Page 33 of Out of the Cold

She set a shopping bag on the floor, pulled a Tupperware container out and placed it on the counter. Next came a large pot. “I made some lentil soup and brownies. I thought you might like some.”

She was Little Red Riding Hood waltzing into the wolf’s den. Goldilocks ignoring the bears at the table.

He was about to tell her he didn’t want her here, and then her hair swung softly away from her face, exposing the smooth column of her throat. She frowned and bit her lip, her teeth sinking into the plush bottom one.

Lust rose in him so quickly, it took his breath.

He was crawling out of his skin.

He wanted to crawl into hers.

***

His face was haggard, his eyes dark with pain. Lucy put her hand on his arm. “Gabriel?”

It was like touching a wild animal. Tension sculpted the muscles in his shoulders and made his biceps rock hard. He was too big, too powerful, and there was something simmering in him she didn’t understand. Whatever she’d walked into, it was time to get out.

She let out a shuddering breath and took a step back.

His hand closed around her wrist. “Don’t go.”

She gasped as heat shot through her, flooding her veins, pooling low in her belly.

I’m in big trouble.

It was her last thought before he bent his head and kissed her, his mouth hot and rough and tasting of whiskey.

She opened to him on a gasp, his fierce need stealing her breath, her own need rising up to meet his. He groaned and pulled her tighter to him, his big hand spread against the back of her head. His tongue stroked into her, instantly stoking every nerve into arousal.

Standing on her toes, she ran her hands up his chest until she gripped his shoulders, drawing him closer. His hands slid down to pull her hips into him, letting her feel how hard he was for her. She pressed against the muscles of his chest and strained to get closer to his heat, his skin.

Then his hands were beneath her ass, lifting her to him and carrying her until her back was against a wall. Instinctively, she wrapped her legs around his waist. He was huge and hard against her, and now his mouth was at her throat.

He was glorious, beautiful and savagely needy as he thrust against her again and again until she was panting and crazed for release.

She wanted him inside her. His heat, his strength, the energy that vibrated off him.

She kissed his neck, then bit him. He took her mouth again, groaning her name as he thrust in slow, glorious strokes against her.

“Please...” she gasped.

He set her down.

“No, wait, I want—”

“I know what you want,” he growled.

He unsnapped her jeans and pushed them down. She nearly fell over in her impatience. Toeing off her shoes, she stepped out of her underwear and jeans.

He was staring at her, his gaze dark, his cheeks flushed above his beard. He froze as she unbuttoned his jeans, letting out a magnificent groan that spurred her on. He was beautiful, but she didn’t have time to stroke him or even worry about his size.

Lifting her again, he brought her down on him, his breath heaving in and out, his arms rigid as he gave her time to adjust.

He controlled her utterly, and she gave herself up to it. Spreading her thighs wider, she pressed her heels into his ass and asked for more.

A groan tore from him as he surged into her. She held on as her world narrowed down to his animal body and hers. Her nails dug into his back, and she bit his shoulder as she got closer to her release. His breath sawed in and out, and she was nearly crazed with the need to come when he backed away. Not much, but there was space between them now.

“No, no...” she gasped, hitting his shoulder.

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