Page 39 of Property of Fox

“Ta-da!” His voice is triumphant as if unveiling some grand masterpiece rather than simply revealing a pickup truck's interior.

I can’t help but laugh, my heart racing at the delightful absurdity of it all. “You really do have a flair for the dramatic,” I remark as he gently sets me down on the plush leather seat.

“You bring it out in me,” he shrugs.

A grin spreads across my face, one that feels too big to contain. "Oh really? What else do I bring out in you?" The words tumble from my lips before I even think about them.

“Just you wait,” he murmurs.

I bite my lip, caught in that moment of suspense where anything is possible. The unspoken tension coils tighter around us as if we’re both hovering on some precipice, just waiting to leap into unknown depths together. I want him. There’s no point pretending otherwise, but there’s also something exhilarating about holding back.

Or maybe it isn’t simply holding back; maybe it's fear mingling with reckless desire.

In an impulsive decision fueled by far more than courage alone, I yank at his shirt collar until he staggers closer toward me, and suddenly, all rational thought dissolves under the intensity swirling in Fox's deep brown eyes framed by those expertly tousled locks of hair.

My breath catches when his hands find their way to my waist again, but now they sizzle against every inch of bare skin like fire. His fingers grazing paths across curves he'd only just begun tracing earlier.

I pull him lower instinctively craving connection beyond mere words or gestures because God help me, I need and want more from this man.

His lips hover inches from mine, teasingly close, and I swear the air crackles between us. I can feel my heart racing as I leanin, desperate for that final push, ready to close the gap and dive headfirst into whatever madness he has in store for me.

“Brea,” he murmurs, his voice low and gravelly. His mouth crashes down over mine before I can finish my taunt. It’s fierce and unrestrained. There’s no hesitation in him as he deepens the kiss. His hands tighten around my waist, holding me firmly against him while I melt into him.

My body instinctively arches toward him, craving more of him. The world beyond the truck fades into oblivion, drowning under the rhythm of our heartbeats and the rush of blood roaring like a river in my ears. Fox’s kiss is intoxicating, sending shocks of electricity racing through my veins, trapping me between the familiar thrill of danger and an undeniable desire to lose myself in him completely.

My fingers tangle in his short brown hair, pulling him closer as if afraid he might pull away. His body shifts against mine, broad and powerful, leaving no doubt that he’s a man who knows how to claim what he wants. I can’t help but let out a soft sigh into his mouth, a sound that seems to spur him on.

“God, you taste like trouble,” he murmurs against my lips, the teasing glint in his eyes replaced with an intensity that makes my breath hitch. “I want to unravel you.”

I gasp at his words, both exhilarated and terrified by what they mean. I’ve tangled with enough men to know how this can go. How quickly it can become messy and complicated, but standing here with Fox feels like stepping into a storm I can’t resist.

"Maybe that's what I'm counting on," I whisper back, pushing against his chest as I try to catch my breath. My heart pounds not just from the kiss but from the thrill of daring him to fully step into whatever this is between us.

His gaze darkens with something primal. “You don’t know what you’re getting into,” he warns.

“I don’t care.”

“You should, firefly. I’ll burn you up until there’s nothing left.”

“But maybe I like fire,” I retort, feeling emboldened by the fevered energy crackling between us. My words challenge him.

Fox’s lips curl into a devilish grin. “Oh, I can definitely show you fire,” he murmurs, his breath hot against my skin.

Before I can respond, he captures my lips again with a hunger that sends a thrilling quiver through me. This kiss isn’t tender. It’s an exquisite explosion that feels like the world burning around us. My heart races as I tumble further down this reckless path, giving in to him.

His hands roam over my sides, pulling me closer as if he wants to fuse us into one being. I’m swept away by the way he holds me. It’s everything I’ve pushed away for so long, but I am ready to dive right into it all.

“You sure you’re up for this?” he asks between kisses, his voice low and playful.

“I’ve never been surer about anything in my life,” I breathe against his mouth, my heart pounding in a rhythm that matches the hunger in his gaze.

With swift determination, he shifts, pressing me deeper into the leather seat as he leans over me. His warm breath fans over my collarbone, sending chills racing down my spine. “You smell so damn good,” he murmurs against me, his voice deep and smooth like Tennessee whiskey.

“Fox...” I breathe his name almost like a prayer, caught between desire and disbelief at how fast we’ve crossed into this uncharted territory.

But he doesn’t pause for breath. His hands roam over my curves with an urgency that makes everything else fade away. As he dips lower still, the roughness from his scruff skims against the soft fabric of my dress. I close my eyes briefly trying to savorevery sensation cascading through my veins. His fingers trail cautiously along the edges where the bottom of my dress meets skin, encouraging the hem up inch by tantalizing inch.

“Do you trust me?” He pauses, looking deeply at me, almost begging me to trust him.

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