Page 51 of Taking A Chance

Declan presses his mouth to mine, harder than our previous kisses. He coaxes my mouth open, his tongue exploring and needful. One of his hands runs along my neck and tangles in the hair at my nape. The other skillfully wraps around my waist, pulling me toward him.

I run my palms along the length of his arms, up over his biceps, gripping his shoulders, moving to his collar. His hand runs down my naked spine, his fingertips digging into the expanse of my exposed back.One little tie.That’s all he has to unknot. One little tie and this dress will slide all the way down.

I reach for the top button of his shirt, slowly undoing it between my thumb and index finger. The next button comes faster and I slide my hand in, feeling the hot skin of his bare chest against my palm.God, that’s amazing.

“Wait,” he says, pulling back from our kiss, stilling my hand. “I don’t want this to happen here.”

Before I can ask him what he means, he stands and lifts me to my feet. “Hike up your dress,” he says, nipping my lips with his teeth.

Without a second thought, I pull the dress up, cradling it just below my hips. Declan dips down, his large hands cradling the backs of my thighs, then hoists me into the air. My parted legs slide up over his body, his hands settling on my ass. My body straddles his, the muscles in his arms tightening as he effortlessly carries me from the couch. My arms gather around his neck while he kisses and nibbles the tops of my breasts, taking my breath away.

A moan escapes my lips as it dawns on me that he’s carrying me into his bedroom. For a split second, I realize I’ve never been in here, but the urge to look around is stifled by my unfiltered need forhim. His steps stop when he reaches the edge of the bed, his mouth taking mine once again as he sinks us onto the mattress, me beneath him. With one knee on the bed, he slides me upward until my head hits a pillow.

Declan’s kisses move from my mouth to my throat yet again, the stubble of his jaw scratching softly against my skin. “Cora,” he whispers between breaths.

“Yes?” I’m all sharp inhale, ragged exhale.

He stops kissing and looks up at me, his eyes searching my face. I stare back, taking note of his thick black eyelashes, the way they shadow his cheekbones.

“Tell me what you want,” he says, one arm propped up, his other hand caressing my hip and thigh. I don’t know how he expects me to concentrate on anything beyond that.

“I want,” I start. “I want,” I try again, swallowing as his fingers trail over my belly button. “I want you.”

A grin spreads across his lips, one more sinister than any I’ve seen before.

“Tell me what you want,” I ask of him, hopeful his answer is the same.

“I want this,” he says, kissing my mouth. “And this,” as he kisses the tops of my breasts. “And this,” his mouth glides over my bare shoulder. “And this,” he whispers, his hand sliding between my legs and cupping me.

I throw my head back against the pillow, his touch causing a wave of sensation over my whole body. What escapes my lips is more of a whimper than a moan.

“Take it,” I breathe out. “Please.”

Declan’s eyes meet mine in the soft glow coming through the window, the only source of light in the room. There’s an intensity in them, something I’ve never seen before. He retreats from me and I find myself grabbing for him, arms outstretched, beckoning his warmth to come back against me.

He walks to his dresser near the opposite wall, pulling out the top drawer and retrieving something, then turns back to me. I can’t make out what’s in his hands as he sets it on the edge of the bed, but I’m intrigued.

“Untie your dress,” he says. “And slide it down.”

I reach for the tie at the base of my neck, slowly, biting into my lip as I pull at the thin string. I don’t even hesitate. His voice is melodic, demanding, and I want to do everything he asks of me. With both hands, I pull the sides of the thin black material down and over my breasts, exposing them. My nipples harden, but I’m uncertain if it’s because of the cool air or the look in his eyes.

I continue to pull the dress downward, lifting my bottom off the bed. He places a knee on the mattress, leaning over me. Declan takes over then, pulling the dress the rest of the way down and off my feet. All that’s left are the dainty lace panties and goosebumps over my flushed skin.

“Your turn,” I whisper.

He reaches for the third button on his shirt, then stops. “You do it.”

I sit up, running my hands down his chest, undoing one button, then the next, until I can push his shirt over his shoulders and off completely. He kisses my lips and then gently pushes me back down onto the bed.

My mouth waters as he begins to unbuckle his belt and unzip his pants. He pulls them down just enough to expose his bare hip bones and I reach for him, desire controlling my every move.

“Wait,” I say, lifting up again. “I want to taste you.” I don’t know what’s come over me, my mouth saying things I never imagined I’d have the courage to mutter. The filter is gone, the inhibitions lowered.

His hand falls away as he lets me take control. I pull his other knee onto the bed, one on either side of me. In this position, at this angle, the object of my desire is one simple tug away.

I run my hand up his thigh, cupping his hard length over the fabric of his boxer briefs, then hook my fingers into the elastic and pull down slowly, exposing him. My tongue wets my lips, the anticipation rising. He fills my mouth and then some. I take his sharp inhale as a positive sign and push him deeper.

“Fuck,” he groans on a ragged breath, bending over me. He tangles his fingers in my hair, but his movements aren’t controlling. He lets me have my way, licking and sucking for some time, before he pulls away. “I can’t take it anymore.” He presses me back onto the bed again, this time more forcefully.

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