Page 70 of Diamond In The Rough

“So fucking tight.” He slips a hand under my back and around to the column of my neck, then pulling me up, he slams his lips to mine, seducing my tongue, and rocks against me so our friction becomes a fire in my blood. “So good, Tiia.”

I drop my head back, my long hair dangling to the counter and my arms bracing me. I lock my elbows, because without their support, I’d collapse backward.

“So fucking good.”

13

MICAH

WATERBOARDING THE INNOCENT

Shadows fill the room I wake in—the room I discovered after carrying Tiia through her apartment in search of somewhere horizontal to lie. Fluttering curtains sway in the windows, New York City intensity illuminating the space, and a soft breeze flittering in to touch our skin.

Barely.

It’s hot as Hades still, summer clinging to this city the way Lucifer grabs on to innocent women and makes them suffer.

Tiia’s skin prickles with sweat, her back just slick enough to signal she’s hot, but not so much that she actively perspires.

She snoozes on her belly, using her arms as her pillow; her soft breath, my lullaby.

Bad fucking move on my part.

And yet, I’m not ready to leave.

“Stop staring at me.” Her voice comes out on a sleepy mumble, her words muffled because her forearm smooshes her cheek. “You’re being weird about it.”

“I’m just looking at you.” I rest on my side, my palm cupping my jaw, and my free hand, running a light trail along the valley of her spine. “I’m allowed to look at you.”

“False.” She slurps to keep from dribbling. The least elegant sound I’ve ever heard come from a woman in my entire life. Still, I smile. “You aren’t allowed to look at me. In fact, you’re not supposed to be here.”

“I’m looking because it’s too bright in here to sleep. And you’d miss me if I left. Don’t pretend otherwise.”

She snickers, quiet and breathy and not at all with me. “I reckon I’d like the chance to try. You muscled your way into my apartment.”

“To apologize.”

“To get laid.” Slowly, she flickers her eyes open and searches for me. “You wanted sex.”

“I wanted to tell you I was sorry for the way I’ve treated you.” Carefully, I lean over her delicate body and press a kiss to her shoulder blade. “I’ve been unkind to you.”

“Yes, you have.”

“And the other night when I threatened you…”

“Not okay.”

“No.” I inch closer and take her lips with mine. Just a small taste. A quick pass. “So I wanted to apologize for that, too. It wasn’t acceptable.”

She allows silence to hang for a long moment. For our mingling breath to be all we hear, and her pouty lips, all I see.

“Tiia?”

“I held a knife to your dick.” Her entire body vibrates with soft laughter. “I won’t apologize for that.”

“No?” I drop my hand to my cock and remember how close I came to leaving here a eunuch. “You think that was okay? A solid foundation for who we may someday become?”

“I consider it a fair warning.” Turning over, she moves to her back and smiles up at me. So beautiful in her bed. So tempting, always. “You know my boundary now. Should you wish to step on it in the future…”

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