Page 49 of Severed Heart (The Ravenhood Legacy #2)

“There will be no other women for me because there is no other woman meant for me. I’m certain there is no other woman alive who will hear these types of promises from me because you’re all I want.”

She pauses, her eyes glazing over as she shakes her head in disbelief.

“Wait for me, and I’ll give you any life you can dream up.”

“One kiss and you think you have some say in my future and expect me to stay faithful?” She harrumphs. “You must be joking.”

“Look at me,” I snap. She does, her eyes searching, forever searching.

“Jesus, how you’re fucking tap dancing right now.” I hold her gaze. “We both know this isn’t just about the kiss, and this”—I gesture between us—“runs far deeper than physical. Trust me with your heart, trust me with that much. When I get back—”

“Non,” she clips. “I won’t entertain this, you , another second. You’re a boy, and I’m—”

“Call me a boy one. More. Fucking. Time,” I grit out in warning as irritation attempts to take the reins, but it’s my heart that grips it before firmly pressing it back under.

“We both know I’m more of a man than any other fucking sorry excuse you’ve dragged into this house the last few years.

And I only say a few because that’s how long I’ve been paying attention.

Since the first time I truly saw you for who you really are, not what you hide behind or your cruelty and attention-seeking tantrums.”

Her body tenses with the insult as I press in.

“You were right. There is a side to me that exists that most don’t and won’t see.

” I rake my lower lip as her eyes flare in surprise.

“One I’ve been biding my time to introduce you to, but only if you finally saw me for the man I am.

And you did, you have, maybe for longer than you’re admitting to yourself, but it happened. ”

“Tyler,” she counters, as if reasoning with me, “you are a boy —”

Within a heartbeat, I’ve got her plastered to the side of the house, facing the brick. “I warned you,” I hiss, holding her in position with one palm while running the other along her smooth stomach as I dip to deliver another. “ Mask off, Delphine.”

Rain ticks loudly on the overhang above us as I wrap her hair in my fist, gently pulling it to the side while I bite into her shoulder. Her answering moan spurs me on as I inhale her scent, flirting the pads of my fingers along the top of her shorts to make my intent known.

“Une si belle femme.” So beautiful.

Heart sputtering wildly as she sags against me, I force myself to further test the waters, unbuttoning her shorts and pausing to give her another chance to object.

Her answering whimper has me sliding my palm into her shorts, my fingertips gliding into the silky top of her underwear and straight through her soaked slit.

I don’t bother to hold my groan when I find her drenched and needy.

Fast pants start to leave her as she arches her back, sliding her arm up to hook my neck while gripping my hair. To pull me closer.

Closer.

Permission.

Every single cell in my body ignites, white-hot fire roaring in my chest as I fight my instincts to go feral and devour her. Whispering my lips against the curve of her neck, I bide my time, calming myself to the point I can effectively speak.

“Every day,” I relay roughly, rimming her pussy before thrusting a finger into her.

She buckles against me as I keep her upright.

“For fucking years.” I bring the slick pad up to her clit, whispering it in tease before driving it back into her.

“I’ve imagined touching you like this.” I bite into her shoulder a second time as she arches further against me in offering.

“Kissing you.” I flick my tongue along the shell of her ear, palming her mouth to muffle her escalating moans to ensure she hears me.

“Fucking you, making you come. Just the thought of stretching your pussy with my cock is enough to get me off.” Her moan vibrates my palm as she bucks her hips, and I massage her with my fingertips before plunging back into her insanely tight, wet heat.

“The idea of us coming together this way.” Lust coats every word of my admissions as she soaks my fingers, sinking against me, gasping against my palm. “It’s everything. You are all I want.”

Freedom zings through me as I start to kiss her neck, running my fingers back and forth, bringing her close until I know she’s agitated.

Until her hips start to frantically buck for more friction.

As I pull my palm away, unchecked, choppy moans begin to leave her as I escalate the workings of my fingers.

Purposely stirring her up as my cock strains in my jeans, begging for some relief, for her.

Denying us both but satisfied as she continues to writhe against me, I pull my soaked fingers out of her, cutting off her protest by pushing them through her parted lips.

“A boy couldn’t get you this wet. You won’t be fantasizing about what this man would’ve done to you had you shut the hell up.”

Stiff in surprise, she hesitates a beat before closing her mouth around my fingers and sucking with abandon.

I curse, eyes fluttering when she adds her tongue.

The swirl of it around the tips of my fingers has my control slipping briefly as I run my raging cock along her back.

As she starts to shake in want, I pull my fingers out of her mouth.

Slowly turning her against the brick, I command her eyes, willing her to face the man doing this to her.

Chest heaving, eyes wide, pupils dilating with desire, she gapes up at me.

Into the wildfire that I’m sure reflects in my eyes as I suck on my fingers to savor what’s left.

Once I’ve taken my taste, I palm the brick beside her head and bend so we’re eye level.

“I don’t live like a boy , think, act, or fuck like a boy. So, it’s probably best that you brush up on that definition before you ever think about applying it to me again.”

Gripping her hip, I yank her bottom half flush to me, flipping up her tube top and exposing her breasts before running my calloused palm over them—stroking her pebbled nipple deftly before roaming to the other.

With my open hand, I run back and forth between her perfect tits and peaked nipples, getting lost in the sight of her silken skin.

In the look of her, submissive and wanton beneath my touch as her eyes hood into silver slits.

As close to naked as I can get her where we are, I put enough space between us to slide my hand into her shorts before flipping my wrist to thrust my fingers into her soaked pussy. Adding my thumb, I start to slowly massage her clit as she shakes under my touch.

