Page 12 of The Devil's Secret

With my palms returning to her waist, I fasten them tighter. “You think I don’t want to kiss you because I’m afraid of where your mouth has been?”

She shrugs, avoiding me.

“You’re damn beautiful, you know that, and even more irresistible when you’re doing that thing with your lip.”

“What thing?” She narrows a playful gaze, popping up her chin.

“You know what thing.” My fingers go to her mouth, and I place each one of my thumbs at the corners and pull down. “That.”

“It’s called a pout.” She rolls her eyes on a laugh, shoving my hands away, then I’m laughing too, grabbing both her wrists as she inadvertently rubs her pussy over my cock while she moves. As she does, she moans. It’s low, but goddamn I heard it, and nothing ever sounded so good.

Her eyes widen as she realizes what she did, that awareness thickening the air around us, the addiction, the attraction building in my body, in hers too. I know it’s there.

If I had just met her, I probably would’ve fucked her already, but I can’t. She wouldn’t be like the rest, a random hookup, a booty call I need just to get off. I wouldn’t use her to hide the torment stitched onto my soul. With her, I’d feel. For once, I’d feel something. Something real. Something worthy.

And I want that. Maybe my heart is capable of beating for someone else, but now isn’t the right time.

My life’s been riddled with too much loss. I’ve never wanted to tie myself to someone else—another person to care about, only to lose them, like we lost our family.

Danger is all around me, too great to ever involve a woman I’d grow to care for. Once our enemies realize we’re alive, they’ll do whatever they can to cause us pain, and what better way than through the women we love. Joelle will be safer never being with me.

“I’m sorry. I…ahh, should go,” she stammers, trying to wriggle her way out of my lap, her cheeks flushed with what I think is embarrassment from that sexy damn moan she gave me.

“I didn’t say you could go.” I run my palm up and down her back, thrusting my hips up so she can feel the effect she has on me.

She bites into the corner of her lower lip, squeezing her thighs around mine.

“Any man would be lucky to have you, you know that, right?” My hand coasts up to the back of her head, my fingers twining in the soft strands of her hair. “But I’m not that man. There’s too much in my life that I wouldn’t want to harm you, to touch even a single hair on your beautiful head. That’s the only reason I can’t kiss you. Because if I do, I’m gonna want more.” I let my lips fall against her cheek, just keeping them there. I breathe her in with a gradual close of my eyes. “More of you. Of this.” I suck in a deep breath as she whimpers, her hips rolling over me, my balls aching to feel her come undone.

“I’m fighting so damn hard not to rip off your clothes and fuck you like the animal I am.” I gaze up, her lips parting with a weighty exhale. “But you’re different from the other women I drown in to forget the darkness. You’re the kind of woman who’d help me find the light.”

I bow my hips, rougher this time, her eyes sinking into mine, my other hand closing in around her delicate throat.

“Don’t do that,” she gasps with a tremor in her voice, her ass running circles over me.

“I’m not doing anything,” I strain, my cock growing harder the more she glides her pussy over it. “You are. You’re in control, baby. Take what you need.”

I fist her hair, pushing her chest toward my mouth, kissing the spot in between her tits. “Take it all. Use me,” I growl. “Make yourself come.”

“I can’t,” she cries, but it’s not a denial, she’s trying to convince herself.

I trail kisses down her neck, sucking on her skin. “You can. I’d enjoy watching you, knowing it’s me you’re using to do it.”

“Patrick, you don’t under—oh God…” She licks her lips, unable to stop her hips from moving, her eyelids fluttering, her mouth forming a perfect O.

“Whatever is holding you back, forget it all. What matters is what we’re both feeling right now.”

I drive my cock deeper, rocking against her, giving her something I know she needs.

“Yes, please don’t stop,” she cries, her breathing scattered, her fingernails digging into my shoulders.

I can’t tear my eyes away from her face, her features twisted with pleasure, her exhales rapidly falling from her lips.

She looks like a fallen angel, corrupted by the devil on earth. And I am him. In my heart. In my soul. There’s endless darkness there, too great to drive away, even by someone as beautiful as her.

She rolls her hips faster, my painfully throbbing hard-on straining heavily inside these damn jeans. “I want you so goddamn bad. I want to watch my cock stretch your sweet pussy with every damn inch.”

“Oh fuck,” she cries. “I’m so close.” Her face drops to the spot where my neck meets my shoulder. Her lips shuddering against my skin is the most erotic damn thing I’ve ever experienced.

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