Page 33 of The Reluctant Wife

16

Aurelia

He squeezes his fingers gently, and I can feel the imprint of each finger against my throat. A shiver pinches my shoulders. My ribcage compresses. My lungs burn, and I’m sure I’m going to burst into flames any moment.

I can’t believe my seduction technique is working. When I saw his reaction to my appreciation for the food, I realized I had to lean into the chemistry between us. The fact that our surroundings are so romantic gave me the courage to follow my instinct. Given he’s made it clear that he won’t cross the line of professionalism, that he’s made it clear he’s not going to be the one to dominate me, I was sure he’d shut me down again but… Looks like he’s reached a tipping point.

"You’re so fucking sexy." His voice is low and hard and sends another burst of sensations pulsing under my skin. He flattens his thumb over the pulse at the hollow of my throat. It’s an act that puts him in control. Which makes it seem like he could get me to do anything with his touch. If he asks me to drop down onmy knees, I’ll do it right now. If he asks me to spread my legs for him, I will. My heartbeat spikes in my ribcage. My nipples are so hard, I’m surprised they aren’t tearing through the fabric of my blouse.

"Slip your fingers into your panties and touch yourself," he says in a low hard voice. Goosebumps scatter over my skin. “There are no cameras in the room.”

I flick a glance in the direction of the doorway. “James might enter any moment.”

I turn to find him watching me with an inquisitive expression. “He might,” he acknowledges.

I hold his gaze steadily for a few more seconds.Is that going to stop me from touching myself?A quiver courses through my body.

“How do you feel about that?” His question seems innocent, but that watchful edge to his gaze tells me it’s anything but. “Does the thought of someone finding you in a compromising position turn your pussy into a melting mass of need?”

My core clenches. My thighs turn to jelly. I’m panting. I can hear my heaving breaths, but I’m so turned on, I’m past being embarrassed. When I nod, those green eyes spark. It’s like lightning caged in those beautiful irises.

“Who’d have thought the poised Princess of Verenza was an exhibitionist, hmm? Now”—he eyes me with a hungry look in his eyes— “touch yourself.”

Instantly, I brush my fingertips brush over my throbbing center. I cry out.

“Good girl.”

I whimper. His words feel so very good.

“Such an obedient little slut,” he nods with satisfaction. "You’re so wet, I can smell your arousal from across the table."

What the—? He called me a slut but that only spikes my arousal further. The impact of his words resonates through my mind and ricochets around my chest.

"I want to lick up the seam of your melting pussy. I want to stuff my tongue inside your slit and taste you. I want to bite down on your swollen cunt so you can feel me all the way to your nipples. I want"—his nostrils flare—"I want you so badly, my balls hurt."

"So why don’t you fuck me?" I tip up my chin, daring him—hoping, wanting,needingto push him past the point of no return.If I dare him, will he oblige me?

He releases his hold on my neck and snaps, “Pull your fingers out and hold them up.”

I want to refuse him. I want to demand that he collar my throat with his fingers, but the glare on his face insists I obey him. I withdraw my fingers and lift them up.

He locks his fingers around my wrist, brings my hand close to his face, then bends and sniffs my fingers. His eyelids sweep down. He inhales one more time. "Such a fucking aphrodisiac."

He closes his mouth around my fingers and licks them off. My toes curl. My pussy feels so bereft. I squeeze my thighs together to stem the emptiness between them. He senses my movement, and his eyes glitter.

Spots of color smear his cheeks. "You know why I can’t." He lets go of my arm and sprawls back in his seat.

"Can’t or won’t?" I grip the edge of the table. "I’m tired of your teasing me, tired of your saying one thing and doing another."

His gaze flicks down to my chest. His eyes widen.What the hell is he playing at?I glance down to find a bead of light flickering over the left side of my chest.What the hell is that?Before I can continue, he throws himself over the table and takes me down.

I cry out. The next moment, the window explodes. The sound echoes through my mind, along with the reverberations when my head collides with something hard and immovable. Then, he locks his arms around my waist and squeezes me to his chest so tightly, I gasp. My ribcage hurts. My pulse rate shoots up. My stomach bottoms out.What’s happening?

More glass shatters. Shards pour over us, and I whimper. Then, I’m being rolled out of the way and to the side.

I hit the wall, and then something heavy and warm pushes me back. My nose is buried in the strip of skin revealed by the lapels of Ryot’s shirt. I breathe in his dark musky scent and focus on the beating of his heart which thuds against my chest. It mirrors the racing of my own. His weight pins me down, and his hard thigh is pushed up between mine. And while I should be in shock, the fact is, I’m too aware of how every inch of his ungiving male body covers mine.

How his hips are fitted over mine. How the hard ridge at his crotch stabs into the sensitive area between my thighs. My pussy turns into a sloppy mess. And despite my sudden realization I’ve just been shot at, despite my intensifying fear that the shooter is probably still lurking out there, I can’t stop myself from straining against him as I try to get closer to his heat. For a few more seconds, I stay pinned down by him. Then footsteps approach.

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