Page 18

Chapter 18: Luke

I stayed on my knees for a moment longer, watching Avery recover. Her legs trembled, her chest rose and fell with quick, shallow breaths, and her lips parted as if she wanted to say something but couldn’t find the words.

She was perfection. Messy, undone, and completely mine.

When I stood, her green eyes lifted to meet mine, wide and searching. There was no hiding from her now. She’d seen it, felt it. Every bit of the fire I’d been holding back for months was there.

“No more games,” I said. “No more pretending. You’re mine, Avery. Fuck the promotion. Fuck the deal. None of it matters without you.”

I slid my hands up her sides, the fabric of her dress bunching in my fists as I pushed it higher.

Her lips parted as I dragged the silky material over her head, leaving her bare before me. My eyes raked over her, taking in every inch of her soft, flawless skin, every curve.

“You’re so damn beautiful,” I murmured, my hands trailing down her sides to her hips.

I stepped back, my fingers working quickly to unbutton my shirt. Her eyes followed every movement, darkening as I shrugged it off and reached for the buckle of my belt. When I pushed my pants and boxers down, standing completely bare before her, I saw the way her throat worked as she swallowed, her cheeks flushing deeper.

“Eyes on me, Avery,” I commanded.

Her gaze snapped to mine, her lips parting slightly as I stepped closer, closing the distance between us. I took her hand, threading my fingers through hers as I tugged her gently toward the dining table.

She followed without protest, her breaths quickening as I guided her to the edge.

“Sit,” I said, my voice leaving no room for argument.

She obeyed, her hands gripping the edge of the table as I stepped between her legs, spreading her thighs to make room for me.

“You’re mine,” I said again, my hands trailing up her thighs, gripping her hips firmly. “Do you understand that?”

Her breath hitched, her eyes searching mine. “Yes,” she whispered.

“Say it,” I demanded, my voice a low growl.

“I’m yours,” she said. “And you belong to me now too.”

A surge of possessive heat roared through me, and I leaned down, capturing her mouth in a hard, demanding kiss. Without breaking the kiss, I lifted her, laying her back against the cool surface of the table. My hands slid over her body, brushing over her breasts, her stomach, until I reached her hips again.

She moaned into my mouth, her hands gripping my shoulders as I settled between her legs, the hard length of me pressing against her heat.

“You feel this?” I growled against her lips, rocking my hips against her. “This is all for you, Avery. Only you.”

Her head fell back, a soft cry escaping her as I thrust forward, sliding inside her in one slow, relentless movement. I didn’t give her time to adjust. I couldn’t.

My hips moved, driving into her with hard, deep thrusts that made her cry out, her nails digging into my back as she clung to me. The sound of our bodies colliding, the way her moans filled the room.

“Luke,” she gasped, her voice breaking on a moan.

“Say it again,” I demanded, my thrusts quickening, harder now, pushing her closer to the edge.

“Luke,” she cried, her body arching beneath me, her head tipping back as she gave herself over to the pleasure.

I leaned down, capturing her lips in another kiss as I drove into her, my hand tangling in her hair, holding her close. Her nails scraped down my back, her moans vibrating against my mouth as she tightened around me, her body trembling with the force of her release.

“Fuck, Avery,” I groaned, my pace faltering as she shattered around me, dragging me over the edge with her.

I buried myself deep, my body shuddering as pleasure ripped through me, leaving me breathless and utterly spent.

For a moment, neither of us moved. When I finally pulled back, her eyes met mine, and what I saw there stole the words from my mouth.

It wasn’t just desire. It was trust.

And it made me realize one thing for certain: I wasn’t just claiming her tonight.

She’d already claimed me.