Page 68 of Power of Shadow

Ash crosses her arms and stares ahead. She analyzes my words and my proposal. It annoys me that I can’t guess her thoughts. Suddenly, she bursts out laughing, and I raise my eyebrows.

“What’s so funny?”

She shakes her head before saying, “You. I don’t know if you think I’m naive or just stupid. We’re both predators, and we both know we won’t give up our prey willingly.”

Her confession brings a small smile to my face. “Try me. I’m willing to give you this kill.”

“Fuck you! I’m the best, and not because anyone gave me their kill. Don’t give me that courtesy.”

Ash’s chest rises and falls rhythmically. Her anger is exciting, and now I’m no longer just semi-hard. My pants are getting too tight with my full erection.

The lightning bolts in her eyes, her parted lips... fuck.

“Are you afraid you’ll fall off your high horse when my knife pierces his throat? Are you afraid you’ll fall to second place?” Pure provocation on my part.

“I should kill you here and now and be done with you,” she hisses at me, and I respond with an even bigger smile. I can’t stop grinning. “I should wipe that smile off your face with blood—”

I can’t stop myself from lunging. She’s unique. With every passing moment, I become more certain that she’s my person, sent to me and to my doom.

Before she can react or even finish her sentence, I lean over the console, grab her under the arms, and pull her toward me. A surprised squeal escapes her throat.

How I do this in such a small space, no one knows and no one will ever know. If I want something as much as I want her right now, nothing will stand in my way.

Ash’s knees instinctively spread and fall onto mine.

There’s no way she didn’t notice that I’m hard and ready.

Her breathing quickens even more. “What are you doing, Ryker?” she asks, her words barely audible.

“What I should have done the first day I saw you, my Little Killer.”

I lean toward her and catch her plump upper lip with my teeth. I feel her warm breath on my lips and close my eyes. My hands find her thighs and massage them up and down.

After a minute, my tongue replaces my teeth and I lick the bitten spot, rewarding it. Once, twice. And then I do exactly the same with her lower lip.

My right hand wanders to her neck, where I feel how silky her skin is. My thumb traces her skin, a caress I can’t pull away from, lost in the urge to keep touching her. Her eyelids flutter closed as she surrenders to the intoxicating whirlwind of sensations.

I place delicate kisses on her jaw before moving lower. The skin on her neck smells like watermelon. I trace patterns with my nose, unable to get enough of the scent, and when I run my tongue over her, the game’s over.

Squeezing my hand tighter on her hip, I tilt her head back at the same time. With greedy kisses, I lick and nibble her gently, causing her to let out a quiet moan.

“Ryker,” she gasps, placing her hands on my shoulders.

I don’t know if she wants to push me away or pull me closer, but does she even know herself?

My lips move down to her collarbone and cleavage. Now we’re both horny and breathing heavily. The moment I slide my tongue under the fabric of her shirt and bra, she moans louder and moves her hips. Her hot spot rubs against my cock, which is painfully erect.

“I need you inside me. Let’s do it just this once,” Ash pants, moving her hips faster and faster, seeking relief.

Jesus Christ. My feelings are divided, making it difficult to choose a single path. My desire is for all of her, an enduring bond, not just a fleeting moment. Her words betray her intentions more than she’d prefer.

It’s not that I don’t want to fuck her. I want to fuck her so badly. It’s just that once isn’t enough for me, and I want everything: her body, her thoughts and dreams, her heart, her devotion, and her future.

“We have to stop, Ash.” With a pained tone, I push her head away.

“What? Why?” Her eyelids flutter, and confusion clouds her eyes. “You don’t want to?”

My laugh is bitter and I shake my head. “There’s nothing else I want more right now, don’t get me wrong. Want you so fucking badly... but not yet and not here. When I take your clothes off for the first time, I’ll need at least a weekend in bed with you to take my mouth off you.”