Trust the Moon

Dylan tossed a heavy piece of wood onto the bonfire, sending a cloud of sparks into the night air. Heat blanketed his arms. The skin on his face felt tight and dry, and smoke tickled his nose. The moon hung over the fire, bright and swollen, its light blocking the stars from view. He felt its pull, starting low in his stomach. He wanted to run. He wanted to chase the moon until his lungs burned and the ache in his legs disappeared. But he couldn’t flee his own birthday party. Not that he wanted to leave his friends. He just wanted to stretch himself until he reached his limit. “Somebody’s going to get lucky tonight.” Dylan looked up sharply to see his friend, Doug, leering at him. “What are you talking about?” “Well, for starters, it’s your birthday. There’s a full moon, lots of booze and Daria has been eyeing you all night.” “There’s never been anything between me and Daria,” Dylan pointed out. Doug laughed. “So that means something can’t start between you?” “Why are you over here pestering me? Did Kate get tired of you or something?” “Kate’s talking to her friends about girl stuff. I got bored.” “You’re always bored.” “Am not. So, how does it feel to be twenty-one?” Dylan kicked a piece of wood towards the fire. “Not much different from the way twenty felt, I guess.” “What are you talking about? You’re finally, like, an adult.” Dylan arched his brow. “You mean, I can finally live in my own house, drive my own car, hold down a job and go to school full time? That sort of adult? Because in that case, twenty-one feels a lot like nineteen.” “Whatever. You know what I mean. You can finally get drunk legally. How much have you had to drink tonight?” “I never even got drunk illegally. And this is my second beer.” “f**k, dude, you are really not clear on the concept of a bonfire party.” “Somebody has got to be sober enough to pull your ass out of the fire when you fall in.” “That somebody has got to be you?” Doug asked. Dylan looked around. “I don’t see anybody else here who’d be willing to pull your ass out of a bonfire.” “It just seems like you can live a little now.” “Is that why you’re waiting to turn twenty-one? I don’t think it’s going to make the difference you think it will. Not in Delta, at any rate.” Not that Delta was a particularly bad place to live. It wasn’t. Dylan liked it well enough—though an argument could be made that he only liked it because he had never lived anywhere else—but it was small. It had started out as a tiny compound for a few shifters who had banded together for survival, and that basic mindset still pervaded the entire community. But it wasn’t so insular that there weren’t opportunities for a decent life. A growing number of shifters made their living through freelancing and telecommuting, and young and old alike took advantage of the online programs the Utah universities offered. Dylan was only two years away from a master’s in computer science. “I don’t know. Maybe I’ll leave Delta,” Doug said. “Really?” “Other shifters have left. It’s not like we’re prisoners here or something. You’re not going to leave after you finish up with school?” “No. I like it here. My friends are here. My family’s here. I like my house. Besides…I’d miss this too much. The desert. The moon.” “You could see the moon anywhere,” Doug said. “Not like this. It’s not the same.” “Whatever, man. I’m going to go get a drink. You want one?” “Nah, I’m good.” Dylan turned his attention back to the fire. He liked to watch the flames lick at the stacks of wood, the sparks swirling with each gust of breeze, the coals glowing so red they were almost golden. Maybe he would get a fireplace installed in his house as a birthday present to himself. It never got very cold in Delta, but watching a fire was inexplicably soothing. “Hey, you. Are you ready for a piece of cake?” Daria’s question was as bright as her smile. “The cake you made?” “Yep. Chocolate strawberry.” “I’ve been looking forward to that all night.” “Come on, then.” She looked over her shoulder. “Your parents know how you’re celebrating your birthday?” “Well, they know I gave them my blessing when they told me they were going to be out of town.” “I didn’t expect Irene to be willing to leave her little boy on his birthday.” “She was not. But they both deserved a vacation, and Dad needs to be back to the school in two weeks. Besides, she called me today and I assured her that I was fine.” Dylan wrapped his arm around Daria and gave her a gentle squeeze. “But I did warn her that I wasn’t going to save any of your cake for her.” “Maybe we should sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to you first,” Daria suggested. “I think we should just cut the cake first.” “But what about your candles?” “Candles? Who needs candles? I have a bonfire.” Daria giggled and began to slice. The knife cut through the confection easily, exposing the dense cake and the bright red berries. “You like butter frosting, right?” “I love it.” “Then you’ll get a piece with extra frosting tonight.” “Thank you.” She