Page 40 of These Deadly Vows

He slides a palm between the apex of my thighs. “I’ve changed my mind. I’m going to fuck you and I don’t want to look at you and see that pity that rests in the depths of your eyes. This is better for both of us if you hate me.”

“You mean it lessens the guilt you feel toward Victoria?”

“Don’t say her name.” He squeezes my mouth hard, and I dig my nails into his forearm deep enough to break the skin.

“Why? Because she died and you’re alive and are too damn chicken to end your own suffering.”

“Suicide would be too easy. The real hell. My suffering comes in living a life without her. Now take off your goddamned pants, Adeline.”

“Or what, you’ll rape me again? I don’t think so. If you’re going to fuck me, the least you can do is be man enough to look me in the eye when you do it.”

Ghost shoves his hand down the front of my pants and jerks me into his hard body. I go up on the tips of my toes, determined to make him kiss me. To force him to experience emotions other than anger and self-loathing. I stare up at him, seeing that storm raging in his eyes. The way he wars with himself. Beneath all that hostility is a man who longs to end his own suffering. He punishes himself. Doesn’t believe he deserves any good. I respect that loyalty. It’s been engrained in me. But I also hate him for it because I know no man will ever love me the way he continues to love her.

His hot breath blows across my lips as he leans down and takes my face in his hands. He wants to kiss me. The tension crackles between us as he holds my gaze, moving in closer. So close that mere millimeters separate our mouths. I can taste his liquor tainted breath.

My pulse drums in my throat as my heart beats erratically. Electricity buzzes between us. Our mouths drawing toward one another like magnets. Just when I think he’ll give in, he grazes the corner of my mouth with his lips and moves down my neck, nipping and sucking, teasing me with his tongue that I long to feel in my mouth again.

“Take off your pants, Adeline.” He tugs at the waist of them, seeking a button or the zipper.

“They zip in the back,” I tell him as his hands fumble around my ass.

My pants fall to my ankles, and I kick off my shoes and step out of the wide legged fabric.

Ghost lifts me so that my ass rests on the ledge of the balcony wall. My back hits the railing as I circle my legs around his waist, knowing he could easily throw me over the edge. I hook my arms around his neck as he takes out his cock and strokes the length.

His eyes practically glow with fire as he stares at me with such intensity I may combust.

In one fluid moment, he has the crotch of my undies pulled aside and his dick in me.

“Fuck you’re tight, princess.” He groans into my neck as he thrusts. My ass cheeks rub against the cement wall, chafing my skin.

It’s a beautiful burn.

A beautiful ache as my body stretches to accommodate the intrusion.

This time is much better than the last.

“I’m going to split you in two.” His tongue darts out to wet his lips and I rock into him, moving with him, wishing if I kissed him, he’d kiss me back.

“And then what?” I gasp as he circles his hips and lifts me off the wall, still impaled by his cock. Those rough fingers dig into my ass with raw possession as he carries me to a chair.

Sitting with me on top, straddling him, anyone higher up than us in any of the surrounding buildings could see us, but I don’t think either of us care.

“Ride me,” he growls.

“Kiss me, Ghost.” I lean down, intent on having his mouth. “You’ve taken everything from me. If you want me to trust you. You’ve gotta give up something to me. Let go of that control. That pain. Give it to me. I can take it.”

“Stop talking, Adeline.” He grips my hips, controlling my movement as I grind against him.

I press my lips to his, soft and sure. He doesn’t push me away, but he doesn’t kiss me back. And I don’t know why when it shouldn’t, but the rejection cracks my heart further in two. He’s splitting me apart, just not in the way he thought.

I want to continue to hate him.

Except he exposed himself to me. He can’t hide from me, and I think that scares him. The fear of falling and having anyone else ripped away from him. Being responsible for someone else with the power to hurt you again.

I scare this big bad biker.

I saw that tenderness below that hard surface when he first kidnapped me. I see it now as he thrusts inside me.

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