Boom. Boom. Boom.
My heart pounds loudly in my ears, the air swirls between us, and I can feel the rise of my arousal coursing through my veins as his arms tighten around the curvature of my body.
“Mads.” His voice breaks. He must see something in my expressions, something he’s been waiting for. “Tell me it’s fucking over.” The deep bravado of his voice purrs in my ear, lighting up every nerve ending in my body with excitement.
One hand lifts to cup his cheek. “No.” I allow my resolve to fade and finally give in to my fate, leaning in closer, and I smash my lips to his. “But I’ll show you.”
When my words hit him, about one second later, he pushes any control I had away and dominates everything about our kiss, effortlessly sliding his tongue through my parted lips.
He grabs my ponytail, maneuvering my head to the side, just hard enough to make me gasp, and he swallows the sound greedily, deepening the kiss.
The collision of our tongues steals my breath away with each swirl, while my ravenous side takes over, and I’m transported back to all the feelings Nate elicits from me.
Desire, passion, excitement,love.
I press myself against him, molding my body to his, as if to erase any trace of space that had dared to exist between us before. Scraping my nails down his back, desperate for him, gripping, pulling, urging him closer as our kiss turns reckless.
He bites down, then his plump lips suction mine, carefully pulling back. We’re both breathing heavy, eyes locked, like neither of us can believe it.
Finally reunited, I realize that the kiss wasn’t about love and tenderness; it was Nate claiming what’s his.
It was all about possession.
The kind of kiss that saidI’m sorry.I’ve missed you. I need you. I’m yours.
22
Maddie
“Nate.”My breath is ragged, while panic claws at my ribs. The weight of what we’ve just done begins to settle, while my forehead drops against his shoulder. “Get me out of here right now. Or I’m going to have a panic attack.”
“What?” he asks, confused.
“I mean it. I can’t even look to see who’s watching.” My voice breaks, and that has him snapping into action. He throws his arm around my midsection and quickly steers us far away from the guests.
When we’re alone, my knees buckle, but Nate’s there to catch me.
Deep breaths, in and out, I remind myself.
“You’re okay, babe.” He rubs my back. “I’m sorry.”
I stand slowly so I don’t get dizzy. “Why are you sorry?”
“I should have known better. I didn’t even think, and I know you better than that.”
I roll my eyes. “Don’t take the blame because I’m an idiot. I had an out-of-body experience and attacked you on the dance floor.”
His smirk is immediate, loving the thought. “It was pretty fucking hot.”
“Nate,” I drawl.
He prowls closer, backing me into the wall, pinning my arms above my head. He leans down and presses his lips against every little goose bump peppered over my skin.
“Madeline,” he mocks.
“Don’t try to distract me.” My breath picks up as his tongue peeks out. “I need to go home.”
“Not a chance. Not when you’re wearing this sexy-as-sin outfit.” His lips are by my ear, his breath hot against my skin. “Selene.” My mouth opens, but he cuts me off. “Selene, the Greek moon goddess. I thought for a moment you were Luna, the Roman moon goddess, but no, she had a wilder edge. Selene was romantic and hauntingly beautiful. She’s a classic. Like you.”
