Page 109 of Make Me Yours

“Christ, Lilah.” His hand sweeps down the back of my thigh before skimming up again, making my heart pound so loud it drowns out everything else. “All I want is to make you feel good,” he murmurs. “Over and over, until you forget every asshole who ever made you think you weren’t enough.”

His words hit harder than any touch, making it impossible to speak or even think.

Because somewhere deep inside, I already have.

When he shifts me slightly, adjusting the angle of my hips over his lap, the evidence of his arousal presses hard against me again, and my whole body clenches with anticipation.

Still, he doesn’t rush or lose control.

He keeps me pinned in his lap, his hands roaming as his breath teases my skin, causing a wave of goose bumps to erupt in their wake. His mouth follows, brushing a featherlight kiss along my back, as if he needs to taste every inch of exposed flesh.

The second swat lands harder, igniting a sharper sting that elicits a gasp.

The third follows swiftly, the delicious burn sending a boltof lust through my entire body, culminating in a moan slipping from my lips. Each strike builds upon the last, a crescendo of sensation that unravels me from the inside out. Yet, after every swat, his hand soothes the skin, a gentle caress that grounds me, reminding me of his unwavering presence.

“You’re doing so well, lucky charm,” he says, his velvety voice dripping with approval. “You’re being such a good girl.”

The unexpected praise sends a jolt of warmth through me before pooling low in my belly. I hadn’t anticipated how deeply his words would affect me or how much I’d crave his validation. The realization is both shocking and exhilarating.

By the time he pauses, I’m left panting, my body aflame with a need I never knew existed. My core throbs, and I can feel the damp evidence of my arousal against my inner thighs. The combination of his firm hand and tender words has unraveled me completely, leaving me yearning for more.

My body is on fire as my core throbs with desire.

But it’s not just arousal pooling in my stomach.

It’s something else.

Something deeper.

Something I’m not ready to examine too closely.

“Steele,” I whisper.

He shifts me gently in his arms before lifting me like I weigh nothing and carrying me down the hall toward his bedroom. Every step sends a shiver racing across my skin. My ass still stings in the most delicious way. I’m shaking and lightheaded. Caught between the hazy afterglow of everything that just happened and the growing anticipation of what’s still to come.

Steele nudges open the bedroom door with his foot and then moves toward the bed with a steady, deliberate pace. He lowers me onto the mattress with a gentleness that makes my heart twist.

He leans over, one hand planted beside my head, as he stares down at me. His eyes burn with a dark, hungry intensity that sends a shockwave straight through me.

“That,” he murmurs, voice low and rough, “was just a little taste of what I’m going to give you.”

His words settle low in my belly, lighting me up from the inside out.

When his mouth finds the curve of my collarbone and brushes over it before nipping the skin lightly, I arch into him without thinking, seeking more.

Needingmore.

He grips the hem of my shirt and drags it upward, pulling it over my head and baring me to the cool air and his gaze. He steps back for a beat, gaze sweeping over me like I’m the most captivating thing he’s ever seen.

“You’re so fucking beautiful.”

His hands slide around my back to unclasp my bra, the tension of the fabric easing before he slides it down my arms and tosses it aside. The worshipful way he looks at me makes me ache everywhere.

He reaches out, toying with the little buds, brushing them with his thumbs until they pebble beneath his touch.

“Have I mentioned how much I love your nipples?” he asks, a teasing edge to his tone.

I shake my head. “I don’t think so.”