Page 108 of Crave Me

I grabbed a fistful of his ass, grinding rougher, harder, needing to chase the pleasure that being here with him again had sparked in me.

“Need you,” I was gasping then. “Skylar… Bastian… text them… need you all.”

I went to slip my hand down the front of his pants, wanting to touch him skin-to-skin and wrap my hand around his gorgeous cock.

But I didn’t get to make contact when he snagged my wrist, pulling me up short.

I stilled in surprise, my gaze snapping to his.

“It’s too soon,” he told me, panting with his need. Those enthralling hazel eyes of his were hooded too, slightly glazed. He wanted this, just as badly as me.

“If anything, it’s been way too long, Cas.”

His grip moved from my wrist to my hand and he stroked my fingers softly as he told me in that patient, understanding tone of his that he often used with Bastian when he was riled up, “I agree. However, you require time to readjust to being back here and to process what happened while you were gone. Getting physical so soon after—”

“I’ve been back for several days.”

“Yet you’ve barely been conscious in that time, giving you no time to process anything.”

I shook my head. “It’s fine. If I needed time to do that, I would do it. I would tell you. I don’t, though. I’m all good. In fact, I’m—”

“You’re great. I heard you.”

I narrowed my eyes. “You don’t believe me.”

“You haven’t had a chance to determine that either way, lovely.” He smiled softly and continued to gently stroke my fingers. “Just give it a little time.”

I jerked my hand away and stepped back. “This is bullshit.”

“Caleb, just—”

“You making this a big deal isn’t helping.”

“Neither is you pretending it’s not a big deal.”

“I’m not pretending with anything.”

“Then you’re in deep-seated denial.”

“The hell I am.”

“Listen, you’re back here and that’s what matters. The rest will come in time, naturally. When you’re really ready.”

“Cas—”

“I’m going to bring in Doctor Granger to assess you and—”

“No,” I ground out. “I told you that I don’t need it. He didn’t damage me, Caspian. Nobody has that kind of power over me.”

“Caleb, it’s not about power or—”

“It is and I have it. I maintained mine. Nothing has changed, nothing is broken.”

He grimaced. “I heard him. I heard Elijah call you his pet. I know what that entails with him.”

I shook my head vehemently, not wanting his words to compute. “It was nothing I couldn’t handle.”

“He’s touched you. He had his men torment you. Six women were slaughtered in front of you, yes? You were tortured during your time in captivity. Physically, emotionally, mentally, and sexually.”

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