Page 165 of Master of My Heart

“Did you really want me to?”

“No,” she said, almost in a whisper. “I didn’t. Well, I thought I did... I was just afraid.”

“I know you were.”

“You did?”

Chase stopped and tipped her head up with his finger. “Yes. I know you struggle with accepting who you are. But I want you to know that I believe you are not bad. Who you are, what you are, it’s good. Very good.”

Her gaze moved to the side and she bit her lip.

“Sabrina...”

She looked up, eyes wide, and released her lip. He swallowed hard and couldn’t resist leaning down and pressing his lips to hers. She melted against him, wrapping her arms around his neck as he probed her lips with his tongue. When she parted them, he tasted honey and felt like he was flying on a cloud of happiness. He slid his hands around her waist and pulled her to him.

The earth seemed to spin as he kissed her on that riverbank. He never wanted to stop tasting her, inhaling her scent, feeling her strong and supple body against his. She moaned softly and pressed herself harder against him. Her one hand trailed down his chest and stomach. It would be so tempting to let her go farther, but he couldn’t. He grabbed hold of her wrist and reluctantly pulled it away. He sucked in a deep, cooling breath and looked down at her delicious, swollen lips.

“We can’t,” he said, his voice hoarse.

She closed her eyes and pressed her lips together for a moment before turning and walking away a few steps.

*****

Sabrina walked to stare over the dark body of water. She wrapped her arms around herself and tried to suppress a shiver. It wasn’t from the cold. It was from her desire for Chase. She’d never wanted anyone like she wanted him. Her whole body coursed with fiery need. She understood why he said no, but it didn’t help how she felt. She felt like a knotted ribbon. Most of the time, she kept busy and could push aside the thoughts and feelings that threatened to drive her insane. But the longer she tried to push them aside, the harder it got.

She wanted to be strong for Chase. She knew men needed sex as much as she did. If he could do it, she could. But it was so hard.

Swallowing, she hung her head, feeling defeated.

She heard footsteps and felt Chase’s warmth at her back. He didn’t touch her, though. “What’s wrong?” he asked.

She shook her head, not wanting to admit her weakness to him.

He stepped around to face her. He tilted his head and took her hand. His touch helped and made it harder at the same time. “Sabrina, how long has it been since you’ve had sex?”

She closed her eyes, which had filled with tears. “I should be able to control myself,” she whispered. “Like you are.”

He squeezed her hand. “How long?”

“When I was kidnapped.”

“That doesn’t count.”

Humiliation filled her and her shoulders slumped. “I told you I liked some of it.” The tears escaped, hot and full of shame. Shame for who she was and what she liked. “I should go—”

“No. You’re not running away this time.” He held her hand tightly and she looked up at him through tear-filled eyes.

“I’m twisted, Chase. I’m not normal. How can you want to be with someone like me?”

“What’s normal?”

She opened her mouth to speak, but didn’t have an answer to his question.

“Sabrina, you were tortured and abused for years and they played with your mind terribly. You’re not fully human. Most of you is Immortal, which are some of the kinkiest, sexually active beings in all of existence. How can you expect to not have unusual desires?”

“Aren’t they, those desires, wrong?”

“Who’s to say what’s wrong in a relationship? Sex is meant to be an enjoyable experience between people. Different people enjoy different things. As long as both people enjoy what’s going on, who cares if your neighbor doesn’t approve?”

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