Page 83 of Vital Signs

I nodded. My thumb traced his cheekbone instead, and I pressed my forehead against his. "Where?"

He took my hand and slid it beneath the hem of his shirt. "Anywhere else. Everywhere else."

I dragged my nails across his ribs, making him arch and curse. Then I captured his mouth again, kissing him until the tension drained from his body.

I recognized trouble the moment I registered his smile. He put his hands on my chest and shoved. I landed ass-first on the mattress, and before I could react, he was already on top of me.

He caught my wrists, pinning them. "No touching until I say so." The command sent heat through me. Surrendering felt right—like penance. He pulled off his shirt. The diamond chains caught the light, perfect against his skin. I sat up and yanked off my shirt. The look in his eyes as he took in my bare chest made my throat dry.

"Better," he murmured, leaning down to bite at my collarbone, hard enough to mark.

I fumbled with his belt, desperate for more. He let me struggle for a moment before batting my hands away and stripping off his jeans. Fuck, he wasn't even wearing underwear.

I kicked off my boots and shoved my jeans down. His eyes darkened as he took in my naked body, gaze lingering on my cock, already half-hard against my stomach.

He climbed back onto the bed to straddle my thighs.

"Leave the chains on," I said, breathless.

"If you insist." He wrapped his hand around my cock, squeezing just enough to make my breath catch. The chains swung forward with his movement, catching light as they dangled between us.

"I don't want penetration," he said. "Not right now."

"Show me what you want," I said.

He lowered himself over me. The heat made my breath catch. "You don't get to die on me," he growled, accent thick. "You don't get to walk into my life, make me care, and then check out. Not now. Not ever. Compris?"

He ground against me hard, taking what he wanted. His fingernails bit into my shoulders as he established a brutal rhythm.

"You had no right to do what you did," I snarled, but my hands betrayed me, gripping his hips tighter, pulling him down harder.

"And you had no right to leave me," he shot back. Even half-lidded in pleasure, he held my gaze, fury mixing with desire. "You promised to stay."

"You left me!" My voice broke.

"Not by choice," he said, his voice cracking. His rhythm faltered, and he shuddered.

Misha’s body went rigid above me, back arching, mouth falling open. Beautiful and furious. His body throbbed against me.

He collapsed forward, breathless. "Never by choice," he whispered.

His defenses dropped, eyes unguarded. My hand moved without thought, cupping his face, thumb stroking across his cheekbone. He leaned into the touch, turning to press his lips against my palm.

I pulled him closer, my mouth finding his in a kiss that was softer than anything we'd shared before. He made a small sound against my lips, his body melting into mine.

I broke the kiss, grabbing his hips and grinding up against him. Friction raced up my spine as I thrust harder.

Heat coiled in my gut; the familiar pressure built. So close—

And then it slipped out of reach. I let out a frustrated groan.

The pleasure built and slipped away again. "God, Hunter, you're going to make me come again." His body shook as he collapsed against me.

"J'en peux plus," he panted. "No more." He tried to roll away, but I grabbed his hips.

"I'm not done with you yet," I growled and flipped us over. "I'm going to suck you."

I settled between his thighs, taking him into my mouth. His fingers dug into my scalp as French curses fell from his lips. I worked him—rough then gentle, fast then slow—until he was shaking, fists clenched in the sheets.