beamed at him and handed him the cake. The butter frosting smeared across his finger, and he licked it away, sucking on the tip to capture the rich flavor. “Now this is what birthdays are about. In fact…” The hair prickled on the back of his neck. Instincts flared to life, and he swung his head around, searching for…what? He felt like prey. Like something, or somebody, was stalking towards him. He searched the crowd, his gaze finally falling on a woman he didn’t recognize. The bonfire cast a golden tint to her already dusky skin, and flickered in almond-shaped eyes that made her seem more exotic than the wild mane of coppery curls falling down her back did. Even her simple jeans and top ensemble enhanced her beauty. The worn-denim-encased legs stretched for miles, while her plunging neckline highlighted full, high breasts. It was hard to tear his gaze away. It was even harder when the corner of her ripe lips lifted, and Dylan suddenly flashed on what her mouth might feel like doing something other than smiling. The carnal instinct drove him back to Daria. Safe Daria. Cute Daria. He wasn’t sure what she was talking about anymore, but he smiled anyway. He even managed to say something that made her laugh. But out of the corner of his eye, he saw the mystery woman moving. She circled a pickup and came to a halt at the front of Dylan’s Mustang. One long, slim hand stretched to trace over the hood, the caress of a lover instead of someone more casual. It was slow, and deliberate, and his entire body tightened with its unspoken promise. A heavy curl fell against her cheek. When she reached up to push it off, the woman caught Dylan’s eye. Another enigmatic smile. A flare of her nostrils. He had no idea who she was, but he had no doubt she was a shifter. She was too feral to be anything else. “I’ll be right back,” Dylan said, setting his plate on the table. “Where are you going?” Daria asked. “There’s somebody here I need to say hi to. I’ll be back soon.” “Oh, okay.” He didn’t like just abandoning Daria by the fire, but there were plenty of people there to keep her company. He needed to know who the strange woman was, and why she had appeared at his party without warning. She reminded him of the moon—something he could feel even if he didn’t quite understand why. He wanted to walk right up to her and blurt his name, but that might be creepy. Instead, he pulled the Mustang door open and tugged out the blanket. Good, good. Make it look casual. Like you need a blanket at a bonfire on a hot summer night. “I don’t know you, do I? I think it’s only fair to introduce yourself to the guest of honor.” She didn’t move from where she sat against the edge of the hood, leaning back on her hands to stare up into the star-speckled sky. The slight evening breeze rustled the ends of her hair where it fell down her back. “Introducing myself doesn’t really tell you much about me, though, does it?” Her voice was a husky alto, soft and clear in spite of the din of the party behind him. “I’m sure there’s stuff about me you’d find a hell of a lot more interesting than my name.” She definitely wasn’t like the other girls he knew. Those other girls didn’t intimidate him. Or intrigue him. His feet moved without conscious direction. “I think your name might be a good start.” Her head tilted as she regarded him, a debate clearly warring behind her eyes. There was a moment when he thought she wasn’t going to answer, but then she smiled, and his gut clenched. “Gena. And you’re Dylan.” She was right. The revelation of her name didn’t actually tell him anything. He couldn’t think of anybody in Delta named Gena. He glanced over his shoulder and saw Daria still hovering near the fire, as though waiting for his return. Did Daria know her? Somebody at the party must have at least recognized Gena—nobody could forget a face, or a body, like hers. “Yeah. What are you doing way over here by yourself?” Dylan gestured over to the fire. “There’s some cake. Or beer, if you’re thirsty.” “I had a beer, thanks. And cake…” her nose wrinkled, turning her lips—albeit briefly—into the most delectable moue, “…not really my thing. Frosting on the other hand…” She touched the corner of her mouth, enough for him to realize with frightening embarrassment that he must have some stuck to his face. “I’d volunteer to clean it off for you, but I think your girlfriend might be a little upset with me if I did that.” “Oh, she’s not my girlfriend. I mean, she’s nice and I kind of like her, but we haven’t…we aren’t…” Dylan moved closer. He hadn’t left the fire so he could explain his relationship, or lack thereof, with Daria. “We’re just friends.” “Well, that’s good.” When Gena leaned towards him, he almost did the same. He had to force his body to freeze when the tip of her finger touched the edge of his lips. It wasn’t anything more than the slightest of contact, but his skin electrified at the heat of her body, his pulse jumping when her nail scratched upon withdrawal. Frosting clung to her finger, but only for as long as