Page 40 of Beautiful Dark Temptation

So beautiful.

And then he kissedme. It was a feral, angry kiss as if he were proving to me the typeof monster that consumed him. For a moment, my brain spazzed out.What was I doing kissing the enemy? I didn’t even care that he wasa dude, I cared that he was insane. An asshole. But as he sucked,bit, and licked into my mouth, I didn’t care. I wanted to know howit felt when I had a choice. Did I have a choice? Would Kieran stopif I told him to? Was this real? My world spun and I couldn’tbreathe. Memories circled my head, dark memories I’d hidden behindmy heart. I shoved him away and we broke contact. Confused, hemoved away from me. Gave me space. And I felt so cold, I wanted himback. But I had to know. I had to know that he wouldn’t forceme.

Fuck!

“I need … I need to know that you’ll stop,”I said, revealing more than I ever wanted anyone to know.

Realizing my words, he took another stepback. The lust turned to something dangerous for a second, beforehe’d managed to wipe out all expression from his face. I hatedit.

“Who hurt you?” His voice like iron stakesdriven through steel. As if he wanted to hurt whoever had hurtme.

I shook my head. The memories I had buriedhad to stay locked up. I didn’t want to release them. I couldn’t.“No one. I just …” I started to move away, but I stumbled. My bodyshaking uncontrollably. I couldn’t make it stop. Why had I letthose memories invade what could’ve been good. Why? I felt tearssting my eyes. I wouldn’t cry. But when Kieran wrapped his armsaround me and drew me into the safety of his embrace, they fellanyway. “I’m sorry,” I whispered into the crook of his neck.

“I’d never force my touch on you if I didn’tknowyouwanted it. Andyouwant it.”

I did. I fucking did. I didn’t realize I wasnodding into his neck. “I don’t even know who you are. Why wouldyou…”Want me. Protect me. I didn’t know. But the words gotstuck in my throat.

“Why would I what?” he asked, cupping myface. He stood so close I could see the bursts of lighter greens inhis eyes.

“Want me?” His eyes widened and well, hell,I probably read everything wrong and he didn’t want me.

“Oh, my beautiful dark temptation.” The softtouch as he ran his fingers possessively down my cheek contradictedwith the anger in his voice. “It’s not that I want you. It’s thatyou aremine.” I felt his warm lips on my nose. Another kisson my eyelid, tasting my tears. “I’m going to brand you with mymark.” A gentle kiss at the edge of my mouth. “And if anyone,anyone, touches what is mine, I will end them.”

Shit. I was in so much trouble. And I didn’tparticularly care. I wanted to be protected. I wanted to believethat he would keep me safe. I had no one else. He took my hand andled me out of the woods. We didn’t encounter anyone during our walkand my head felt all kinds of fuzzy. My body hot despite the cooltemperatures.

The house was empty with everyone still atthe party. It’s when I realized his bedroom and my bedroom were theonly ones on the east side of the floor. Seemed relevant under thecircumstances. He took me to my bedroom. It wasn’t as clean as his.He gave it a quick scan as I unzipped my leather and shrugged itoff. I didn’t have anything underneath. Kieran took a step away andwatched me. I felt as if I was giving him a sexy show. Like poledancers, but I didn’t have a pole. I wish I was giving him a sexyshow, but I was probably giving him a not sexy show because Ididn’t know how to be sexy. And why would I want to be sexy withhim? I hated him. He tried to kill me. Made me piss myself. Notfucking right. But nothing made sense. I didn’t want to make senseof it.

I dropped the leather and started undoing mypants. I was burning inside and out. “I’m hot.” I couldn’t seeKieran anymore. I saw a general shape of someone, but I wanted tosee his face. No, I didn’t want to see his face. I imagined that hewas someone else and I was someone else. I giggled. “I’m Cat Noir,”I shoved my pants down. I had gone bare so as not to show any linesand my dick sprung free. Just bobbled in front of me. I thoughtabout what Dasher said about the ladies wanting to know the size ofmy dick. “Do you think I have a nice dick? Is it a decent size?” Ilooked up just in time for him to slam his mouth against mine.Another feral kiss as if he were angry with the world and wastaking it out on my lips. I didn’t know a kiss could be so brutaland hot at the same time. I followed his lead, tearing at hisclothes. I wanted to feel skin. All of his skin. He stopped me whenI went for his pants.

“Wait.” He swore and leaned his foreheadagainst mine, cupping my face. “I need a minute.”

He released a relieved exhale and kissed mefor a long time. Then he pulled away, ordered me on the bed, toldme he’d be back, and he walked out. I kicked out of my leatherpants. It took some effort, and I swore never to wear anything sotight again. I did as he said and waited on my bed, naked, staringat the ceiling and closed my eyes.

Chapter Nineteen

Kieran

This was happening. Happening! I had to calmdown. I slipped into the bathroom, cleaned up, took my insulin,cleaned up again, and with lube and condom in hand, went back intohis room to find him asleep.

Well, that’s a first. I almost startedlaughing.

I watched him, wondering things I shouldn’twonder. His lips parted slightly, his long lashes splashed on hischeeks. The guy was beautiful. Simple. Not my type. Come to thinkof it, I had no clue what my type even was. I’d never been with aman. And I couldn’t deny my attraction to him. Not the way my bodyreacted to his nearness. I shouldn’t have let it get this far. Iconsidered leaving, but I wanted this so damn bad. For this moment,I didn’t have to bethisKieran. I could be anyone. Anillusion I made of myself to indulge in what I’d wanted most. Fuckit. I slipped under the covers with him. He stirred, and turned tome, seeking my warmth. Seeking me. I’d never allowed myself thiswith anyone. Sure, I could have hooked up with a stranger, but therisk had always outweighed the need.

Not this time.

Every touchpoint sent heat rushing throughme. I hadn’t realized how much bigger than me he was until thatmoment.

I stood an average five-ten, while he stoodat least six feet. He wasn’t as ripped as me. He was tall and lean.His firm definition came from his hyperactivities, not weighttraining. I’d never been with a guy. I’d used toys before,wondering if I’d feel emasculated if I bottomed, but nope. Theprostate orgasm that had torn through me when I used a butt plugvibrator had been the best I’d had. Which was pathetic consideringI’d been alone. Now with him, I wanted to try. Though it wasprobably the worst idea I’d ever had, I wanted this so damn bad. Tojust try. One time.

But I wasn’t an asshole to take advantage ofhim like this. I put my alarm to wake me up in an hour before theguys came home so I could slip into my bedroom unnoticed. And thenI closed my eyes.

It felt like seconds drifted by when Iopened them. The morning sun seeped between the thick drapes.Morning. Shit. It took me a panicked second to realize I wasn’t inmy own room, my bed, and I wasn’t alone. Last night came rushingback.

Tomás. Me. In a bed. Naked.

Sometime during the night, we shifted, andhe was now behind me, spooning me. His arm around my waist.

I shifted slightly and felt his dickprodding my ass. I froze.

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