Page 42 of The Pakhan's Forced Bride

As we step off the jetty, Belle whispers, “That would have been lovely to spend the night on the yacht.” Her voice is tinged with disappointment.

“We can do it another time,” I say, opening the car door for her.

In the car, she’s quiet, and I can’t tell what she’s thinking. There is heavy tension in the air. I reach over and place my hand on her thigh. I can’t stop myself. This time, the kiss was too much to bear. I can’t spend another sleepless night fighting those desires again.

“Belle—"

She threads her fingers through mine and pushes my hand higher up her thigh. It answers everything I wanted to ask. She glances across the car at me, biting her lower lip.

My cock goes rigid, pressing uncomfortably against my pants, begging to feel her, throbbing and aching to be inside her.

The car is dark, and I’m not sure if she can see what she’s doing to me. But all I want to do is get her home.

Chapter 13 - Belle

My blood is still raging through me after the adrenaline-fueled moment we shared on the yacht. Not just the swim, but the kiss, too. His body right against mine, his skin, his muscles taut as he pulled me close. He kisses me as though I am the most beautiful thing in the world.

That’s how he makes me feel.

I wanted to lose myself to him in that pool. I wanted him to take me right there.

I can’t believe we were interrupted, and now I don’t know if the tension between us is because he regrets the kiss again, or if it’s something else.

Lights flash past us as we drive away from the harbor, heading home.

I’m nervous, shy, and unsure of myself.

I want to touch him. But I have no idea what I’m doing, what he’ll like—or if he’ll even want me to.

Ardalion is the one who reaches over and places his hand on my leg.

He says my name, and the sound of it on his lips is thrilling.

“Belle—"

It shoots lust through my body, and in a second, I’m as turned on as I was in the pool. I have no idea what I’m doing; I’m not in control anymore when I thread my fingers through his and I push his hand higher up my thigh, his fingers slipping beneath the edge of my dress.

Tonight, he taught me that my life belongs to me. Not my family. Not the rules they make for me or the expectations they have of me.

I get to choose what I want, and I get to take it boldly, without fear, and enjoy every moment of it.

I swam with sharks. I did that. I was scared, and I did it anyway.

Ardalion’s hand is hot against my skin.

I don’t want to wait anymore.

I don’t want to fight the way I feel about him because I think it’s wrong. Why should it be wrong? Why shouldn’t I want this?

My heart slams against my chest like a wild bird trying to escape its cage.

I lean over the car and brush my fingers over his leg, up his thigh, and across his rock-hard cock.

I gasp when I feel how hard it is. As my hand presses into his cock, it throbs, and Ardalion groans, “Belle—wait—"

“I don’t want to wait,” I whisper, pushing my fingers harder against him.

“I can’t—" he groans.