Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 78745 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78745 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
It’s a rush—an intoxicating blend of passion and the unspoken promise of safety. Each soft moan from her lips, each little whisper of my name, urges me forward, and I’m consumed by the need to protect her, to shelter her from everything that threatens her. But I also want to claim this moment, to indulge in the spark that’s been growing between us from the start.
Her fingers twine in my hair, drawing a low groan from my chest. My own hands roam her sides, feeling the warmth of her body through her dress. Every point of contact feels supercharged, and we lose ourselves in the press of lips and the glide of hands.
Eventually, we pull apart, panting. Our foreheads rest against each other again, and I can’t help the grin that tugs at my lips. She mirrors it, though her cheeks are flushed. The tension in her eyes is gone, replaced by something softer, something hopeful.
“Wow,” she whispers, laughing a little at how breathless she sounds.
I slide a hand up to gently cup her cheek, brushing my thumb across her flushed skin. “You okay?” I ask. It’s become my standard question these days, but in this moment, it carries a deeper meaning.
She nods, leaning into my touch. “Better than okay.”
For a few heartbeats, we stay like that, just breathing each other in, letting the kitchen’s quiet hold us. A pang of reality creeps back in. Jason. The note. But I swallow it down, not wanting to ruin this fragile moment of peace.
I cradle her face with both hands, my voice gentle. “We’ll deal with everything else tomorrow, all right?”
She tilts her head, her eyes drifting to my lips before returning to meet my gaze. “Yeah. Tomorrow.” A flicker of shadows crosses her features, as if she senses I’m keeping something from her. But instead of pushing, she lets it go, and I silently thank her for that mercy.
I lower her from the counter, holding her steady until she’s on her feet. The air between us is still charged, every nerve ending in my body vibrating with the memory of her touch.
“Stay here,” I tell her, removing the gun from its holster so I can lock it away. I remove my jacket before returning to Briar in the kitchen.
I scoop her into my arms, carrying her to my bedroom at the end of the hallway. Tomorrow we can worry about everything. But for tonight… she’s all mine.
The way Briar’s staring at me should be illegal. It’s pure sin and frustration. I don’t even think about it as I scoop her into my arms.
A roar erupts from my throat. “I can’t stop thinking about being inside you,” I groan out.
I set her down, her feet landing firmly on the hardwood.
She blinks up at me. “Wait.”
I halt, my eyes meeting hers. “What’s wrong?” My heart’s pounding inside my chest, hoping she doesn’t put a stop to this whole damn thing.
“Do you do this often?”
“Do what? Sex?”
She nibbles on her bottom lip. “Yes, with all the women you protect. Is this what you do?”
I step back, my eyes locking with hers as I tell her, “No. I never cross this line. You ask me if I have sex often, and the simple answer is yes… a lot. But I haven’t in a while, because no woman’s held my interest in a long time, but you… I’m so damn interested. And I’ve never crossed this line. Fuck, I shouldn’t even be crossing this line now, but I can’t not kiss you again.” I lean in, capturing her lips with mine. Our kiss is explosive at first, and my hands trace over the soft skin of her face. I inch closer, her eager body pushing against mine.
A soft moan escapes her lips, and I swallow it down, claiming it. Claiming her.
My body grows needy, wanting more of this soft woman and her feminine curves. She drives me insane. Makes me go primal with one flick of her eyes at me.
“More,” she whispers against my skin and I roam my hands over her hips, tugging her body closer to mine. The feel of her against me makes me see stars.
I want this woman in the worst way.
Together we move in tandem to the bed, falling together, our limbs tangling together as I deepen the kiss.
I press my hard dick into her center, upset that we’re still wearing way too many damn clothes. “Off,” I tell her, tugging at the hem of her dress.
She lifts a little and I help her get the dress off, flinging it onto the other side of the room. I toss off my shirt as well, adding it to the pile.
“Wow,” she whispers as her eyes take me in. “I’ve never seen so many muscles up close. And your tattoos.” She traces her fingers over the intricate tribal design on my left pec. She pushes up further, her mouth connecting to the skin and I suck in a deep breath of air.