Page 44 of Dangerous Obsession

“You’re pretty easy on the eyes yourself.” He circled his arms around her waist. “I want you, Marigold. I have since the moment I met you.”

“Me, too.” Though she’d done her best to deny it, her attraction to him grew stronger the more time she spent with him.

Marigold took his hand, led him to the bed. She threw back the comforter, and it slid to the floor. She turned him so the back of his knees touched the mattress and pressed down on his shoulder to encourage him to sit.

Old insults and insinuations tried to worm their way into her psyche and threatened to derail her hard-earned confidence.

Viking must’ve sensed her imminent withdrawal.

“Marigold. Honey, look at me.” He took her hand and placed it on his chest, just above his heart. “Can you feel that?” She nodded. "My heart is racing, and you’re the only person who has that effect on me. You’re so brave and strong, and I’m never going to let you forget that.”

Those words, spoken with such a deep understanding of her past, cast away her momentary reluctance.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

“Come here.” He tugged her close, lifted her up, and turned to lay her on the bed.

Viking moved over her, his long legs on either side of hers, but he held most of his weight off of her.

“How ’bout if I go first.” One corner of his mouth lifted simultaneously with one mischievous brow.

“But—”

His mouth slammed down on hers, cutting off any feeble protest she might have uttered. Viking’s kiss was sensual and controlling, but in a good way, making her totally forget what she was going to say. He turned his head to deepen their kiss, and she knew her heart would forever belong to him. He broke their kiss, and their heavy breaths filled the darkened room.

Darkened room. It struck her then that, with the exception of a night-light, there were no other lights on, and she was okay. Not the small lamp on the side table in the hallway right outside her bedroom. Not the one over the vanity mirror in her bathroom. Not even the overhead light at the base of the stairs.

“You’re mine, Marigold Hartnett.” His hair hung down like a curtain shielding them from the world, and his hands framed her face on the pillow.

“And you’re mine, too, Golden Bailey.” This moment was too important for nicknames.

Their kiss was long, slow, and held more meaning than any other.

His lips moved to the front of her neck, where his tongue darted out and teased its way over one collarbone, then back over the other. He peppered languid kisses down the center of her chest, taking a brief detour to place a gentle kiss to the tip of each nipple.

Like a spark lit to dry tinder, Marigold’s body responded, and she couldn’t hold still. Unfamiliar sounds escaped from her throat, and her body writhed with need beneath him. And still, he continued his too-slow tortuous journey down her torso. He kissed one hipbone, the other, then settled himself between her legs. His broad shoulders opened her legs and exposed the most sensitive part of her body to him.

“So beautiful.” Viking didn’t give her time to be embarrassed or worried.

He lowered his head and put his mouth on her. He dragged his tongue from her pussy up and around and around her clitoris. Her hips lifted to his machinations, and she fisted her hands in the sheets. He inserted a finger into her vagina slowly, carefully, and emitted a deep groan against her before his mouth started working her again.

Over and over, he took her right to the edge, then he would slide his finger out and start all over again.

“Viking, please. I need—”

“I know, honey.” He added a second finger, drew them out, plunged them back in and wiggled them in some special, magical way, and she was a goner.

Her mouth opened on a silent cry, and her heels dug into the bed as her entire body clenched. Stars exploded behind her eyes, and she was blasted out into the galaxy. Nothing existed anywhere but her and Viking. She pressed herself against his mouth until gradually, she began to regain her senses. Her breathing was erratic, and she thought she might never walk again.

Viking crawled his way back up the bed and kissed her. She could taste herself on his lips and was surprised she wasn’t turned off by it. Quite the contrary. She felt her desire and need ramping back up.

“My turn.” He levered up to his knees and wrapped his fingers around his penis. He pumped it up and down, and a drop of liquid glistened at the tip.

She licked her lips and started to reach for him.

“Maybe later.” Viking kissed her fingertips and flattened her hand on the mattress next to them.

He lowered his body to hers and dragged his penis up and down her labia before settling the tip at her opening. “I want to be looking in your eyes the first time we make love.”

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