Page 82 of Blind Devotion

Adrien grunted a growl.

“Oh,” Alizé said. He didn’t have to say a word for his sister to understand what was going on, but I couldn’t pick up on what they were doing. How were they looking at each other? Was he signaling to her? How dare he try to leave me out of this.

“Adrien.” My voice rose. “What happened to my mother?”

Alizé gently laid her hand on my forearm, and my head swiveled back to her. One of them had better fill in the missing pieces and quickly. I hated not being able to pick up on nonverbal cues or facial microexpressions. Everything was far too blurry for that.

“Honestly, it was a while ago. Maybe I heard wrong.”

“What did you hear?” I ripped my arm away. “What aren’t you telling me? Adrien, whatever it is, you don’t get to keep this from me.”

“Excuse us.”

He wrapped his hand around my waist and tugged me along with him.

“Where are we going?”

I didn’t even get a say as we charged through the foyer, through another room, and into the living room, where he locked the door behind us. All the white of the furniture was blinding with the glare of the sun through the windows, so I shut my eyes. It gave me more focus.

“I deserve to know whatever it is you’re hiding, Adrien.”

“It’s nothing you can change.”

“This is my mom. This is my life.”

“And you said you’d give me time without your family intruding.” He trailed a finger down my face, sweet and tender, from my forehead to my cheek to my chin. When he reached my neck, his hand circled it, lifting my head. “So give me the time I’m owed. Then they’ll have you.”

His mouth fell on mine and stole any protests I had. Five seconds into the kiss, my body was aflame. Ten seconds, my arms tugged him closer, my hips already grinding against him. Fifteen seconds, and I’d forgotten why we were here in the first place if not for this.

I was putty in his hands, and he knew it. I didn’t protest as he gave my neck a little squeeze.

“You’re mine.”

“Yes,” I whispered breathlessly. “Always.”

“Then marry me.” He kissed me again, trying to dull my responses, but this was not something I was ready to cede.

“I’m yours, isn’t that enough?”

Another non-rejection. His body tensed against me, except for the hand around my throat. His fingers teased against my skin.

“I don’t just want your body.”

“This, between us, is more than that.” I kissed both of his cheeks, then his forehead.

“I don’t just want your mind.”

“Then what do you want?”

“I want the world to know you’re mine. That you’re off-limits. That I will hunt down anyone who tries to take you away from me.”

“You telling me you wouldn’t do that without a ring?” I teased.

“You little minx.” He nipped my lip, then spun me around, bending me over the couch. My dress was flipped up and my panties pulled down before I took my next breath.

The slap to my ass registered before the sting. He gave me three more taps in quick succession. I moaned. His hand massaged the burn, only making me wetter, before his finger dipped inside me to rim my core.

“Tell me if you need me to stop.”