YASMINE
Yasmine gasped as Ba’shir stood, throwing off his cloak.
“What else do you want me to remove?” he asked her, his voice dark with desire.
“All of it,” she whispered back, feeling a little shocked at her shamelessness.
But he only smiled and began stripping off his breeches and undergarments until he stood before her naked.
The starlight seemed to desire him too, caressing him in its glowing embrace, highlighting broad planes of muscle between the shadows.
“Your turn,” he murmured, offering her his hand.
She stood, but instead of letting her remove her clothing, he pulled her in for another passionate kiss. Her heart pounded out a relentless rhythm of desire that seemed to communicate directly to Ba’sh.
He clenched her hips, crushing her to him, as if he could absorb her.
Yasmine tried to let herself melt into him. She wanted to give him what he needed, to satisfy him. But his need seemed so great she wasn’t sure anything could sate it.
At last he drew back, allowing her to run her thumbs down the slides of her dress as he tugged and dragged every bit of clothing from her body. When the last item fell to the floor at her feet, she stood before him, willing herself not to tremble.
She’d had a boyfriend in the service, what felt like a thousand years ago. Their relationship had been more about comfort than love, and the few physical interludes they’d managed had been brief and clandestine.
Yasmine had never stood before a man naked, waiting to be claimed.
Ba’shir’s eyes raked over her body hungrily, as if every glimpse of her only made him crave more.
“Yasmine,” he growled, stepping closer. “Get in bed. Now.”
She hurried to obey. The mattress sank beneath her knees, the satiny sheets seeming to cling and caress her sensitive flesh.
She lay back on the pillows, feeling wanton and wild as she waited for Ba’shir to join her.
He crawled in after her, pinning her body to the mattress with his.
She could feel the heat of him throbbing against her belly, but he kissed her with such tenderness it made her breathless.
“If you want to stop at any time, just tell me,” he whispered, pulling back to look into her eyes.
“This isn’t my first time,” she murmured, unable to meet his eyes.
He cupped her cheek in his hand and stroked it with his thumb.
“It isn’t my first time either,” he reminded her. “But it’s our first time. Let’s make it the best time.”
She smiled up at him, her own heart aching at the reminder that he had given his heart before. This incredible man had made himself vulnerable to love and lost. Yet he was ready to risk it all again, for her.
She tilted her chin up and he kissed her for all he was worth.
When she had to pull back for breath, he nuzzled her neck, sending tingles down her spine.
She ran her fingers through his hair as he kissed his way down to her breasts, licking one nipple into his mouth and then the other until she was whimpering with need.
He licked a trail down her belly and nudged her thighs apart.
She knew what was coming this time, and her body surged with need.
Ba’sh groaned as if he felt it, the sound sinking into her and stoking her desire further.