Page 98 of Reckless King

I take Violet’s hand. “And that’s our cue to leave.”

Delilah hides her face in Cole’s chest while he arches his brows at us. “Hurry up and leave, then.”

Violet smothers a laugh, smiling up at me, but my eyes bounce away from hers. My chest is still strangely heavy, and Idon’t have a clue what I’m feeling right now. Happy for Cole and Delilah, of course, but that happiness is mixed up with a host of other conflicting emotions.

“Congratulations again,” Violet calls over her shoulder as I lead her toward the elevator, but Delilah and Cole are too absorbed in each other to hear her. She laughs again, completely unoffended that the two of them have lost interest in us.

I’m silent as the elevator doors open and we step in.

“That’s wonderful news,” she says when the doors close again.

“It is. I’m happy for them.”

From the way Violet watches me in the car on the way home, a little crease between her brows, she’s concerned about my lack of conversation. But the pinch behind my ribs that accompanied the news that my brother is going to be a father hasn’t abated. In fact, it’s twisting, expanding, spiraling outward until it’s an inescapable pulse in my veins.

I can’t look at Violet. If I do, I won’t be able to keep my hands off her. I’m pretty damn certain this isn’t how normal people react to hearing they’re about to become an uncle. It’s as if a door in my chest has swung open, and a craving I’ve never experienced before is driving me to claim Violet, mark her as mine, in a way I never have before.

“Are you okay?” Violet asks as I take her hand and stalk toward the elevator.

“I will be.” The door opens, and I pull her in with me. As soon as I swipe my fob to take us up to the apartment, I turn, sink my fingers into her hair and crash my lips down on hers.

I swallow her startled gasp as I invade her mouth with my tongue. She tastes like apple pie andViolet. If I could savor that flavor for the rest of my life, I would. She’s driving me insane, and I want the insanity. I crave her in a way I never knew waspossible. The sex I used to seek out is nothing but a shadow, a pale imitation of what I have with her.

I need her. Before the doors are fully closed, I drag the straps of her dress down over her shoulders, leaving her completely bare to her waist.

Dipping my head, I suck one of her high, tight nipples into my mouth, making us both moan. I grasp her hips and lift so she can wrap her legs around my waist. When her heat hits me, I grind my erection into her.

The elevator dings, and I stride out with her still wrapped around me. “Fuck,” I mutter, hefting the weight of her full breast in my palm. “I can’t wait, butterfly. I need to be inside you.”

“Yes, Tate,” she breathes, rolling her hips and rubbing her pussy against me.

I manage to make it to the bedroom this time and lay her on top of my bed, pulling her dress down her body and over her thighs to reveal a tiny red thong. I hook my fingers in the fragile material, and with a snap of my wrists, rip it right off her. Then I step back and make quick work of stripping off my shirt and letting it fall to the floor.

Her gaze drifts over me, a beguiling little smile on her face as her hands go to her breasts and she rolls her nipples between her fingers.

I have no idea what I’m doing right now, my control stripped from me by this woman lying naked in front of me.

“Are you on birth control?” My voice is nothing more than a rasp.

The movement of her fingers ceases, and her eyes dart to mine. “Yes.”

“Can I fuck you bare, butterfly? I’ve always used a condom. Always.”

“Yes,” she whispers. “I want that with you, Tate.”

My chest tightens, even as my cock throbs. So fucking trusting. So fucking mine.

I shed the rest of my clothes, stopping for only an instant to wrap my fist around my cock and squeeze in the hopes of relieving some of the pressure. Then I lie next to her on the bed and drag her over me so she’s straddling my hips. Gripping hers, I rock her against my throbbing shaft. “Get yourself off on me like this. I need you dripping before I fuck you.”

Her body is hot and slick against me, every glide up and down the length of my cock the most incredible torture.

“That’s it, beautiful.” A groan works its way out from deep in my chest. “You feel so good.”

Her chest and face are flushed, and her eyelids are heavy as she works herself over me.

I push my hand into her hair and drag her lips down to mine. The taste of her in my mouth, the feel of her against my cock. It takes all my concentration to stop myself from exploding. But I manage. Tonight, the only place I’m going to come is in her perfect little pussy.

I press kisses along her jaw, then lick and suck my way down her throat and chest until I reach her breast. She arches into me, and I swirl my tongue around her nipple, flicking it, then pinching it between my teeth, hard enough that she inhales sharply and her hips stutter against me.

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