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Tris hesitated, but allowed me to pull her close. As she settled in against me, fitting herself to my side I had to resist banding my arm tightly around her so there was no way for her to escape. When she let out a soft, contented sigh, my muscles relaxed in answer to it.
Her body was warm and soft. I wanted to keep her tucked in next to me all night long. “Relax,” I murmured, feeling the tension in her muscles. “I don’t bite.” I paused, then added with a smirk, “Unless you want me to.”
Tris chucked softly.
I frowned. This wasn’t like her. The Trissa I remembered always had a quick comeback and was at ease with me. When she wasn’t, her fiery personality told me off. Her ability to speak her mind was one of the things I loved best about her.
Hadloved, I reminded myself.
My arm tightened reflexively, my thoughts causing my blood to boil. While she clearly had no problem with putting me in my place, she didn’t do that with Peter. Case in point with that ugly bird brooch. I wanted to shake her, to demand she show everyone the Trissa I saw. Because if she let Peter walk all over her, I wondered who else was allowed to do so.
Tris groaned. “Hey He-Man, you’re going to crush me.”
I loosened my grip, working hard to control my anger for a man who thought of no one but himself.
Needing to accelerate our comfort level and to get my mind away from where it seemed fixated, I yanked the blanket off her. A quick maneuver landed us with my hands under her ass, and I lifted her up onto my lap sideways. Her hands flew out and she let out a squeak of surprise, before regaining her balance and gripping my shoulders hard enough for her nails to dig into my skin, sending a thrill through me.
If I didn’t have a shirt on I had no doubt she would’ve drawn blood.
A traitorous part of me swelled with male pride at her marking me. I had to forcibly push aside the desire to return the favor.
“What are you doing?” she asked breathlessly. She squirmed in my hold. With every brush of her rounded bottom on my thighs, my dick pushed harder against the confines of my pants.
“What do you think, Tink?” I replied, not able to hide the underlying huskiness.
I gently pried one of her hands off my shoulder and caressed the tiny pair of fairy wings tattooed on her wrist. I rememberedholding her other hand when this was inked into her skin, forever sealing the nickname I bestowed on her.
My Tink.
I settled my mouth over the black ink before I traced the design with my tongue. The low moan that escaped her pillowy cupid-bow lips nearly undid me. My dick hardened further at the sound, and there was no way to hide the way it prodded at the zipper of my jeans and pressed into her thigh. I ignored the urge to adjust our position so she was draped across me, one leg on either side of my hips, slotting each curve perfectly against me.
Go slow.
“Killian,” she whispered, her voice heavy with desire.
I shifted to press my mouth to her collarbone, just barely visible above the neckline of her t-shirt. I kissed up the column of her throat, taking special care and attention when my tongue licked one particular spot beneath her ear and her breathing stuttered.
She trembled at my touch, her body instinctively trying to close the gap between us. Her arms twined around my neck and her fingers tangled in my hair. Her nails scratched at my scalp, then progressed to gentle tugs as I kissed her jaw. It took all of my self-control not to lose myself in the moment.
Before claiming her lips, I rubbed my thumb along her chin, needing her consent. “Tink, if you want me to stop, you need to say something.” Even though this relationship wasn’t real, the desire between us clearly was. It amazed me to have her respond like this, and it made me ache when I remembered it was all for show.
Her passion-filled eyes blinked open, and she nodded.
“Words, little fairy,” I prompted her.
“Yes, more,” she breathed out, wiggling impatiently in my lap. “Kiss me, Killian.”
That was all the encouragement I needed and I pressed my mouth to hers hungrily. Years of pent-up longing poured into that one kiss. The sensation was overwhelming, and for a moment, I let myself believe it was real.
When Tris deepened the kiss, swiping her tongue tentatively between my lips, I responded with equal fervor and lost myself in her warmth.
Tris whimpered when I pulled back. She tugged the front of my t-shirt as though she didn’t want to let go.
“That’s enough practice for today.” I didn’t want to hurt Tink, and letting ourselves get caught up in this wouldn’t help.
Who was I kidding? I didn’t want to be on the losing end of her feelings again, either.
Confusion flared in her blue eyes, quickly replaced by a hint of … disappointment?