Page 98 of Devil's Iris

I manage to peel myself free from her warmth, wincing as the cool air hits my semi-erect cock.That’sthe problem right there: I just came so fucking hard I saw galaxies, stars, the whole damn universe exploding behind my lids, yet I’m not fully sated.

I’m never sated when it comes to her.Never.

“Are you okay?” My voice sounds wrecked, raw and husky from what we just did. She nods weakly, eyes squeezed shut, and I curse under my breath as I step further away so I’m no longer crushing her body to the wall.

I still can’t believe that happened. Fucked her against the wall like some animal.

I’ve never lost control like that before. Not once in my entire goddamn life.

Her absolute trust in me was a wrecking ball to whatever remaining walls I thought I had. Now my nerves are shot to hell and I feel raw. Exposed.I hate it.

Cursing again—because apparently that’s all my vocabulary consists of right now—I stumble to the kitchen on unsteady legs and grab two bottles of water from the fridge. For a moment, I just stand there in front of the open door, letting the sharp bite of cold air bring me back to some semblance of sanity.

When I return to the living room, she’s still against the wall with her eyes closed. My stomach drops as I take in her ruffled hair, the finger marks I left on her skin, the way she’s barely holding herself upright.

Christ. What did I do to her?

I walk faster, tucking one cold bottle under my arm while I unscrew the other. “Here.” I lift it to her lips and her eyes flutter open, those slate-gray eyes hitting me like a punch to the solar plexus.

Fuck me.

She parts her lips and I carefully tip the bottle, helping her drink until she lazily pushes it away. “Thank you,” she murmurs, watching me with unmistakable tenderness as I finish her bottle.

I think back to earlier when I was convinced she was about to say something she wouldn’t be able to take back and how I kissed her to stop those words from coming. Now I suddenly want to hear them. It’s testament to how fucked I truly am.

I was right that night at the station when I called her trouble. She’s been upending my world, turning my emotions inside out since she came into my life. I clear my throat, looking away from her as I toss the empty water bottle aside. Only after I finish the second one do I meet her eyes again.

“Come on, let’s go upstairs.”

“You go without me. I’ll meet you up there,” she replies, waving a hand at me.

I frown down at her. “What?”

She chuckles weakly. “Husband, the only thing keeping me standing right now is this wall. I’m pretty sure I’ll fall flat on my face if I move away from it.”

My chest does something weird when she calls me husband. I like it way too much.

Hoping it doesn’t show, I approach her briskly. “Come on.” My arms wrap around her, fire lashing through me when I make contact with her naked flesh. My cock stirs—of course it does, the bastard—but I force myself to ignore it as I lift her up bridal style.

She lets out a little squeal, her arms flying around my neck. Our gazes lock and hold, and my throat tightens when she relaxes in my arms, her head coming to rest hesitantly on my shoulder.

She isn’t scared of me at all. And that scares the shit out of me.

I carry her up the stairs, feeling like I’m carrying my whole fucking world in my arms. Because I am. Somehow, when I wasn’t looking, this slip of a woman became everything.

I head straight for my bedroom—a room I haven’t slept in since she moved in. Even back then, I knew I needed distance if I wanted to keep the walls around my heart intact.

Fat lot of good that did me.

The room smells like her now. I inhale deeply, letting her scent fill my lungs as I make my way towards the ensuite where I gently set her on the closed toilet lid so I can run a bath for her. Steam curls through the air as hot water fills the oversized tub, and I watch it rise while hyper-aware of her eyes on me.

When the water reaches the brim, I turn off the tap andturn back to her, faltering when I find her watching me with that intense gaze that feels like heat under my skin.

“Come in with me,” she murmurs, her voice low and husky.

I nod. I was already planning to bathe with her.

I help her in first, lowering her gently into the warm water. Her soft sigh wiggles its way into my chest and takes up permanent residence there. I climb in behind her, careful not to splash water everywhere as I settle into the warmth and pull her back against my chest.