Page 30 of Forbidden Pawn

“And you don’t care about me seeing you naked?” I ask, keeping my tone light, but my gaze locked on hers.

She shrugs, trying to play it off like it’s no big deal, but I catch the slight tremor in her hand as she reaches for her glass of wine.

“I don’t mind if you don’t,” she says, her voice a little too nonchalant. “Besides, it’s nothing you haven’t seen before.”

Her cheeks darken, and I know exactly what she’s thinking about. The memory of me strip searching her, her body exposed under my gaze, rushes back to me in vivid detail. The way she looked, bared to me, helpless—how much it stirred something dark and possessive inside me. I suppress a groan at the thought, but the heat between us intensifies.

“The color on your cheeks tells a different story,” I point out, leaning forward slightly, enjoying the way her breath hitches at the shift in my posture.

“If you say so.”

She glances away for a moment, nervously twisting her fingers together, but I can tell she’s trying to hold her ground. Her lips press together before she looks back at me, her eyes flickering with a mix of defiance and hesitation.

I wait, letting the tension stretch between us. She’s nervous, but not unwilling. And that makes the game even more thrilling.

“I’m just calling your bluff,” I murmur, my voice low, controlled. “You’re not as cool as you’re trying to act. It’s easy to tell.”

Her fingers tense, the flush deepening across her cheeks, but she doesn’t back down.

“I’m not bluffing,” she insists, but the crack in her voice betrays her.

I lean back, crossing my arms and raising an eyebrow in challenge. “Prove it.”

“Prove what?”

“That you’re cool with it,” I clarify. “Undress. Now.”

She freezes, her expression shifting from surprise to something else—intrigue, maybe even curiosity. I can see the war going on inside her, the push and pull of fear and desire. Her breath quickens, but she keeps her eyes on mine, refusing to break the connection between us.

“Very funny,” she retorts. “Here? Now? Why?”

The air thickens between us, the playful tension turning into something heavier. She shifts in her seat, biting her lip, clearly torn.

“Because I said so,” I say, pinning her down with a dark stare.

She releases a nervous giggle. “But we just ate!”

“You didn’t even eat that much, little bird,” I tease, leaning back in my chair. “But it’s cute that you’re worried about me seeing your food baby.”

She laughs, a real laughter this time. The tension eases just slightly, but I see the flicker of something deeper in her eyes. She reaches for her glass, finishing the wine in one large swig, and I can’t help but watch the way her throat moves as she swallows. I wonder if she could take me, all of me, gagging on my lengthuntil the tip of my cock is pressed against the back of her throat, and she looks up at me with that hot daze in her eyes.

I can’t wait. I must have her.

Now.

I’m done playing the long game. I stand, my body now consumed by the need to see her bare, to have her exactly where I want her. She looks up at me, wide-eyed, and I can see the nerves twitching through her body. Every step I take seems to make her jerk, but she doesn’t move away. She’s still sitting there, waiting.

I stop beside her and reach out to gently caress her cheek. Her skin is warm under my hand, and when she leans into my touch, I know I’ve won.

“Well?” I murmur, my voice low as my hand drifts down her neck, teasing the soft skin of her collarbone. “I’m waiting.”

She bites her lip, but her breath hitches as my fingers trace lightly over her skin. Then, to my surprise, she suddenly jumps up from her chair, standing face-to-face with me. Her expression is determined, eyes locked on mine, as if she’s deciding about something right here, right now. She’s trembling, but I can see it—the decision has been made.

Chapter 23

June

I’m standing before Ryker, my heart pounding in my chest with such vigor that I’m sure he can hear it. His touch lingers on my skin, leaving a trail of heat.

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