Page 6 of Claim

“Are you cold?” Strong fingers curled around my arms.

I swallowed. “I’ve been cold for a long time.”

And for a few hours, I wanted so desperately to feel warm and safe.

I pressed into his big body.

He groaned. “Damn, you smell so good.”

I had one bottle of my favorite perfume—Marc Jacobs’ Daisy Ever So Fresh—that I’d allowed myself to bring when I ran. It had always been my favorite. The bottle was almost empty and I rationed it like crazy.

My hands kneaded the fabric of his shirt, and the hard muscles beneath it. I wondered if there were more tattoos under the cotton.

He leaned down, and I heard him drag in a deep breath.

Then I threw caution to the wind and leaped up.

He caught me and I wrapped my legs around his waist. I wanted to kiss him, but I’d stopped kissing over a year ago. It was too intimate.

Instead, I attacked his ear, nibbling on his earlobe. His low growl echoed around us.

“Bell… Dammit, you’re too young for me.”

“I’m an adult, Beau. And there are no rules about age.”

“How old are you?”

“Old enough.”

“Bell…”

“Fine.” I scraped my teeth down his neck. His big hands clenched on my ass, and I rubbed against him. I felt the bulge of his erection and bit my lip. It was a large one.

“I’m twenty-three.” Almost. I would be in one week.

“You’re a baby. I’m much older than you. Too old.”

I guessed he was in his late thirties. “I say you’re just right.” I met his gaze. “I’m old enough to know what I want.”

He was quiet for a moment. “What’s that?”

“To forget for a while.” My voice turned to a whisper. “To not be alone.”

Something flashed in his gray eyes. Like lightning in storm clouds.

“I know I want you inside me,” I murmured.

He groaned again and his head moved toward mine. “I’m going to go to hell.”

My fingers tightened on his shoulders. “Um, but no kissing.”

I couldn’t handle it if he kissed me. I’d want more, I’d want too much.

It would hurt too much when he was gone.

“Okay,” he said. “What about kissing you in other places?”

I squirmed, imagining all the places this man could kiss me. “That’s fine.”

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