Page 49 of Ruthless Moon

Gen’s fingers lift to graze my cheek, the whisper-soft touch burning like the most exquisite flame.

I close my eyes, surrendering to the intoxicating pleasure that radiates from her touch, letting it wash over me in warm waves.

“I thought I’d lost you.” Her breathy whisper tugs at my soul.

With a sigh, I press my face into her palm, pressing a kiss into the softness of her skin. “Never,” I say, breathing the word against her palm. It’s a lie, but one I want to believe in this stolen moment of tranquility.

“You shouldn’t be here.” Her timbre is tinged with a strange mix of longing and sorrow, but her eyes speak a different language, a language brimming with desire and wistful yearning.

Her gaze drifts to my lips, lingering for a moment before flitting back to mine. It’s a silent plea, an invitation that reverberates through every fiber of my being.

As if pulled by an invisible force, my hand lifts to cup her face, guiding her closer until our lips meet in a heated kiss.

Her arms wind around my neck, pulling me closer, while my own arms snake around her waist, granting her wish by eliminating every inch of space between our bodies.

Her taste is intoxicating, a heady blend of sweetness and warmth that leaves me craving more. I trace the soft skin of her neck, my tongue exploring each delicate curve, relishing in the soft gasps she emits.

“We don’t have long before the moon rises.” Her fingers tangle in my hair and tug gently, coaxing me toward the back door of the cabin.

“We shouldn’t do this. We agreed,” I mutter against her skin, even as my hands tighten around her waist, unwilling to let her go.

“Why are you here? Why didn’t you stay in the trees with your brothers?”

The confession tumbles from my lips before I can reel it in. “Because I need to touch you.”

“Then touch me. We can’t bond, but you can touch me and I can touch you. And then you’ll leave and my life will move forward without you. But I’ll always have these three days with you, Liam. Please.” Her desperation and her words are a punch to my gut.

I know I’m being selfish, but the allure of stolen moments with her is too tantalizing to resist.

I’m damned either way.

Bound to watch her bond with another male. Bound to walk away and leave her in the arms of my cousin. Bound by the chains of duty and integrity.

Fucking responsibility.

Fucking integrity.

Defying every thought screaming for restraint, I sweep her off the ground, cradling her close as I stride into the cabin.

The worn wooden floor creaks under our combined weight as I make a beeline for the bed. Gently, I lay her down on the colorful quilt.

In this quiet space, with nothing but our shared heartbeats echoing around us, I experience a twisted mixture of pleasure and pain. Pleasure in knowing that I get these stolen moments with her, and pain in knowing they’re all I’ll ever have.

Chapter Seventeen

More Than a Kiss

IMOGEN GALLAGHER

The world dwindles down to Liam and me.

I’m sprawled beneath him on the bed, my eyes riveted to him as he peels off his shirt. Each ripple of muscle that comes into view sends a thrill of anticipation racing down my spine.

His hands, rough and warm, reach for me next. He tugs off my clothes, stripping me bare under his watchful gaze, until all that remains is an aching need.

“You’re so beautiful, Gen,” he whispers. His voice is hoarse, strained by the restraint he’s exercising. It’s an intoxicating sound, wrapping around me, pulling me deeper into the current of our mounting desire.

Our gazes lock. There’s a moment, a heartbeat where everything hangs in the balance. It’s a point of no return, edging toward something profound and dangerous.

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