Page 92 of Knot the One They Want

I'm more than happy to oblige.

I lift Evie onto the kitchen counter, her legs wrapping around my waist as our lips meet again. The cool marble contrasts with the heat radiating between us. My hands roam her back, tracing the curve of her spine through the thin fabric of her shirt. Every touch, every breath feels electric.

Evie's fingers tangle in my hair, tugging gently. A low growl escapes me, primal and possessive. She shivers in response, pressing closer.

"Damien," she whispers against my lips, my name a prayer and a plea all at once.

I pull back slightly, drinking in the sight of her. Cheeks flushed, lips swollen, eyes dark with desire. She's breathtaking, and the knowledge that she wants me—despite everything—leaves me humbled and awed.

"I've been such a fucking idiot," I murmur, tracing the line of her jaw with my thumb.

Evie captures my hand, pressing a kiss to my palm. "We have time now. To get it right."

The simple acceptance in her words nearly undoes me. I've spent so long pushing her away. But here she is, offering me a second chance I never thought I'd have.

My lips find Evie's again, hungry and insistent. She matches my passion, her fingers digging into my shoulders as she pulls me closer. The scent of her arousal fills the air, sweet and intoxicating. My inner alpha roars to life, demanding I claim what's mine.

I trail kisses along her jaw, down the column of her throat. Evie tilts her head, offering better access. A whimper escapes her as I nip at her pulse point, right where my mark should be.

A mistake I intend to fix here and now.

"Damien," she breathes, her voice husky with need. "Please..."

The sound of my name on her lips nearly shatters my control. I pull back, meeting her gaze. Her eyes are dark, pupils wide. A flush spreads across her cheeks, down her neck, disappearing beneath the neckline of her robe.

"Tell me what you want, sweetheart," I murmur, my hands skimming her sides. "I need to hear you say it."

Evie's teeth catch her bottom lip, a hint of shyness creeping into her expression. It's endearing, considering our current position. But I need her to be sure. To know without a doubt that this is what she wants.

"I want you," she says softly, her fingers tracing patterns on my chest. "All of you."

The words send a jolt of electricity through me. I capture her lips again, pouring every ounce of longing and desire I've been holding back into the kiss. Evie responds eagerly, her legs tightening around my waist.

My hands find the hem of her shirt, slipping underneath to caress the soft skin of her back. Evie arches into my touch, a soft moan escaping her. The sound goes straight to my groin, my already hard cock straining against the confines of my pants.

"Evie," I growl, breaking the kiss to look into her eyes. "If we don't stop now, I won't be able to hold back. Are you sure this is what you want?"

Her gaze is steady, unwavering as she meets mine. "I'm sure, Damien. I want this. I want you."

The last threads of my restraint snap. I lift her off the counter, her legs still wrapped around me. Evie gasps, her arms tightening around my neck as I carry her toward the living room. I don't think I have the restraint to make it upstairs, and the others' questions might delay things further.

I eye the huge fur rug in the middle of the floor, right by the warm glow of the fireplace, and decide it'll have to do. As long as Evie doesn't complain about it not being a proper nest, but the moment I lay her gently across the rug, her fingers tangle in my hair and she brings her lips to mine once more, so I don't think she minds.

I guide her head gently back against the plush fur rug, her hair fanning out around her like a halo. The firelight casts a warm glow on her skin, making her look ethereal. For a moment,I'm struck speechless by her beauty, wondering how I ever resisted this.

"Damien?" Evie's voice, soft and questioning, breaks me from my reverie.

I lean down, capturing her lips in a tender kiss. "You're breathtaking," I murmur against her mouth.

Her hands come up to frame my face, her touch impossibly gentle. "So are you," she whispers back, her eyes shining with an emotion I hardly dare name.

We kiss again, slower this time, savoring each other. My hands roam her body, memorizing every curve, every dip. Evie arches into my touch, soft sighs and mewls escaping her.

I pull back slightly, my fingers finding the sash of Evie's robe. Our eyes lock, and I pause, silently asking permission. She nods, a soft smile playing at her lips.

With reverent care, I untie the sash, letting it fall open. My breath catches as I slowly part the fabric, revealing smooth skin underneath. Evie shivers, but not from cold. The fire beside us bathes her in warmth, casting a golden glow across her form.

"So beautiful," I murmur, drinking in the sight of her.

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