Total pages in book: 163
Estimated words: 157491 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 787(@200wpm)___ 630(@250wpm)___ 525(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 157491 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 787(@200wpm)___ 630(@250wpm)___ 525(@300wpm)
“You have no idea what I’d give up for you.” Two quick steps and she’s in my arms. If you count my hands wrapped around her upper arms. “No idea what it’s taken to stay away from you.” Does she even see herself?
“But you said it yourself. The risk.”
“I know what I said,” I growl, resisting the urge to shake her. How can she see herself as second best? “I also know what I’ve endured. Dragging you from that slimy fucker on your birthday turned me into an animal. I broke four of his fingers just peeling them from your waist.”
“I don’t—I don’t remember.” Her voice is barely above a whisper, her chest rising and falling with tight little breaths. A ripple of awareness runs through me. She stepped away because she was trying to do the right thing. But she’s turned on. By the violence in my tone, by my jealousy.
“Then to see you out there, with his hands on you?” My hands rise from her arms to shoulders, from her shoulder to her face. “I wanted to more than break his fingers. I wanted to kill him.”
“It wasn’t his fault.”
“Oh, I know. Because it’s you I want to own. To punish.”
I’ve desired before, desired the tangible and the intangible. Possessions and positions, success in its many forms. I’ve wanted women, made it my goal to get them into my bed. Enjoyed them until the fun came to a natural end. But this, this is different. My desire for her is a force flowing through me, making my heart pound and my skin feel alive to the touch. It’s a sensation clawing at my skin, a whisper that promises one taste will satiate. Just once will take away this ache.
But desire is a lie, and obsession is a dangerous path to tread.
“Why don’t we”—her tongue darts out to wet her lips—“work this thing out of our systems?” Her tone is careful, her gaze honest. “Maybe we can do this, then walk away. Pretend it never happened. That way, no one gets hurt.”
“Darling,” I murmur, sliding one hand through my hair. “I don’t just want your body. I want to own your fucking soul.”
She inhales a sharp breath as my hand tightens on the strands at her nape, a shimmer of connection running through us. I tilt my head, pausing my descent as she speaks.
“That’s a little dramatic.” Despite her disparaging tone, her eyes flare midnight dark. “I mean, if I was meant to be controlled, surely I would’ve come with a remote.”
“I’m not usually one for gadgets.” My lips ghost over hers. “But why don’t we table making you come by remote for another time?”
Her laughter is as genuine as it is fragrant, her hot breath whispering over my lips as I hold her. As I tease her, feeding on her frustration as her lips pursue mine.
“We’re really doing this?” She settles her palms against my chest, tightening her fingers in my shirt as though I might change my mind.
My hand still in her hair, I trail my other down her side, my fingers discovering the concealed zipper there. “I think the answer to that is yes.” Her breath is unsteady as I begin to slowly pull. “But that’s not really the question you’re asking,” I whisper, tracing my lips over her neck.
“Isn’t it?”
“I think you’ve been asking yourself how I’m going to make you come.” Her body jolts against me as though my words detonate inside.
“F-Fingers. You said fingers.”
“I’m going to use my mouth.”
“Niko.”
Fuck, I love how she almost groans my name as I test my teeth to her thundering pulse. “I’m going to enjoy you like the feast you are until you’re dripping down my face.”
“Oh, goodness.” Her answer slides out on a sigh.
“Yes, lots of goodness.” Pressing my hands over hers, I slide them to the placket of my shirt. “Undo the buttons, Peanut.” Her fingers nimbly set to her task as I slide my lips to the tender space below her ear. A suck. A tiny swipe of the tip of my tongue. “I’m going to use my fingers, my tongue, my teeth.” As the front of her outfit begins to sag, I stretch it to expose her shoulder, pressing my teeth there, relishing the ripple of reaction that runs through her. “Then I’m going to fuck you so hard and so well, I’ll be so deep inside that you won’t know where you end and where I begin.”
“It sounds like you’re going to be very busy.”
I ignore her attempt at bravado as the last of the buttons falls loose.
“Take it the rest of the way off.” She shivers as I kiss her neck, her fingers fumbling with my cuff links. As she slides them into my pants pocket, I find I have to curtail her wandering. “You don’t want to rush things,” I purr.