Page 138 of Pretty When She Breaks

I never wanted to let him go again.

SEVENTY-SIX

LAUREL

I adjusted my gold earrings and stared at myself in the mirror, chin raised.

I was breaking the rules tonight. If I was going to be down there, pretending to celebrate this awful engagement, I was at least doing it in a dress I loved.

Not another one in crimson.

This one was a pearly pink, and the soft fabric draped over my arms and hips before flowing to the ground. It had been gathering dust in my closet for years, waiting for me to be able to wear it. Plus, you know.Pockets.

Kaos was sitting on my bed, chin resting on his knees and arms wrapped around them. He caught my eye, and the warmth in his gaze made butterflies take flight in my stomach again.

“What?” I asked, shifting on my feet.

“You’re so pretty,” he said, grinning at me. He stood up and stretched like Muppet did, before coming over and taking me in his arms like we were dancing.

I still didn’t know how to trust this new, sweet Kaos. But every moment he looked at me like that, my walls came down a little more. If this was a trick, I didn’t know if I was strong enough to resist it.

“I have to go,” I said, stepping back.

His grip tightened, and his eyes flashed. I sensed a fierce protectiveness coming from the bond, a rage that made his lip curl. “No,” he said. “Don’t go to them. Stay with me here. I’ll keep you safe.”

I did feel safe here, I realized.

With him holding me.

The first time I’d felt safe in this villa.

“I have to,” I said, lifting my hand to rest gently on his arm. “I won’t be alone.”

“Not alone,” he said, his hand dropping to my chest, delicately tracing the neckline of my dress over the swell of my breasts. He’d watched me thread a wire through this seam earlier, so his touch seemed to be reminding himself of that, but as his fingers brushed across my skin, a swirl of arousal pulsed to life between my legs. My nipples hardened, and I bit my lip as his eyes met mine, a fierce hunger alight within them.

I shivered as his fingers followed the swell of my breasts, as his touch became more exploratory, as the look in his eyes darkened. My breath hitched as his hand cupped a breast, stroking my nipple through the fabric. I looked up again, only to have his lips catch mine in a kiss.

Pleasure rippled down my body, all the tension I didn’t know I was holding melting as I let out a moan and tugged him closer. His kiss was fierce, desperate, and I ran my hands down his torso as he continued to claim me. His taste was of sharp absinthe and licorice, an undercurrent of static buzzingon my tongue and spreading over my body in a prickling wave of heat.

His hand was still palming my breast, the touch causing my clit to throb and slick to soak through my panties. His other hand came to my hip, dancing over the silky fabric. I could have cried in relief, the throbbing of my bond mark replaced by a tingling pleasure that was driving me desperate for him.

I pressed closer, needing his solid sureness against me, and I perfumed like a cloud as I felt the outline of his hard cock through his sweatpants. He groaned in response and lifted me up by my hips, setting me gently so I was sitting on my vanity. We broke our kiss, and I panted, feeling hot and needy as his hand slipped under my skirts, hiking them up to my waist.

His pupils were blown, his lust pouring through our bond and feeding mine, and I whimpered and shifted, pulling the bunched fabric back more until my lace panties were visible. My shoulder was throbbing, but the pain was meaningless as I shifted back, exposing myself to him. I needed him now, needed his cock to fill me with his scent, his claim.

A part of my mind was screaming at me that I was going to ruin the dress, that I might be late, that I shouldn’t trust him, but I ignored it. None of it mattered; I wanted to stay here in Kaos’s arms as he held me and ravished me.

He hummed in delight as he slid his hand up my inner thigh until he was running his thumb over the soaked fabric above my clit.

A needy whine escaped me, and I breathed in his scent deeper, gripping his shoulders as his touch sent out another wave of pleasure.

“You’re mine, Laurel,” Kaos growled, tugging his pants down.

I could feel the pounding need within him and within myself too. This was what I was aching for. I wanted him, and I wanted him now. He stepped out of his pants and tugged at his underwear until his cock was bobbing free. I stared down at it, breathless. It was thick, especially in the middle, and it was already swollen, red veins outlined down the shaft. It was pointing at me, as if straining for me, and my pussy clenched desperately on empty air as I took it in.

His electric scent was enveloping me like a haze, like a madness, and I let out another needy whine. My nipples were hard, rubbing against the fabric of my dress, and my pussy throbbed as he stepped closer. Both our eyes were fixed on the sight of the head of his cock coming to rest against my awaiting slick and heat. He stopped, letting it rest there, and I gave an impatient growl.

One of my arms was holding me up, but the other scrabbled at his hip, urging him closer. He tugged my panties down, in agonizing slowness.