"I do," I whisper and mirror his palm. Then, because I'm a fool: "Just one kiss."
He looks at me like he's not sure whether to laugh at my bluff or reward me for my naivety. "If you believe that."
His thumb grazes the hollow of my upper lip, then drags down to my chin, and slowly pushes against it. "Open up for me."
I blink. What kind of kiss are we talking about?
He smirks. "Don't worry, it's not what you think. I want access when I devour you."
Pulse stuttering, I part my lips as wide as he guides me. It'sa first, offering my entire throat for a kiss.
Ben hovers his lips above mine, caging me inside him, his exhale slipping into my mouth. "I kissed you only once, but just so you know, you've been my favorite flavor... so you might have to tame me before I go too reckless."
I swallow hard.We're really doing this...
First, he only teases me—his tongue dips into my mouth, skimming the very edge of mine.
It's warm and tastes of his mints, his sweet breath andhim.
I gasp into his mouth, instantly remembering our only kiss. I could eat from this man's mouth and never get full.
Ben seals his lips over mine and pushes his tongue all the way to the back of my throat, circling there, humming roughly, like he wants to echo through all my bones. And suddenly I'm fire, ready to burn this tent down.
"God, I missed you—" It slips before I can catch it.
He exhales and presses into me harder. "I missed you so fucking much, it's ripping me apart even though you're here now."
I can't believe he said that.
The words make me go feral, so I nip his lower lip roughly and prowl my tongue over his teeth.
He sucks my tongue into his mouth and lets out a sound that says permission granted to go full force.
And then he takes—takes until my toes curl, until I fist his shirt and claw at his chest, until the music pounds in sync with my pulse. He draws me deeper, snatching my breaths, the red lanterns above his head blurring, and I'm dizzy, high on him, butmad enough to not let go.
His hands slide down, thumbs digging into the soft bare space between my ribs, like he wants to carve a way inside.
Fabric rustles as he wrenches my top down and my breasts spill into his big hands, filling them completely.
He pauses, his mouth opening on a stunned breath. He's never seen me naked, not even during that one night we spent together because I didn't want to edge us on.
"Gorgeous. My hands were made for you." He runs his finger along the contours and kneads them like he owns every curve. Then rolls my nipple in between his fingers, firm enough that I whimper. "And you were made for me."
Ben leans closer, dragging his scruff over the swell of my breast, then right along my hardened nipple. The sensation makes me arch into the fire.
He clamps his mouth on me and starts sucking—gently first, then harder, relentless like he wants to milk my pulse out.
I'm just about to faint from the pleasure, my eyes rolling back when he stops. He prowls up, licking a hot path between my breasts, and up my throat. I shiver as he sucks on the delicate skin of my neck.
The things Ben can do with his mouth are criminal. I always had a feeling I'd go haywire if he touched me, body and mind stripped raw, and he's devouring me like he wants me like that—he wants the Emma under the mask.
So fuck it, a kiss won't cut it. My hand's already moving with one reckless thought: find him.
I do. He's rock solid, pulsing in my hand like he wants myfull attention. I stroke him and he throbs even more alive under my touch as Ben grunts.
"Emma, don't do that," he growls, his jaw tight. "Or I won't be a gentleman."
God, he's gorgeous. But I want to see him break.
