Page 75 of Swamp Kings 1

His finger slid along her chin and pushed her face up. “All your fears… belong to me now.” His thumb glided along her jaw, sending a shiver through her. “Do you know what I do with your fears, Doo-nie?”

She forced a headshake, and the bounce of her curls made her feel more childish.

“Icrushthem of course. Unless I determine they serve a good purpose.”

The sudden need to bury her face in his body had her shaking.

“I do pray you’ve never had your body worshipped.”

The term and unusual confession brought her gaze up as his fingers traced over her arms where they covered her breasts. “What… do you mean?”

“It means I intend to adore every inch of your perfect body with every fiber of my being. And the thought of another man tasting what is now mine, feeds my insanity.”

Oh God, how sweet. “I’m not… perfect,” she managed to force from her throat, praying her gifts were working for her and not against her. “I’m sure George had something to say about that in the dissolution paperwork.”

His touch stopped and panic flooded in when his hard gaze locked on hers.

“What did George say to you?”

The sudden cold edge to his tone brought visions of a maimed George across the screen of her mind. “George is… he’s very inexperienced.”

He pulled back, staring at her, stroking along her shoulders. “What. Did George. Say to you. This is no longer a question.”

“He just… I’m blowing it out of proportion.”

“Lyric.”

“That my boobs were very unique, which could mean a million amazing things.”

He took soft hold of her face now, staring at her mouth. “Yet you’re sure they meant the opposite. Why?”

She wanted to remove his hands, but she needed hers to hide the problem they were discussing.

“I will not force you to show me your breasts,” he announced with a matter-of-fact edge that didn’t help.

“That… technically wasn’t a threat but it kind of feels like one.”

“Do youwantme to force you?”

She covered herself even more, eyeing him, seriously considering the option. “Would be like ripping off a band-aid,” she reasoned quietly. “Present the two ugly stepchildren you’re getting stuck with and be done with it.”

He suddenly threw his head back with a big, booming laugh that startled her. She’d never heard him do that. Or seen it. And didn’t have a clue how exactly to feel about it. A myriad of reactions presented themselves, none of them sticking.

He finally stopped and pulled her mouth to his, kissing her with a hunger. “My Doo-nie, I won’t force such a thing. Unless you tell me to.”

“Tell you to what?”

“To force you.”

She eyed him, back to fighting panic.

“MyGod,” he suddenly laughed. “I’m going to find a way to kill George and get away with it,” he assured.

“You’re not helping!” she cried. “And the more of a big deal you make the harder this is getting!”

He put both hands on his chest with astonished chuckles. “Me?”

“I mean… making such a big deal toseethem.”

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