it took to suck it into her mouth. Her cheeks hollowed. There was no way she wasn’t doing that on purpose. The fleeting thought that one of his buddies might have hired her as a special birthday present crossed his mind. “I’ve wanted to do that ever since your cousin pointed you out to me.” Dylan smiled a little uncertainly. “You have? Are you…?” Gena licked her lips. She was making it difficult to think straight. He owed Shawn big time for this. “Are you from around here? I mean, are you from Delta?” She shook her head. “But I am from around here. Just…out there.” She nodded towards the darkness. “It’s a gorgeous night, don’t you think?” “It is,” Dylan agreed, his attention locked on her. “I couldn’t ask for a better night.” I couldn’t ask for a better night? Nice. Real slick. If she walked away from him, Dylan wouldn’t blame her. Except she didn’t roll her eyes at him or otherwise mock his response. Instead, she inched sideways, making a clear—but narrow—space for him to sit down. Dylan took a single step, then halted in his tracks when she proceeded to lie back against the cold metal. The way her hair fanned around her head made him itch to run his fingers through it, while the moonlight sculpted her body in silver shadows. “So come and enjoy it with me.” This couldn’t be real. His friends set this up. It was some sort of elaborate practical joke, and soon, they’d jump from behind the trucks to mock him for thinking a mysterious, beautiful woman emerged from the desert just to flirt with him. Dylan perched on the edge of the hood then slowly lowered himself backwards. It might be some sort of big set up, but he was going to enjoy it while it lasted. “The moon’s bright tonight too.” Her arm brushed against his. Now that he was close to her, the faint scent of her skin filled his head. She didn’t smell like the bonfire but earthy and rich, like she’d spent the entire day sunbathing in the nude. He really needed to stop imagining her naked. “These are my favorite moons.” Thank God she was talking again. “Like you can just pluck it out of the sky.” Dylan chuckled, though he wasn’t exactly amused. That just seemed like the thing to do. “Me too.” He paused before adding, “I’ve always felt a strong bond with the moon.” He knew he wasn’t winning any points for intelligent conversation, but he hoped she understood what he meant. Gena tilted her head towards him, her hair brushing along her cheek. They were too far away from the fire for him to discern what color her eyes were, but they shone with the same radiance as the stars, bright and intelligent. “Is that why you had a bonfire for a birthday party? So you could be out here at night?” “Yeah. It’s hard for me to stay indoors when there’s a full moon. All my friends wanted to go barhopping, but there are only three bars in Delta. I convinced them we should take the booze with us and go to the desert.” The corner of his mouth lifted. “Of course, I didn’t count on just about everybody under thirty following us out here.” “Bigger crowd makes it easier to slip away.” “Yeah, I guess nobody’s noticed my absence, yet.” Which didn’t make any sense. If this were a practical joke, wouldn’t people be jumping out of the shadows by now? Without a doubt. That meant this was real. This conversation, this girl, the moon reflecting in her eyes. It was all real. “But we haven’t exactly gone far.” “The night’s still young.” Rolling onto her side, Gena rested her cheek against her arm. Her free hand came forward and rested lightly on his chest, the fingertips stroking him gently through the thin fabric of his T-shirt. “I’ll bet you’re gorgeous when you shift. Do you prefer to run or fly?” The heat of her hand was like an imprint on his chest. Now that he no longer expected the gotcha, he didn’t feel so awkward, or out of his element. He did, however, feel intoxicated—with the scent of her hair, the warmth of her skin and the pale light of the moon. He felt like running. He wanted to know if she could keep up. “Run. I don’t like heights.” She smiled. “Me too. The running part, I mean. There’s nothing more liberating.” Her fingers continued to caress him, each slight brush quickening his pulse. “If you feel like taking off, all you have to do is say the word, you know.” “I…” He could leap from the car that second. Despite the warm night, he shivered as adrenaline dumped into his system. “Do you want to go for a run? It’d be good to get the blood flowing.” Gena edged closer until her p***y pressed against his hip. Her mouth hovered at his ear. “Running’s my second most favorite thing to do.” She stood before he could catch his breath. Standing in front of the car, she grabbed the hem of her shirt and peeled it away, tossing it onto the hood next to him with a smile that dared him to pick it up. Dylan sat up, his fingers curling into her discarded shirt. Without thinking, he brought it up to his face and inhaled. She didn’t smell of soap or perfume. She smelled of the desert. His blood grew hotter as she pushed the jeans past her