His lips crashed against hers, his hand fisting in her hair, keeping her still as he parted her lips and kissed her, roughly — like a man who had been starving all his life.

Nina breathed against his mouth, clutching onto him for support as she melted into him.

She was shaking, her legs barely holding her upright and her fingers fisted in his shirt as he pulled her closer, like there was any distance left to close between them.

A low sound left his throat as he exhaled, tilting to the other side, and kissed her deeper. He parted her mouth, his other hand sliding up to her neck, keeping her right where he wanted her.

Nina wasn’t thinking. Her head felt light, weightless. Every rational thought had evaporated, and the desires she’d denied and buried somewhere deep detonated all at once.

She wanted him.

Damn, she wanted him badly.

She exhaled shakily into his mouth and kissed him back, her fingers lifting to fist his hair. He groaned, his mouth losing rhythm before catching again.

His other hand dropped and he pulled her flush against him, until she was almost straddling him.

His breath was hot against her cheek as the kisses became faster, rougher.

Nina’s head was spinning. Her free hand grabbed his shirt for support.

Rodrigo breathed against her cheeks, then his lips left hers — kissing beside her mouth, along her jaw, down her throat — and then he inhaled her deeply, a sound leaving him like he’d been aching.

Nina bit down on her lower lip, her eyes rolling back as she leaned into him.

He exhaled slowly, then pressed his mouth to her neck again, his hold on her waists tightening.

Nina whimpered as she felt him place wet kisses there.

Rodrigo groaned at the sound. His hands moved lower, caressing her back, dropping further until they found the soft curve of her thighs.

He went still. For a long moment he did not move, he just stayed there, breathing against her neck, his grip tightening on her, like he was trying to anchor himself, like he was trying to stop himself from going further.

He lifted his face slowly to look at her. His gaze was dark, heavy with want, his lips swollen, a thin line of sweat trailing from his temple down the side of his face, his hair plastered against his skin.

Nina’s chest rose and fell as she watched him, her whole body shaking — cold, and something else entirely.

Rodrigo’s eyes dropped to her mouth, and he dragged a ragged breath and shut them, searching for a rational thought. There was nothing.

He was out of control. He wasn’t thinking straight.

But he couldn’t risk this.

The curse was close. There was no earthstone yet. He couldn’t give himself to her knowing what was coming.

He had to stop.

Before he would cross the point of no return.

He gritted his teeth and tried to pull himself from her, but the harder he fought it, the worse the urge became.

The more he resisted, the more intensely he wanted her. So badly he wanted to tear her clothes off and take her right there.

He opened his eyes and let them settle on her face, and gathered the last of himself.

"Look at me." His voice came out rough. Low. Barely recognizable.

Nina held his gaze.

He breathed out, steadying himself,

"I want to do things to you." A growl edged his words. "Things I shouldn’t-" His eyes dropped to the exposed curve of her chest. He dragged them back up, forcing them to stay, but they wandered again.

He groaned, turning his face away.

"Leave," The command was firm but they stuttered at the edges.

Nina’s breath caught, her brows creasing into a frown as she stared at his face.

She didn’t want to go.

She bit down on her lower lip and didn’t move.

Rodrigo’s gaze cut back to her. Something in it darkened. He frowned

"I said, leave." The last of his control was in those words.

If she didn’t leave now, there wouldn’t be anything left to stop him.

Nina’s eyes dropped to his mouth, and then she closed the space between them and kissed him.

.

.

.

Time stopped.

Rodrigo went utterly still.

His heartbeat slowed — stopped — then slammed back at twice the speed.

Whatever lid he’d been holding down blew off completely.

A low growl tore out of him, his hand cradling her head, his mouth taking her.

Nina breathed against him, the kiss wild, hot, unraveling.

His hands worked at her straps.

Before she could register it, his mouth left her and kissed lower, his hands caressing her back.

Heat shot straight through her, her head falling back against his neck.

Rodrigo breathed against her skin, lifting her off the bed in one swift movement.

Nina yelped, holding onto him for support.

Rodrigo placed her carefully on the bed, his other hand pulled at his shirt and it fell to the ground in one swift movement.

Nina’s eyes stared at the outline of his chest and she swallowed a hard knot.

His hair fell over his face, some strands sticking onto his skin. She watched him.

Under the room’s low light, they looked beautiful. The grey in them glistening.

He hovered over her, his eyes taking her in, as though mastering every inch of it.

Nina’s fingers found the sheets and her fingers dug into them, as her eyes wandering away from his gaze.

She could feel the heat rushing to her cheeks, she bit on her lip.

Then she felt him lower, his hand holding her face still, as his lips met hers again.

This time it was slower, more tender, but there was an edge to it, as though he was holding himself back. His hand dug into her hair as the kiss deepened.

Then his hand found the soft of her legs, and he pulled them up.

Nina trembled slightly as she adjusted under him, her fingers fisting his hair.