Page 178 of My Rules

“Can wait.” He takes my hand and pulls me up the stairs, and I would love to tell you that I am fully in control right now.

But I’m not.

My body is on a one-way ticket to Grand Central Station, and if the wind blows, I might just come.

With his eyes locked on mine, he grabs the bottom of my shirt and lifts it over my head, then puts his hands beneath the waistband of my pants and slides them down, and I step out of them. He throws them to the side, and I find myself standing before him in nothing but my underwear. Blake is still fully dressed in his suit. He circles me as if inspecting his meal; his dark eyes burn my skin as they roam up and down. “I’ve imagined seeing you naked again,” he breathes.

The sound of my nervous heartbeat echoes through my ears.

“You have?” I whisper.

“Many times.” He puts his finger under my chin and lifts my face so that his dark eyes meet mine. “But nothing could prepare me for how awestruck I would be.”

I swallow the lump of fear in my throat. “I think you’ve got it the wrong way around,” I whisper. “It’s me who’s awestruck.”

He turns me away from him, and my heart hammers as he undoes my bra.

Every one of my senses is on fire.

His lips dust the side of my neck as his hands cup my breasts from behind. Not the gentle touch I was expecting. His hands knead my breasts aggressively, and it sends a shockwave through my system. Goose bumps scatter all over.

He sure knows his way around a woman’s body. He puts his lips to my ear. “How does that feel?”

My breath quivers in excitement. “Good,” I murmur.

His teeth graze my neck, and my eyes nearly roll back in my head. “How do you feel?” he whispers before biting me again.

I try to focus enough to form a coherent sentence.

“I’m nervous, I’m excited, I’m petrified ... but in this moment, I am yours.”

His hands still, and I close my eyes. Why did I say that?

“You’ve always been mine,” he breathes into my ear. “From the first moment I met you, I knew we would end up here.” He kisses down my neck to my shoulder.

I frown in confusion as I stare at the wall. “I was married when you met me.”

I feel him smile against my skin. “Only so that he could bring you to me.”

Goose bumps scatter again, and I turn toward him. “You wanted me when I was married?”

“I’ve wanted you every day since I met you ... maybe even before that.”

My eyes hold his.

“And if things didn’t go to plan and he didn’t mess it up ...” He slides my panties down my legs. “I planned on stealing you from him.”

What?

“You would have taken me from him?” I frown.

“In a heartbeat.” He takes my face in his hands. “You were never really his.” He kisses me softly.

“What makes you say that?” I whisper against his lips.

“Because you were always promised to me.” Our kiss deepens. “You only married him so that you could find me.” He takes my face in his two hands as we kiss, and my eyes flutter closed. “I’ve been waiting for you,” he murmurs against my lips.

I feel my heart free-fall from my chest.

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