Page 64 of The Billionaire's Bride

"Are you worried that I am going to lose my temper with you?" he asks softly, "Because I almost killed a man?"

I shake my head truthfully. "It’s not that, either. I know I sounded surprised earlier, but that’s only because it came out of the blue, to find out what you’d done."

"Then, what is it?" He reaches for the ashtray on the chair next to him and stubs out his cigarette. "Why is it that since I returned, you’ve held yourself at a distance from me?"

"Distance?" I fold my arms across my chest. "I don’t think my behavior with you kept much distance between us."

"You mean my making you come?"

A blush sears my cheeks. Thank God, it’s already dark. Hopefully, he didn’t spot how fiery my cheeks are right now.

He prowls toward me, his massive shoulders outlined against the inkiness of the night. Heat spools off of his body, slams into my chest. I gulp; my throat dries. He pauses in front of me, the boots on his feet brushing against my bare feet.

"You’re not wearing any shoes?" he murmurs.

"I, ah, I was on my way to get my clothes from the dryer."

His amber eyes glow, "So no underclothes either?"

Heat flushes my skin and my stomach flip-flops.

"Answer me, Eve, do you have any underclothes on?" His voice lowers to a hush and I shiver.

"No," I whisper, "I am naked under this bathrobe."

His nostrils flare, "Did you say that purposely to turn me on?"

"Wh-what?" I stutter. "Of course, not. You’re the one who started out on this entire train of thought."

"But you’re the one who brought it to the surface."

"What, because I said I was naked under—?"

"Shh." He places one thick finger on my lips, "Don’t say anything else. Not unless you want me to take this conversation to its logical destination."

His voice is thick with lust. Desire pulses between us. The strength of his dominance pins me down, pushes down on my shoulders. My throat closes. I can’t breathe, can’t think, can’t do anything except stare up into his hard features. His jaw tics and a vein throbs at his temple. "Yes or no, Eve?"

His tone is hard, yet wary. As if he can’t predict my response to him anymore. And it’s true, in a way, I am not sure myself how to react to him. To what this man gave up for me. How he changed his life completely, to such an extent that I don’t know him anymore… And that’s a side benefit of this trip, right?

A chance to understand both of them. To find out what makes them tick. To share of myself with them, in the hopes of finding whom I am more compatible with.

"What is it to be, Eve?" he demands. "Yes or no?" The tendons of his throat move as he swallows. Perhaps it’s that slight giveaway, the clue that he’s not as sure of himself as he portrays himself to be, which propels me to jerk my chin.

His gaze narrows, "Say it aloud, Eve."

"Yes." I clear my throat, "Ye—"

He places his hands on my hips, lifts me up, and I wrap my legs around his waist, the bathrobe parting to reveal what I’ve tried to keep hidden. He fits his lips over mine and licks the seam. I part my lips and he sweeps his tongue inside. He swipes his tongue across my teeth, closes his mouth over mine and drinks from me. I sense us move, then feel the wall against my back. He thrusts forward, fitting his swollen length that tents his jeans against my melting core. It’s so good, so hot, a groan tumbles from my lips. He swallows it, slides his hand down the open neck of my robe. He pinches my nipple and the spot between my legs instantly grows wet… Okay, wetter. He presses kisses down my jawline, to the base of my throat. He nibbles on the pulse there and I can’t stop the moan that wells up.

"These little noises you make, Eve..." he growls, "I’ve missed them. Fuck, I’ve missed you, baby. So much."

I wrap my arms about his neck, pressing his head down further. He kisses his way down to the valley between my tits, then nips at the curve of my breast. I feel it all the way down to my core. He cups my breast, squeezes, turns his head, and bites on my swollen nipple. Goosebumps flare on my skin. I squeeze my thighs around him, pushing myself into the bulge at his groin.

A growl rumbles from him, "I need to be inside you, Eve."

Yes.

"Say it aloud."