hips, exposing her curves an inch at a time. “We can just keep your stuff in the car.” Dylan stood and yanked his shirt over his head. “Nobody will bother it.” “Whatever you want.” She dumped her shoes onto her jeans and backed into the darkness. Her eyes glowed, sliding down his bare chest to the proof of his arousal. “I hope you’re fast.” “I’m fast enough. Don’t worry about me.” He casually tossed the bundle of clothes into the backseat. Getting naked in front of somebody else, even a very attractive woman, wasn’t exactly uncommon in his life. Nobody shifted with their clothes on, since it was easier to just strip down. He had nothing to be ashamed of, anyway. He didn’t blush when her gaze was drawn to his erection. Even if he wore pants, he wouldn’t be able to hide the effect she had on him. And he didn’t want to. He smiled at her one more time, and then willed his totem animal forward. His long arms turned into dark forelegs, his face disappearing to be replaced by a black snout. He tossed his head back and howled with all the pent-up energy he’d felt since the moon crested the distant hills. Dylan raced off without looking back. She would follow him, or she wouldn’t. Either way, the farther he got from the bonfire, the faster he wanted to run. The party disappeared. The desert stretched out in front of him, beckoning him closer, deeper, and the burn in his muscles as he cut a swath through the darkness warmed him as much as his thick pelt. He hadn’t bragged about his speed, but the distinct scent of a female wolf behind him said Gena hadn’t been exaggerating, either. His heart pounded. His nostrils flared. God, she smelled good. The desert was his home, but when he shifted into a wolf, it felt like more than that. He had long since explored every inch he could reach, alone, with friends and with his family. That was the best part of living in Delta, in his opinion. He ran with certainty, knowing exactly where he wanted to go. Occasionally, Dylan howled, calling to Gena, encouraging her to catch him. He raced until he was in sight of a knoll in the distance. There was a small stream on its far side, a welcome oasis at the height of day. With nighttime blanketing the earth, the water would mirror the moonlight and turn to glass until something shattered it. The urge for a midnight swim struck him, and nothing could shake him from that desire. Especially when he thought about how Gena would look when she rose from the still pool, water and silver light clinging to her skin. Gena might have had the same thought in mind—the rocks echoed with her high-pitched howl. By the time they reached the knoll, the night was their only companion. There were no sounds, except their paws against the desert sand, his heart hammering in his ears and the occasional howl. When Gena came up to his side, he saw her golden red coat for the first time, flaring like a pulse of light streaking through the shadows. She nipped playfully at him without breaking stride, and he responded with a short yelp. The scent of the fresh water cutting through the desert overwhelmed him. Dylan splashed into the stream, drops of water splashing around him, silver in the moonlight. Keeping her head low, Gena charged. She butted into his shoulder, knocking him to the side, and landed atop him in the shallows. His body was longer than hers, but water was the great equalizer. It made both of them clumsy, and their short barks sounded like laughter in the clear night. He nipped at her, but his teeth barely made it through her thick fur. The cold water splashing over his feet and tail invigorated him. But not as much as when she returned his bites, letting her teeth sink into his flesh until he growled. They rolled down the streambed together, until she had her paws flat on his chest. His body changed beneath her, returning to his human form. Playing in the water was fun, but now that she was on top of him, he wanted more. Gena didn’t seem to mind the shift. She bent her head and licked along his neck, slowly changing shape again until her pelt was gone and her graceful fingers caressed his skin. Dylan pushed his hand through her hair, his wet fingers winding through the thick tresses, and brought her mouth down to his. He didn’t know what to expect from her mouth, but it wasn’t the clash of teeth against his lips. He tightened his hold in her hair and wrestled with her for control, until he pushed his tongue past her lips to twine with hers. His c**k nudged against her thigh, heavy with his desire. Her satisfied groan vibrated through both of them. Any doubts he might have had that she wanted this as much as he did vanished. He didn’t know who she was, whether she was somebody’s cousin or friend who’d bummed along for free beer, but he no longer cared. Here, under the moonlight, they were just two people hungry for each other’s bodies, fitting together in every way possible. His extra inches on her tall frame aligned them perfectly. All she had to do was spread her legs, wind her feet behind his calves