Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 95676 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 478(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95676 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 478(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
"Ah, kitten," he says, stepping closer, crowding me deeper into the wall. He places one hand above my head and tilts my face up to his with the other. His eyes are soft, glowing with sincerity. "Let me worry about me."
"But―"
"Stop."
I snap my mouth closed, battling back the litany of protests running through my mind.
He smiles his approval, flashing me that devastating dimple. "I'm a big boy. I make my own choices and I can take care of myself. I don't need you to protect me. I'm here because I want to be…because you ran here alone, and we both know you did it to hide from me as much as for any other reason."
I confess the truth I've tried to deny even to myself. "I did."
He rewards my honesty with a tender kiss to my forehead, one that has my eyes fluttering closed and my heart thumping hard. "You gotta stop running from me, sweetheart."
I swallow hard, fighting back the instinctive urge to remind him, yet again, of what he's risking. But if he's willing to take that chance, maybe I need to stop being a coward and take it, too. Because this thing between us? I'm pretty sure it's important enough to make that leap and pray we don't both end up broken on the floor. I'm pretty sure he's important enough to take that chance.
Isn't that what really scares me? How important he is to me already? How much I need him already? If he gets hurt because of me, it's going to break me. Not because he's been nice to me. Not because he believes in me. But because he makes me feel things no one has ever made me feel before now. He makes me feel…safe. The thought of ruining him is unbearable.
But so is the thought of losing him. I just spent twenty-four hours without him. I hated every single one of them. I regretted every single one of them. If he's willing to take this chance, I think I need to take it too. If I don't, I'll spend the rest of my life hating myself for letting him go.
"Okay," I whisper finally.
"Yeah?"
"Yeah," I say, my voice a little louder and a little more certain this time. "I want you, too, Cam."
He grins, looking at me as if he just won the lottery. Tenderness and desire mingle in his eyes, making my heart thump hard against my ribcage.
"Do you trust me?" he asks.
I take a breath and nod again.
He leans in like he's going to kiss me, but he doesn't. His lips land against my cheek before sweeping toward my ear. "Put your hands on the wall above your head," he whispers against my skin. "Don't move them until I say so."
Without hesitation, I slide both arms upward until the fingers of my left-hand brush across the arm he has draped above my head, holding his weight off me. The position lifts my breasts higher, pushing them outward. The slow exhale of his breath against my ear sends a pleasurable shiver through me, tightening my nipples.
He nuzzles his face into my throat and inhales before pressing a kiss to the pulse thrumming beneath my ear. "You smell so fucking good," he mutters before claiming my mouth.
His kiss is slow and easy, as if he's in no rush. The tip of his tongue touches mine, sending sparks dancing through my body. My eyes fall closed, every piece of me focused on the feel of his lips against mine and the soft breaths he exhales into my mouth. I could kiss him all day and still not have enough.
He nips at my bottom lip before soothing the sting with a swipe of his tongue. He drops his hand from my face, sliding it down my neck to tip my chin higher, opening me up to his kiss. With a little growl, he goes deeper, taking my mouth harder as his hand dances down my collarbone and onto my chest. I arch my back, lifting up on my toes to hurry him along, aching to feel his hands on me again.
"Nu-uh," he mumbles against my lips, stilling his hand.
"Please," I plead.
"No. I'm in charge here, kitten. You take what I give you."
His words shouldn't turn me on as much as they do, and neither should his rough, breathless tone, but I find myself dropping back down to my feet and clenching my thighs, trying to find a little relief from the pressure already growing. My clit aches, practically begging for attention.
Cam pulls my bottom lip into his mouth and bites down gently. His hand cups my breast, pushing it higher. And then his mouth is there, his teeth closing around my nipple through the fabric of my shirt and bra. He bites into the hard flesh, just enough to let me know he's there…just enough to pull a ragged cry of pleasure from my lips.