Page 33 of Thorns of Silence

Despite the absolute faith in him and knowledge that he wouldn’t hurt me, I had to fight to keep my limbs from seizing. I ran faster, feeling him get closer until I knew he was delaying catching me on purpose. The thrill of the chase, I supposed.

I flicked a glance over my shoulder. He was right behind me, and I smiled, anticipating he’d catch me soon. I turned around and sped up.

My harsh breathing burned my lungs. I wasn’t into running. Yoga was my choice of poison, and that was only because of my little sister.

The thud, thud, thud against my rib cage increased in speed and I turned around, my steps falling short. He was nowhere to be found.

My eyes roamed over my surroundings, waiting. I swallowed hard when I spotted him. He was leaning against the tree in front of me, his legs crossed and a wide grin on his face.

“How did you get ahead?” I signed, breathing heavily.

His eyes shone with darkness, something twisted and thrilling in their depths. “I’ll always be in front of you,” he said, slowly making his way toward me. “After all, I have to eliminate any threat to my woman.”

Gosh, it made me so hot and bothered when he was this way. A gorgeous monster.

“You own a thousand acres around us here,” I reminded him, trying hard not to turn to mush. “Nobody would be crazy enough to intrude.”

“Oh, dandelion. There are plenty who would be. They’d want to see the way I capture and ravage you on the soft forest floor. You don’t want anyone watching us, right?” I frantically shook my head. “That’s right, because anyone who sees you naked will be blinded. Or better yet… dead.”

Chills covered my body, the tightening between my legs intensifying with each passing second. I knew him well enough by now to know he wasn’t joking. Dante could be intimidating when he wanted to be, but my body came alive for him.

“Are you dripping wet for me right now?” He towered over me, the thrill of the chase giving his expression a slightly unhinged look. “Will your little body writhe beneath me when I take you here?”

I nodded, my mouth drying from excitement. Was something wrong with me? No, I wouldn’t go there. No doubts. No shame. Just the two of us—soon to be three.

“You’re going to be a good girl for me, aren’t you? My best girl?”

I licked my lips, my gaze lowering to his trousers. The bulge in his pants told me he liked this—a lot. “Yes.”

He was a predator, but he was mine. I trusted him with my life. I was drawn to him in ways I didn’t understand, and I’d given up trying.

My back hit the tree, his arms caging me in from both sides. His hand came around my waist while his erection pushed against my stomach.

The cool air crackled with tension as his cock rubbed farther down against my sensitive flesh, our clothes adding to the friction.

He pulled my top over my head, revealing the lace of my bra.

“Red looks good on you,” he said, then leaned in to brush our noses together. It was his favorite color; I only wore it for him.

My shaky fingers hooked around his neck, tugging on the strands at his nape.

He pulled the straps of my bra over my shoulders, baring myself to him, his fingers gliding over my breasts. My nipples ached with need as his thumb and forefinger pinched hard, twisting and tugging. A moan vibrated in my throat as a zap of pleasure shot through me and pooled in my pussy.

He cupped both of my breasts, his big, veiny hands covering them. It was as if every part of me fit perfectly against him. His big body against my small one. His strong hands against my breasts. His mouth against mine.

He pinched a nipple and I arched against the bark of the tree, into his touch.

Stroking every inch of my breasts, he bent his head, taking one nipple between his teeth. A vibration traveled from his lips to my skin and straight to my core.

He tugged on my nipples with his teeth, using brutal force, then licked the sting of pain away. He was a caring and intense lover, a demanding partner. His teeth grazed my nipple and I sucked in a breath, the movement leaving me hazy and my legs trembling.

He reached into my shorts, his hand making its way into my underwear. I bit my lip as his fingers brushed against my clit, sending a shudder down my spine. Then he slid them inside me and my inner walls clenched around them, greedy for him. I was drenched, ready for him to take me.

It took him no time to get rid of my clothes. Slinging my bra the rest of the way down my body, my shorts and panties followed, discarded carelessly on the forest floor.

He rubbed his fingers and his erection against my pussy. I tugged on his strands, pulling his mouth away from my breasts, and our eyes connected. My heart pounded fast and strong against my chest. “I need you inside me,” I mouthed.

His hold on my neck tightened slightly, not enough to cut the oxygen, but just enough to exhibit control. He shoved his knee between my legs, slapping them apart and thrusting his thigh against my core. The lack of oxygen turned me light-headed, making my senses heighten to an extent I’d never felt before.