Page 59 of His Bride

The anticipation is torture, palpable, and we’re both vibrating with a desire that’s a living thing coiling and writhing in the tiny space between our bodies.

His mouth opens a little, our eyes pinned on one another, and when his tongue brushes mine, shockwaves crash down my bones, and I suck in a breath, closing my eyes, expecting him to kiss me. To really kiss me. But he doesn’t, and I don’t want him to.

But I do.

Fuck!

Chapter 15

GIANA

It’s a train wreck waiting to happen. His lips against mine.

I know if he kisses me, I’ll be done for. I’ll lose every ounce of strength and defiance I have, submit to the pull that’s tearing me into shreds.

If I want to survive this, survive him, I need to fight my need for him with everything I’ve got.

With superhuman effort, I pull back and shove against his chest, darting past him, my body wired and set alight. I stalk across the room, and when I turn to face him again, I almost scream, almost cry, but end up laughing because this man pushes me to the brink of insanity.

“There isn’t a bigger asshole than you in this entire goddamn world, Caelian.”

“Flattery will get you everywhere.”

“Stop playing these games.”

“Who said I’m playing?”

“I do. This does.” I sweep a hand around the private room, and then I glare. “I did what you asked. I came here, sent my men out, and now you’re…” I place a palm on my forehead, flushed and breathless, “and now you’re…doing this. Jesus.”

There’s a beat, a thickening to the tension in the room and I dart by him to the door, but he’s faster, blocking my way as he leans against it, folding his arms, his expression one of cockiness, but he watches me, hawk-like.

“You want to kiss me.”

I lift a brow. “You have a problem, Caelian.”

“You’re wet, aren’t you?”

I shake my head. “Stop.”

He moves in and wraps an arm around me, making all my senses go haywire.

“No,” I protest, but he only tightens his hold around my waist.

“That sounded like a moan.” His voice is liquid velvet, dark, seductive, and it flows through me.

I tip my head back, and he kisses my throat, right on my wild and pounding pulse point. “It sounded like a no.”

“It feels,” he says, sucking on the spot, “like a yes.”

“Sign the papers.”

“I changed my mind,” he breathes against the hollow below my throat, and I crane my neck as he moves back up, then bites, and my clit’s hit by a bolt of pure electric lust.

God, I can’t do this. Not with him.

I wiggle free and step back, gasping.

He lifts a brow. “You want me.”

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