Page 41 of Secret Mission

The breath trembles out of me as his heavy body sinks against my pelvis. The ridge of that gigantic cock settling against the softness of my belly.

The heat of his mouth hits the side of my neck. When he kisses that spot with his mouth open, my heart cartwheels.

“Dammit, woman.”

The pressure of that open mouth kiss turns to a bite.

All of my skin goosebumps. A startled moan shoots out of me.

Shifting against me, he’s at my ear, a warm tease of his tongue, his rasped breath. Followed by a husky whisper. “I’ve never wanted anything more. I want every inch of you—every tight, perfect place to be mine to ruin.”

Chapter Twelve

Every word comes from my heart, but I won’t do this to her. She might want it now, but she doesn’t even know me.

If she did, she wouldn’t so willingly give me something so precious.

“But not now.” I kiss her, tasting her hurt, knowing very well it might be the last time she lets me.

I close my eyes and rest my forehead against hers.

My body is strong, but my foundation is shaky.

The devastation in her eyes is worse than a thousand cuts.

“I see.” Her tone is solemn, covering the pain I see when I look at her again.

Gazes locked, we breathe heavily into the quiet space between us. Letting my thumbs glide over her temples, I swallow against the ache growing in my throat.

It would be so easy to shove down my zipper and take her.

“What’s wrong with me?” Her throaty whisper turns the ache into a full assault.

“Not a single thing. This is my shit, not yours, and you’re the prettiest, bravest woman I’ve ever touched. It was so fucking delicious eating you, I’m already dying for another taste. But not now.”

Bracing on my elbows, I rock my gaze between her eyes, down her pretty nose, across her trembling lips. She’s warm, soft, and ready for me, and I’m saying no.

Who the fuck am I?

Silently, Allison’s eyes linger on me, and I wonder for the umpteenth time what she’s seeing.

When she pinches her lip in her teeth, I brush a kiss over her temple. “You understand me?”

“Yeah. I do. I’m sorry, I just…”

The softness of her reply twists the carnage inside of me, shining light on places that have been in the dark for a long fucking time.

“I don’t want to fuck this up. You might not understand this right now, but you’re just the most important woman I’ve ever had in my arms.”

It’s impossible to miss her reaction. The startled flinch that hits her entire body.

I drop my head next to hers, pressing my forehead into the bedding. Letting out an agonized growl. “My scars run deep, Allison. You make me feel something I didn’t think I could feel again. You’ve jump-started something I don’t have the tools to deal with right now.”

She’s so quiet that I hear the pulse in my ears. It’s still raging.

I’m rock-hard. I’m burning alive from the inside, and I’m not going to take from her.

She’s already had too many people do that to her.