He wrenched himself out of that thought and shoved the dark tide of lust down deep, tried to ignore how his blood was pumping hot and siphoning straight between his legs.
“You need anything?”he made himself ask.
She gave him a considering look.“Yeah, I do.”
Then she stunned him by walking over and sliding her arms around his back, her cheek pressed to the hollow of his shoulder.
The lust was still there, raging just under the surface, but protectiveness took over.He bit back a groan and banded his arms around her, holding her snug against him.Wrapping around her like a comforting blanket.
Elated that she had actually lowered her guard and reached for him, he buried his nose in her hair and breathed her in.She felt fucking perfect in his arms, fit against him exactly right, like she’d been made for him.Every day he was more and more convinced of that.
She pressed harder against him.Almost like she wanted to burrow into him.He tightened his hold and kissed the top of her head, aching to make it all better.“It’s gonna be okay.”
“You don’t know that.”
“Yes, I do.I’ll make it okay.”He’d find a way.
She released a hard breath and leaned into him, rubbing her cheek against his chest.He kissed her hair again, nuzzled it with his nose.She smelled so damned good.He loved holding her like this, but he was so damned hard, and there was no way to hide how much he wanted her.And zero chance she didn’t notice.
But to his surprise—and relief—she didn’t pull away.
So he bent his head.Nuzzled her temple.Pressed his lips there.Waited.
Her fingers sank into his back.He went still, struggling to contain the riptide of desire that punched through him.
Her fingers flexed.Digging into his muscles.Testing his strength.And it took every bit of it not to tip her face up and crush his mouth to hers.
Cassie turned her face into his neck.She stayed there, unmoving, every warm exhalation making his skin tingle.He could feel her battling with herself.Didn’t move, not wanting to push or rush her into anything she wasn’t ready for.But goddammit, he’d never wanted anyone this badly.
She skimmed her nose up the side of his neck.He tightened his hands on her.Felt the brush of her lips on the underside of his jaw.Thought his heart would pound through his ribs while he stood there, waiting.Silently begging her not to stop.
She kissed the edge of his jaw.Light, lingering pressure, her lips scalding against his skin.And then she lifted her head slightly and stilled, their faces inches apart as she gazed up at him.
He clenched his jaw, holding tight to his control.He couldn’t afford to get this wrong, couldn’t be the one to cross this line.If she wanted more, she needed to make it crystal clear.Until that happened, he was respecting the boundaries she’d put in place.Even if it was torture.
He felt like he must be dreaming when her gaze dropped to his mouth.Slowly, so slowly it killed him, she leaned in and brushed her lips across his.