“Ah, mon Dieu,” she cries out, her back arched against the brick, body drawn taut, arms dangling lifelessly at her sides. Keeping my fingers going, I dip and pull one of her pebbled nipples into my mouth, sucking feverishly before lapping at it with my tongue.

Gasping, she clutches my head to her chest as I slowly fuck her with my hand, biting lightly at her nipple before soothing it with both lips. I work her just enough to keep her on edge and wanting. Enough to keep her focused on my touch but aching for more. Aching for me.

When I pull away, leaving both of her perfect tits soaked with my kiss, I stare down at her with every bit of pent-up desire I’ve been shielding for far too fucking long. Her silver-gray stare remains latched to mine, feeding the lightning buzz now ricocheting between us.

Free hand roaming, I greedily cover every inch of her exposed skin. Running my fingers along her throat, palming her shoulders, her breasts, her torso, and her stomach.

“Do you feel beautiful, Delphine?” I whisper as she arches into my every touch, responding eagerly to every single movement, body drawn just as tight as her pussy is around my fingers. Lips swollen from our kiss, she watches me lick my own for remnants of her taste.

Dying to sink to my knees for more, I’m too entranced by her response to give up a second of it. Slowing my fingers, I again palm the brick next to her, leaning in as she writhes under my touch.

“Look at me, baby,” I murmur with every ounce of the love I feel.

“Look into your soldier’s eyes, listen to his voice, and you’ll see just how beautiful you are to him.

You’ll understand what touching you like this does to him,” I order as her body hums against mine with need for release.

“You’ll realize to him you are anything but poison. ”

Her eyes eagerly soak in my expression as I slow my touch as she chases it with her body. In and out, I stroke her intimately with my fingers as I beg her to see what’s in my eyes, my heart.

“Can you sense what’s happening inside me?

How good this feels for me because of how beautiful you are inside and out?

Answer me, ” I order, rimming her again, tracing her soaked entrance before extending my finger as far as it can go.

I’m rewarded with an entire body shiver.

“Tell me, can you see how beautiful you are when you look at me?”

“Oui,” she croaks. “I see, Tyler,” she rasps out, her eyes watering as I hesitantly withdraw my fingers.

She mewls in protest as I slowly lean in, brushing her lips lightly as I unbutton my jeans.

Her eyes drop as I take one of her idle hands and cover my heart while taking her other and guiding it into my boxers to wrap it around my cock.

“Yours,” I declare. “This”—I cover the hand on my heart—“is yours, and this”—I squeeze the hand now holding my cock and thrust it a few times into her firm grip—“also belongs to you.”

Her silver eyes shine brighter before she releases her fearful tears while I do all I can to quiet them, banish them.

“Utterly and entirely yours ,” I whisper in offering as she stares up at me, her lips parted, her return expression granting me my answer before I ask the question. “Tell me, beautiful,” I ask her, as tears spill over her cheeks, “is love lying to you right now?”

Her answer comes out in a croak. “Non.”

Our pull magnetic, I dip just as she lifts, and our lips meet in a soul-rending kiss.

We take our time exploring, discovering, and feeding, our tongues dueling in a perfect mix until we’re gasping, and our hands are eagerly mapping the other.

When I pull back, I don’t stray far, our foreheads touching.

Chests still heaving, I lower her top and refasten her shorts while feeling her watchful eyes on my profile.

Meeting them, I rebuke the guilt I see starting to threaten.

“All you should feel, or that I hope you feel right now, is safe, ” I murmur, “ worshipped and beautiful . I want to give that to you and so much fucking more.” I press my forehead gently into hers.

“What’s happening here, what’s happening between us, started pure and remains pure.

” I stroke her cheek with my thumb. “It happened gradually and naturally. Neither of us forced this. Just ... wait for me. I can’t be here for you while I’m gone, but I’ll come right back to you. ”

She refutes my words. “I’m not your problem, Soldier.”

“No, what you are, is my fucking reason ,” I declare, pulling back slightly to command her eyes. “My reason to fight and my reason to come home. You are home. Haven’t you figured that out yet?”

“You say these things, but you don’t know what your life will become.”

“I know what I want it to be,” I utter. “And I’m standing here telling you that whatever happens outside of us will revolve around the two of us , not the other way around if you let this, us , happen.”

She shakes her head adamantly. “You’re going to become something you cannot deny or push aside for something as silly as a woman. Tyler, your future is so big—”

“You’re not just any woman, never have been or will be for me, and I know fucking well what promises I can and will keep, especially when it comes to you.

Don’t presume to tell me how to think anymore.

You’ve done enough of that. Not when it comes to this , anyway.

This is where I prove to you that a man can be worth waiting for.

I know a part of you believes me. Trust that part because I know you trust me. ”

Dipping, I press one more kiss to her lips and look her right in the eyes with a soul-deep declaration. “ Your soldier. Loyally and faithfully yours.”

She softens against me, even as she gives an incredulous slight shake of her head. “Tyler—”

Kissing her one last time to quiet what I can of her fears, I pull away and fasten my jeans, slowly inching backward to the fence as my entire being lights with fury that I’m no longer touching her.

But I can’t have her the way I want to tonight.

I’ve come on too strong already, and I want to let the idea settle.

I want it to be her decision if we get more physical.

Our eyes remain locked like magnets, even as I land on the other side of the fence.

I revel in the fact that she’s staring after me in the way I’ve been praying for while considering my words, considering us .

So, when she opens her mouth to speak, I beat her to it.

“It’s already done,” I declare vehemently. “It’s done, Delphine.”

Tearing my eyes from her, I turn and stalk home, my chest alight with that truth.