His gaze softens as he takes in my face. He sees so much without me saying a word. He leans over and threads his fingers into my hair. “One day soon, you are going to be free to follow your dreams, Cleo. I promise you this.”
My eyes flutter closed. He kisses the lids, and a tear escapes down my cheek. “Hope is a dangerous thing,” I whisper.
He leans his forehead against mine. “I know you don’t believe me, but you need to give me time to prove it to you.”
“I’m already on borrowed time here, Fox.”
His gaze hardens as he studies the resolve on my face. He leans his body against the tree, then picks me up by my hips and drops me between his legs, with my back against his chest.
I tilt my head to stare at him. He retrieves something from the backpack and places it in my lap.
“Read,” he demands.
I glance at the book he’s brought. Fucking hell. It’s my current read—the one he’s already finished.
“Why? You know what happens.”
“I’m not interested in what’s happening in the book. I’m interested in your response.”
I sigh and drag my knees up to balance the book as I turn to where my bookmark is. My eyes trace the words, and I know this is going to be a spicy chapter. I lick my lips as I turn the page.
Fox’s hand reaches out and he turns the page back.
“What are you doing?” I snap.
“Read it out loud.”
“This was embarrassing in high school, and it’s even worse now,” I mutter.
His chest shakes behind me, but he doesn’t remove his hand from the book. I sigh and begin reading. Fox unhurriedlyunbuttons my dress, his deft fingers sliding from one button to the next. I’d left the bra off after leaving the lake, so my nipples pebble as soon as the air hits them. I squeeze my thighs together as I continue reading, determined to not show him how he affects me.
Oh… oh shit. This isthechapter.
“Keep going,” he rumbles as he tugs on the ties at the side of my bikini bottoms. I keep my legs glued together as I read. He kisses below my ear before skimming down my throat. My breathing stutters, and he stops touching me.
“Keep reading, firecracker,” he demands. There’s a deep tone in his voice, one that’s dominant, dark, seductive, and a little dangerous. It melts my insides and lights a fire within my soul I’d long thought dead. Fox makes me feel beautiful, desirable, free, and a little wild.
I drag my bottom lip between my teeth as I turn the page and continue describing how the hero dominates and controls the heroine all in the name of giving her what she needs. He lights up her world and lifts the veil on what makes her hot.
“Open your legs, Cleo,” he whispers in my ear as he trails his hands up my thighs.
Like the woman in this book, I need to trust him to keep me safe as he leads me down a dark path. My legs part, and he lifts them to hook over his knees. My ass slides down, tilting my bare sex to the sky. His hard cock is like a brand on the base of my spine. I have so many questions about those piercings, but to ask them means I’m considering letting him into my body. I’m not there—yet.
Fox traces seemingly mindless patterns over the delicate flesh of my inner thighs, making me squirm. I will him to go higher as I throb with need. The guy in the book grabs the woman’s throat in a dominant move, and Fox’s hand circles myneck. He doesn’t squeeze, just lets me know he’s there. I freeze. Do I like this? My core clenches in reply.Fuck.
“Remember—anytime you say stop, I will.” His fingers twitch around my throat. “Words, firecracker.”
“I understand.”
“Good girl. Now keep reading.”
His fingers squeeze, making my pulse spike and heat pool between my legs. “Fox,” I rasp as I arch my spine and silently beg him to touch me where I need him most. “Please.”
“Patience. I haven’t had the opportunity to savor you yet. Last night was driven by need and this morning by fear of being caught.” I grind my ass against his hard cock, making him chuckle. “You want to play dirty?”
I tilt my head back and stare at his whiskey-warm gaze. “Always.”
His fingers grip my chin, and he looks into my eyes as he finally touches my clit. I suck in a breath, and he drops a kiss on my lips as he swipes through my arousal.
