I suck in a breath, and he smiles in response. “Being brought back to life through an approaching self-destruction can be addicting, Wendy.” He leans in. “Releasing yourself to the inevitable.” His lips hover above mine. “The rush, as saving grace happens just in time.” I feel his breath feather against my lips, and I close my eyes. “Making you finally take your next breath. Finally feel alive.”

His lips crash against mine and I release a heavy sigh, breathing in Peter, breathing in life. Fisting his shirt in my hands, I open my mouth instinctively, greedy, needing everything he’s willing to give me since the last time I tasted his kiss. His tongue brushes against my own and I feel instantly weak. On a natural instinct, Peter’s arms wrap tighter around my waist, and he lifts me off the floor of the forest and crushes me against his chest.

His kiss is slow. Tender. Sensual. He takes his time as his mouth brushes lovingly against mine. Savoring. Tasting me in a way that makes me feel cherished, respected, owned forever by him alone.

“Wendy,” he sighs as our lips part and we both take a deep breath. “Darling,” he kisses me once more, his right hand raising to cradle my face. “Do you mind if I call you Darling?”

“No,” I whisper, “in fact,” his lips place tender kisses across my face, leaving me breathless. “I like it very much, Peter.” I feel his smile against my lips before he deepens our kiss further.

His tongue licks my mouth open, and a moan escapes my lips as I try to hold him closer, unable to get him close enough. His right hand softly, slowly trails to the back of my neck where he fists my hair in his hand, tenderly pulling my head to the side. I taste a carnal need on his lips. A demanding power that wasn’t there before. One that I can’t help but surrender to now.

His mouth trails to my cheek. My neck. “Every night,” he murmurs against my skin as he gently sets my feet back on the ground. “I lay beside you,” his left-hand raises, roaming the curve of my breast. “And you never ask me.” He growls as he plants a few kisses up my neck to my ear, “Why don’t you ever ask me, Darling?” he murmurs low and deliciously in my ear.

“Ask… what, Peter?” I reply breathlessly, my mind too clouded by his touch and the way it makes me feel to understand what he’s saying.