Page 33 of Playing with Desire

He groaned, long and low, not moving as desire and restraint etched his features. With his gaze locked on hers, he slid his hands beneath her back, then curled his fingers over her shoulders—letting her know that while this wasn’t going to be a fast and furious coupling like she’d grown accustomed to, he intended to drive as hard and deep as he could get while keeping her anchored beneath him.

He finally began to slide in and out of her in deep, prolonged thrusts, slowly building the tension, as if he didn’t want to rush their final night of pleasure. She could feel him holding back as he continued those smooth strokes, until she was panting and writhing beneath him, her orgasm cresting.

Refusing to climax without him, she looked up at him with pleading eyes. “Come for me, Declan,” she begged, when it was usually him making the demands. “I need to feel how much you want me.”

“So... fucking... much,” he said, his voice a low, agonized growl as he slammed into her again, so hard and deep her breath caught in her throat.

She brought his lips down to hers and kissed him, their tongues tangling as a switch seemed to flip in Declan and his control shattered. He drove his cock into her, ruthless and uncivilized, claiming and owning every single part of her body and soul as they came together in a mutual orgasm that was intense, all-consuming, and left her completely, emotionally spent.

Chapter Eleven

That’s how therest of the night went... naps and waking up to make love. Summer couldn’t think of it any other way. Not when she’d already given him her heart, and during the course of the night, it had taken everything to hold back her declaration of love. No, when she said the words for the first time, she didn’t want it to be in the throes in passion but based in stark reality so there was no misconstruing her emotions.

After a shower together in the morning, they went to the kitchen, where she made breakfast. Surprisingly, Rick joined them, though the atmosphere was subdued, for obvious reasons, and conversation was stilted.

When they were done eating, Declan glanced at her and spoke, his entire demeanor reserved. “I need to take you home so Rick can drive me out to Fort Irwin.”

He’d already told her that it was a three-hour drive just to get to the training center, and since she hadn’t been invited to join them, Summer assumed Declan was trying to make the break as easy as possible on her.

“Okay,” she said, standing and gathering up the empty plates and utensils around the table, unable to stop the nerves from settling in since the moment of truth was upon her. “Most of my things are packed up, so it shouldn’t take me much longer to get ready after I do the dishes.”

“I’ll clean up the kitchen,” Rick offered, his gaze encouraging Summer. “You two go and finish up whatever you have to do.”

“Thank you,” she murmured, and walked back to Declan’s room, with him following.

Once inside, she closed the door for privacy. Sitting on the dresser was his army bag packed with his personal effects, which were shockingly minimal, and the suitcase she’d used to bring her things over was open on the bed, most of her clothes and toiletries inside.

She turned to face him, hating that isolated look on his face, as if he’d already put his emotional walls up in preparation of leaving today. “I have something for you,” she said, because regardless of how the rest of their morning went, she wanted him to have this gift.

He eyed her tentatively. “Okay.”

Picking up her phone, she opened her app for photos and sent half a dozen pictures to his device. His unit pinged as each one came though.

He cocked his head curiously. “What did you just send me?”

She bit her bottom lip anxiously. “Open your phone and see for yourself.”

He did, and Summer knew the exact moment he laid eyes on the sexy boudoir photographs she’d asked Kendall to take of her. His eyes widened in surprise, and despite how grave things had been a few moments ago, a sinful smile curved his lips as he looked back up at her.

“Holy shit,” he said, desire roughening his voice as he returned his attention to his phone and stared at one picture in particular. “These shots are so fucking hot.”

The suggestive poses and sensual lingerie she’d worn were more seductive than explicit, leaving enough to the imagination. All intimate female parts had been strategically covered, but mostly it was the expressions on her face as she’d looked at the camera—sultry, seductive, and provocative—that made each shot so arousing.

She grinned playfully at him. “I thought maybe the photos would help during those times you might need some visual stimulation,” she said meaningfully. And she wanted him to rememberher, no matter how today ended. “Just keep your phone locked, because I’d rather not have those photos circulating.”

“I’ll password protect them,” he assured her, his gaze softening for a moment. “Thank you.”

It grew quiet between them, and those nerves bubbled up inside her again, and she valiantly pushed past the doubts and uncertainties in order to say what she needed him to hear. “There’s something else I need to give you.”

He shut down his phone and put it on the dresser next to his duffle bag. “What’s that?”

She inhaled deeply and replied on the exhale. “I need to give you my love.”

He stiffened, a blank slate falling over his features. “What do you mean?”

She knew he was attempting to deflect and act stupid, but Summer closed the distance between them and placed a hand on his jaw, lined with soft morning stubble. She held his gaze so there would be no misconstruing her words or what she meant. “I want... no, Ineedyou to know that I love you.”

He closed his eyes and groaned, the sound almost agonizing. Then he shook his head, opened his eyes, and took her hand from his cheek. “Summer... don’t waste your love on someone like me.”

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