in the shallow water, and there he was, nestled in her folds. Gena rubbed up and down his c**k, the ebb and flow of the stream mirroring her motions. When he loosened his hold in her hair, she immediately sought out other areas to bite and kiss—his jaw, his chin, his neck. His mouth watered. He wanted his own taste. Dylan’s hand moved from her hip, his fingers trailing up her spine, and then back down her body. Rocks pressed into his back at odd, uncomfortable places, but he didn’t care about that. Not when her skin was so smooth, and her n*****s hard points against his chest. He dipped his hand between her thighs, fingertips searching out her heated flesh. She continued to slide against him, spreading her juices over his shaft, making his head spin. He pushed two fingers into her tight channel, knuckles curling to seek out her G-spot. Her walls clenched around him and she yelped, her whole body tensing with anticipation. “God, Gena. You’re so hot.” And getting hotter by the second the more he explored her body. She squeezed around his fingers, but as much as he wanted to replace them with his c**k, Dylan wasn’t ready for that. He wanted to savor this. He had a shitload of presents waiting for him back at the bonfire, but he had a sneaking suspicion getting this time with Gena was going to be his favorite gift. There was something wild about her, something so primal he couldn’t look away. Not even when Gena peeled their chests apart, keeping her arms close to her body so her breasts thrust closer to his mouth. “Lucky for me you decided to have your party out here instead of in town,” she breathed. Dylan lifted his head from the rushing water and closed his lips around her hard n****e. He held the flesh between his teeth and flicked his tongue, his balls aching each time she moaned. Her p***y tightened around his fingers, and all he could think about was feeling her tight channel embracing his c**k. He couldn’t remember the last time he had been so on edge, so ready to lose himself in a girl. When he couldn’t take it anymore, he pulled his fingers from her. “Lucky for me too.” He licked over the curve of her breast, then sought out her mouth again. Gena seemed to sink into his kisses. He felt like he was drowning in the raging fire their bodies created. They moved their lower halves together, his withdrawing, hers lifting, until she caught the tip of his erection with her opening and slowly lowered herself along his shaft. The first few inches made both of them moan. She was even tighter than he’d anticipated, hotter than her skin attested. By the time her c**t ground into the coarse hair at the base of his c**k, they were both trembling, clinging to the other for balance. “Oh my God…” Dylan gasped. “I can’t believe how good…” The words died in his throat as soon as she shifted her angle, and his fingers tightened reflexively. It wasn’t that he didn’t mean what he said—he did—but he couldn’t talk when she flexed around him. She dropped her head, letting the tips of her hair brush across his face. It tickled, but even that couldn’t distract from the pleasure rolling through him. He lifted her forward, forcing inches of his c**k out of her channel. She resisted, slamming back down, squeezing his shaft. Was it a question of dominance? A battle of wills? He didn’t want to fight her, but he lifted her again, working against her resistance. Between the two of them, they established a pattern of long and slow alternating with hard and fast strokes. It only took seconds to realize that she wasn’t holding anything back from him. Shifters were naturally stronger than normal humans, but he was used to the girls his age doing everything possible to control that strength, to restrain it. The fact that she didn’t just made him want her more. He didn’t have to check himself, either. He countered her struggles for dominance with his own force. He dug into her soft flesh, held her as close as he wanted, moved as hard as he cared to. Her head bent, hiding her face from him. The sharp bite at his n****e drove him upwards, slamming deeper into her quivering channel than he had previously gone. Gena cried out, a sound that echoed into his flesh as he lost himself in a new, possessive rhythm. Dylan buried one hand in her hair and pressed the other against the small of her back. She continued to nibble at his chest, occasionally biting hard enough to make him respond with the same groans that came from her. Cool water splashed around them, splattering across his arms and legs. Though she continued to push him, he dominated the tempo while his mouth and teeth landed on her smooth, pale skin. He wanted her to wear his marks. He wanted her to remember this night with as much shuddering satisfaction as he would. Gena clung to Dylan’s shoulders, not even protesting when he abruptly flipped their positions. It allowed him to scoop his hands beneath her ass and drive into her with even more force, force that pulled a scream from her throat, an explosion of heat beneath his palms, a