Page 53 of The Duke and the Temporary Bride

“Say what?” he hissed, leaning in, his face inches away from hers.

She held his gaze, their faces so close that their noses were touching. “I will not do your dirty work for you.” A cold, dismissive look and she scoffed again as she stepped around him. “If you cannot say it, then you do not deserve it, and there is no need for me to be here.”

Selina started to walk away. But Benedict was not done yet.

He knew what she was speaking of—this friendship, its failure. They could not be friends, for they wanted one another on a carnal level. Even now, he wished to tear off her clothes and devour her like the animal she thought he was.

More than once, he had wanted to broach the subject, but… well, she had used the word ‘coward’ aptly enough.

He could not say it. Not yet. What he could do, however, was show her.

“Where do you think you are going!” He reached out and grabbed her by the arm.

She spun back, gasping with feigned shock as she looked from his hand around her arm to his face. Her eyes lit up, and he could see the hunger behind them. “Let me go.”

“You are not going anywhere. Not until I am done with you.”

“Is that right?” She licked her lips and looked him right in the eyes. “What are you going to do about it?”

There was no doubt now as to what Selina wanted from him—what this entire fight had been about. They had tried being friends. They had tried being civil, ignoring the reality that had existed between them since that first night in the hallway, when she had confronted him.

They had tried everything, and it had led them to this.

Benedict, no longer hesitant, no longer worried about the future and what this might mean, finally acted as he should have days ago, and every day since. He growled once, pulled Selina to him with all his might, and kissed her on the lips as if his life depended on it.

And unsurprisingly, she kissed him right back.

Selina had seen this coming—heck, she hadmadeit happen. Still, she was surprisingly unprepared for just how explosive their fight and the kiss that followed were.

Their lips locked as Benedict pressed her against his heaving body. His hand was still around her arm, holding her there, as his other giant paw cupped her chin. Their lips parted as their tongues dove into each other’s mouths, exploring and searching and licking and lapping with untamed desire.

Selina pawed and clawed at his shirt. It was damp from the spring, but his body ran hot underneath. As they kissed, she tore it open and pressed herself against his chest. Her hands then quickly moved to his hair and tugged on it.

He licked into her mouth. He nibbled on her lips. He growled as she leaned away, snapping and snarling and then pulling her face back to his.

His hands released her and then cupped her rear. He lifted her effortlessly, and she instinctively wrapped her legs around his waist. He held her aloft as they continued kissing, moans of pleasure escaping their mouths as they broke apart for air.

“This is what you wanted,” he growled as he kissed down her neck. Each wet kiss sent a shiver through her body.

“No. This is whatyouwanted,” she countered, pulling on his hair as she threw her head back, giving him more access to her neck.

He chuckled deeply as he carried her to the bed and dropped her on it. His large frame pressed her down into the mattress, smothering her so that she could hardly breathe. But then he propped himself up on his knees, pulling back for long enough to gaze down at her quivering body.

His eyes… the way he admired her… she had never felt so desired. He drank her in like she was an elixir—licking his lips, gaping and gawking, almost unwilling to tear his eyes away, as if that might break the spell.

“Well?” she prompted. “Do you want me or not?”

His eyes flashed with anger, and he reached down, grabbed hold of her chemise, and tore it open. Her breasts spilled out, and he swept down, taking them in his massive hands. His lips closed around her nipples, and he sucked and nibbled in a way that was almost painful… had it not been so pleasurable.

On her back, Selina kept her legs wrapped around him as he continued to lick and suck on her heaving breasts. He was like an animal, the way he attacked them, unable to control himself and unwilling to.

Her hands moved under his shirt, and she ran her nails down his back, which had him moaning in delight.

“Careful,” he growled as he pulled back.

“What?” she challenged him, relishing the way he attempted to look upon her warningly. “I thought you a beast?”

“I have not even started yet.”

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