Page 38 of Stand Your Ground

He slid his fingers to curl around the back of my neck, thumbs framing my jaw, grip strong as he guided me into him.

“Ever since you walked through that door, all I’ve been able to think about is touching you…tastingyou.” His nostrils flared, his eyes on my lips. He shook his head like restraining himself was torture. “Please don’t make me wait any longer.”

That worked.

My mind was clear again, that hint of panic replaced by another jolt between my legs, another parting of my lips as I leaned into those words, into the heat that swept over me from the power of them.

And just like I’d given him permission to, Carter read the signs — and he kissed me.

He was tentative for only second, just abeatof insecurity when our lips first touched. I almost pulled back to scold him, but as if he sensed it, his grip on my neck tightened and he deepened the kiss.

After that, it was like he was pulling out all the stops to impress me.

His lips were warm and firm, seeking as he inhaled a deep breath like just kissing me was enough to give him all the pleasure he’d ever need in life. I loved the way his large hands spanned my jaw and neck as he held me to him, as he tilted mejustslightly so he could fit our lips together perfectly.

He opened his mouth, and I followed, both of us moaning when he slid his tongue inside and met mine.

“Fuck,” he groaned, and then he was pulling me into his lap.

One hand slid between us and tugged on my belt buckle so hard he lifted me, and I followed the cue, slinging one leg up and over until I was straddling him like a saddle. He wrapped me up then, large arms fully encompassing my frame as he kissed me harder, deeper, with more longing.

And I almost lost myself.

I almost forgot it was all a lesson as his hands slid down to cup my ass and squeeze.

I almost gave into the temptation to rock against him when he slid his hands into the back pockets of my shorts and flexed his hips up to meet mine.

I almost let out the whimper I was fighting to hold back when he nipped at my bottom lip with his teeth before capturing me in another hot, bruising kiss.

Carter Fabri.

A damn good kisser.

Who would have thought?

“Oho, so hedoeshave a little game hiding up his sleeve,” I teased, pulling back from the kiss with a press of my nails into his chest. I smiled when he opened his eyes as if he were drugged, his lids heavy, lips swelling. “That wasn’t so bad, Rookie.”

“Give me another five minutes and I think I can earn an A plus.”

He breathed the words before he was hooking me behind the neck and pulling me into him again, his mouth capturing mine as he rocked his hips up against me.

“Did I say you could kiss me again?” I asked, still teasing, but with more of an edge to my voice as I bit down hard on his bottom lip.

Carter winced and groaned, but I knew the pain turned him on more than it warned him to stop. His hands gripped myhips hard, holding me in place like he wanted to fuck me right through all the layers of clothes still between us.

“Next lesson,” I said against his lips, teasing him with little brushes of my own that weren’t quite kisses. “Strip me out of these shorts. Slowly. Make everything count. Make me drip for you.”

“Fuck,” he rasped.

“And then use your mouthandthese big hands of yours to make me come.”

I barely got the words out before Carter flipped me onto my back.

I couldn’t help but smile, and I dragged my teeth across my lip as I watched him hike one of my legs up onto his shoulder. He kissed along my calf as he tugged one boot off, then switched legs to take care of the other.

“Slow,” I reminded him, and I felt him take a breath against my skin as he brought the pace down.

His mouth stayed on me as his hands traveled up. He planted a long, lingering kiss just below my knee, and then his fingers hooked onto my belt buckle, yanking it open. He thumbed my belt open next, unfastened the button of my shorts, and peeled the zipper down.