riot of tremors throughout her body. His core body temperature rose until he thought he saw heat waves shimmering in the air. She thrashed beneath him, water splashing around them, painting his back, his neck, even the top of his head. She clutched him as she rushed towards her orgasm, writhing so hard she created a curtain of water. Her climax was almost powerful enough to send him over the edge, but he resisted the swell of pleasure. He couldn’t let this end too quickly. If he did, she would slip away from him. He f****d her faster, harder, thrusting in and out of her slick channel at his preferred tempo—she didn’t fight him now. But she did claw at his chest, until he tipped his head back and slammed into her one final time. The sound that escaped his throat wasn’t as full bodied as a howl, but it was close. His c**k jumped and twitched inside her, filling her with warmth even as the water covered them. He pressed his mouth to hers, but as soon as she tensed, he pulled himself back into something softer, almost tender. Her arms wrapped around him. She traced the scratches she’d left on his back, marks he regretted would likely be gone by morning. His muscles trembled, and his body thrust gently in reflex, but still, he continued to kiss her, unwilling to abandon her hot, succulent mouth a second before he had to. Her mouth tipped into a smile when he finally gasped for breath. Her dewy skin called to him to taste, but when he tried to kiss her again, she turned her head to press her lips below his ear. “Happy birthday,” she murmured. “Thank you.” He didn’t want to—he really didn’t want to—but he eased out of her and sat back on his heels, letting the water wash around his legs. “I think I could spend all night looking at you. Except you’re probably cold in this water.” She spread her arm out to her side and half-floated in the shallows. “No, I’m fine just like this. Don’t you want to come home with me?” “I think we should get back before they send out the search party.” Her smile changed into a grimace. “It’s your party. Aren’t you allowed to have a little fun if you want it?” “It’s my party. That’s kind of why I need to be there. Otherwise, it’s just a party.” The water splashed as Gena rolled away, stepping out of the stream to stretch her arms up to the sky. The mouthwatering swell of her ass made him want to reach out and pull her back, but the picture she presented was too perfect to disrupt. He had never seen anyone who looked so completely at home under the moon. Nobody in Delta even came close to matching her. “Well, thanks for keeping me company. You were exactly what I needed.” Dylan frowned. “You’re not coming back with me?” “It’s not my party.” She shot him a smile as she began to wring some of the water out of her hair. “I’m just the crasher.” “You’re not a crasher if I invite you. Besides, your clothes are still in my car.” “Keep ‘em. Or leave ‘em there for me to pick up later. They’re just clothes.” “Oh. Okay. If you’re sure.” He wished he could split himself into two people. He wanted to follow her deeper into the desert, find out what else she could show him, what else she would do to him. But his friends had actually gone to a lot of work to throw him a party, and he didn’t want to disappear on them for the entire night. Dylan pushed himself to his feet and closed the space between them. She didn’t try to step out of his reach. He tilted his head, and her lips were soft and pliant beneath him. Gena looped her arm around his neck again, her body rubbing against his in wicked, wicked ways. “Sure you have to go back?” she said, nibbling on his lower lip. “We could run for hours. Just you and me. Have the whole night to ourselves.” “Yeah. All my friends are there. But maybe we could do this another night?” “Sorry.” Gena disengaged from his body, and though she offered him a rueful smile, he still felt the absence of her heat. “Hanging around civvies isn’t exactly my thing.” “A loner, huh?” He tried to smile, but the thought made him a little sad. He wanted to know her. He wanted to spend time with her. “That’s too bad.” Dylan didn’t think the conversation had anywhere else to go, so he let his features morph back into the wolf. He jumped out of the stream, pausing on the bank long enough to shake the water from his fur. He couldn’t look away from her. He wasn’t sure what he expected, but it sure as hell wasn’t Gena striding across the few steps between them. Crouching at his side, she buried her face in the back of his neck and simply breathed. Her fingers dug into his fur, nails scratching across the skin beneath, and the soft press of her breast against his side reminded him all over again how good she had felt. She held him like she didn’t want him to go. Maybe she didn’t. But then she was whispering thanks against his skin, standing up and moving away, shifting and taking to the air. Her wings whispered through the night. The silhouette she left against the sky was as elegant as the one belonging to the woman who’d writhed beneath him.