His hands were everywhere as he delicately laid her down onto the mat. Levi stood and took off his robe, letting it fall to the floor. Smiling, she admired the muscles in his stomach, the way his hipbone carved a path in his flesh to the parts of his body that she had never seen before. He crawled onto the mat, covering her body with his own. His hands explored the softness of her ribcage, the dip of her inner thigh, then between her legs. She clasped tighter around his wrist, wanting more of the sensation.
Leah felt feverish: hot near the cusp, about to tumble over ...then cold as Levi prolonged her pleasure with kisses down her body, which had grown sticky from the salve. She tilted upward and kissed his neck; the slick, shiny honey from her skin made his sweat taste sweet.
"More," she said, wrapping her legs around him, feeling the taut muscles in his back strain. He held himself back from taking what he wanted. "I want all of you, please."
His eyes widened slightly. "But tomorrow ..."
Leah's heart was pounding, but her head was clear. "Tomorrow is tomorrow. Tonight, I want to be your wife."
She expected there to be pain, but she wanted it. Her body already sang with it, and tomorrow she knew her heart would collapse beneath it—but tonight, she would relish the bite of his grip as he caressed her, the sting of when he would make her belong to him.
Levi nodded, kissing her again. His hand curled around her neck, and she felt him holding on for dear life.
They didn't stop until the oil from the lamps burned out, and there was nothing left of them but embers.
*****
She couldn't watch him go. She felt his hand leave the top of her head and knew it was the last time, but she did not move. He was silent, because maybe he thought she was sleeping, or because speaking would have undone him—she would never know. He was going to leave camp at dawn. Laban wouldn't let him near the honey, and he had only a handful of shekels to take with him, but he'd insisted that it didn't matter, that he would find his way. He'd helped her dress in a night robe that she prayed would hold the feeling of his body close to her.
Leah heard him leave, but swore she wouldn't cry. The flap fell and there was a crack of thunder outside. When she opened her eyes again, Rachel was back, holding a bronze lantern, dim light emanating from its translucent panels.
"It's going to rain,"Rachel said, lighting the oil lamps inside the tent. She took a look around and surveyed the state of her sister's sleeping mat. Rachel's eyes widened. "Are you okay?"
Leah didn't know. The mention of rain only brought one person to mind."Ummī loved the rain."
Rachel bit her lip as she sat on the floor next to Leah's mat and curled her legs beneath her. Neither of them moved as the rain finally came. Together they silently listened to the drumbeat of the water hit the top of their tent, and after a while, Leah reached for Rachel's hand.
****
Levi's gone— how will Leah recover?
Pre-order SIN AND HONEY's 2nd novella THE TOUCH OF BETRAYAL (a retelling of Samson and Delilah) now!
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Touch-Betrayal-SIN-HONEY-novella-ebook/dp/B00ZB2P7VY/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1435150894&sr=1-2
iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-touch-of-betrayal/id1004008868?mt=11
Join my newsletter for info on contests, giveaways and exclusive VIP content: http://www.tarynscarlett.com/newsletter
Follow me on Twitter: TarynScarlett
YOU ARE READING
SIN and HONEY: Seven Years of Longing
RomanceSo Jacob served seven years, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her. —Gen.29.20 Rachel was destined to love at first sight. Leah's only crime was falling for the wrong man. In Taryn Scarlett's richly lyrical novell...
