Phases

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Seventeen

"Mari," Jimin's dulcet tones reached her ears like a soft caress. "Mari, I need to talk to you."

She could feel the mattress dip under his weight as he settled in behind her, his arm slipping around her waist and pulling her back flush against his chest. Soon, the tip of his nose trailed across her shoulder, followed by the softness of his lips. Marianna hummed softly in response but let her eyes remain closed. Sliding his hand across her abdomen, he entwined his fingers with her own. The feeling of his mouth against her neck left her breathless.

"Mari," the warmth of his breath left goosebumps on her skin.

Marianna stretched her neck to the side, allowing him more access to the pale column of her throat. Jimin untangled his fingers from hers and raised his hand to her chin, using one finger to tip her face towards him. His full lips met her own in a soft kiss. Once. Twice. And then on the third time, his teeth bit softly into the pink flesh of her lower lip before soothing the sting with his tongue. She sighed against his lips with a hushed whine and Jimin's tether of self-control snapped.

He rolled her to her back and braced himself on one arm as he hovered over her. Her forearms rested on his shoulders as she skimmed her nails against the nape of his neck. His breath stuttered as he angled his head to deepen their kiss, tasting her mouth with his tongue and sucking lightly on her lips as his free hand explored her curves. Since the morning after her first nightmare a week ago, the pair had barely touched. Jimin had made no move to kiss her again after that morning and his touches had been reduced to a few errant caresses and then holding her in his embrace after she would wake from more nightmares. Now, with the warmth of his hands exploring her body and the heat of his lips against her jaw, Marianna realized how badly she had been longing for him.

Twisting her fingers through his hair, she guided his mouth back to hers. A soft grunt of surprise escaped him as she traced the seam of his lips with her tongue. An unfamiliar sense of wanting was growing within Marianna. Jimin could feel her desire surge through the bond, igniting the flame of his own. He nudged his knee between her legs as he gripped her hip. Marianna shuddered as she felt his thigh press against her center. His name escaped her lips in a soft moan and Jimin thought he was done for. His breath came out in harsh pants as his lips left hers to trail down her neck and across her collarbone. She pressed him closer to her as he began to suck across the top of her breasts. Jimin moved to settle himself between her legs, supporting his weight on one elbow while his free hand lifted her leg around his hip.

Marianna gasped at the feel of his bulge as he ground against her. He was painfully hard. Jimin knew he needed to stop. He knew this was not the time for this. Yet he was utterly consumed by her. Her scent. Her taste. They intoxicated him. He wanted nothing more than to bury himself inside of her and claim her as his own. The need to feel her warmth wrapped around him as she came undone under him was overwhelming. She cried out his name again as he rolled his hips into her. Her leg tightened over his hip, pulling him closer as her hands slipped under the hem of his shirt. Her hands were cool against the skin of his abdomen as her fingers skated across the ridges of his muscles.

Need continued to course through the bond, but he was now starting to feel small amounts of doubt as well. Mustering all his self-control, Jimin pulled away from her after leaving a gentle peck to her lips. Her brow furrowed with confusion. His gaze was soft as he peered down at her, fingers of his right hand sweeping strands of her hair behind her ear.

"Mari," he whispered. "We don't have to keep going."

Her cheeks flushed crimson as she turned her face away from him. Jimin nuzzled his nose against her cheek. He huffed in amusement.