye, but you can't be comfortable in this small bed. I'll understand if you want to return to your own."

He sighed impatiently and twisted onto his side. He pressed her up against the wall and slid her leg over his hip, pushing his leg between hers and burying his face in her neck as he tucked the covers firmly around them. He placed a gentle kiss on her throat.

"I threw your rock out of the bed. You'll freeze to death if I go back to my own bed."

She smiled and he kissed her throat again. "I would rather be here with you in your freezing room and your small bed then alone in my own. Do not ask me to leave, girl."

She kissed the top of his head. "Good night, Tristan." "Good night, Avery."