Page 31 of The Shadows We Keep

“Thank you,” I mumble under my breath.

His dark eyebrows raise in question but he says nothing.

My fingers interlock in my lap, my thumbs running over one another in anxiousness. “Thank you,” I tell him again, this time clear enough for him to hear. Our eyes stay locked across the counter as he shifts to push away.

I think he’s making a break for the bedroom when he rounds the corner of the island to stand behind me. My stool swings around and our knees bump before mine settles inside his stance. His muscles were too much of a distraction before; I missed the black metal bar bells pushed through each nipple, during my drunk facetime call. They’re easily camouflaged against the dark ink. But now, they’re right at eye level. My immediate, impulsive thought is to lean forward and take one into my mouth before pulling, just to see what sound he'd make.

His throat clears, and I crane my neck back to reach his eyes. “You shouldn’t drink that much.” His even tone tells me this is less of an opinion and more of a cold, hard fact.

His hand reaches up, the backs of his fingers trailing lightly across my cheek before he presses a stray hair behind my ear. I’ve just rolled out of bed, completely hung over, so I’m sure my hair is a wild mess. And that’s why it falls forward again into my face once his fingers are gone. But the gesture was sweet.

“I usually don’t, but I also don’t need a babysitter, Harkin.”

His palms drop to my exposed thighs, fingers digging into the flesh. He’s trying to keep his composure, but it’s slipping—just like his fingers up my thighs.

I tighten my quads, trying to pull them together, but he’s stronger and they don’t budge against my efforts.

“Do you know what could have happened to you?” His husky whisper is filled with distress.

His concern satiates the deep-seated need I’ve had stirring within me for years to be wanted by him. Years of obsession and daydreams are slowly unraveling and becoming my reality.

His hands draw me out of my head and back to the closing distance between us. My core tightens when the tips of his fingers disappear under the oversized tee shirt I’m drowning in. My breathing stops as I wait for the sensation my body’s craving, but it never comes.

His eyes are watching me. Every little sliver of reaction my body has to his, gives him a clue how much his presence affects me. I realize I never answered his question, shaking my head no. I hope it’s enough to break the tension stewing in the air.

His palms slide up another inch before disappearing completely. A sharp nudge presses against my clit, shooting tingles through my limbs. The pressure shifts, gliding across the silk covering my pussy. A moan escapes my throat. His fingers still, but he leaves them teasing near my entrance.

“Tell me, did you call me on purpose? Did you want me to show up? Were you trying to tease me?” He whispers each question into my ear. His hot, wet tongue traces the shell of my ear before a tight nip captures my lobe. He pinches my clit at the same time, and my legs jolt together. This time I only want to quench the need he’s kindling, not halt his pursuit.

I huff my frustration. His hand is now trapped tightly between my thighs, his fingers nestled next to my heating core. His struggle to free them only causes more friction, forcing me to groan. I bite my lip to stifle the sound, but his lips quirk up in understanding.

“Answer the questions, sweetness. Don’t deny us both what we want.”

“I don’t know.”

His knuckle pushes forward and my hips surge against his assault. I’m seeking more relief, but he’s teasing me. And he stops dead when my body moves against him.

“I think you do,” he quips.

My body is so wound up, I’m desperate for a reprieve. “Yes!” I shout before my mind can process the agreement.

His lips capture mine in frenzy. A truthful answer for an ounce of bliss. I like this game. His tongue soothes mine where I’ve drawn blood in my struggle not to give into him.

So much for that.

My back shoves against the edge of the counter, my legs spread open, wrapping around his waist, pulling him in to settle tightly against my heat. His rough hands grip my hips. We’re skin-to-skin, but not where I yearn for it.

His mouth traces my chin, his morning scruff rough against my sensitive flesh. He moves south, leaving sharp bites along the way, sucking in harshly. He's determined to leave a mark, but I don’t care. I’d let him mark me all over, if only to let the world know I belong to someone. I think the tee shirt will stop him. But why would it? He easily rips it over my head and throws it to the floor behind him. I’m exposed. Nothing left on but my tiny silk thong.

His lips quirk to the side in an amused smile. “We match,” he says, before his lips capture the sensitive piercing, sucking and nipping with a renewed fervor. It pops free, and he drops to his knees. My ankles unlatch from around his waist and my thigh settles on his shoulders as he pulls my ass forward.

FIFTEEN

HARKIN

Are You With Me - Nilu

My knees dig into the hardwood, but the pain’s forgotten as soon as I inhale. Her scent is heady. I run my nose along her damp slit through her silk panties. I bite down on her tiny bud, and her body jerks against my face. The barrier between my tongue and her cunt has to go. Slipping my hand behind my back, I pop the button to free my knife and trace it up her calf.

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