Page 54 of The Enforcer

His tone reverberated in my ears while his words clung to my mind. With the last button unfastened, I pulled the shirt apart, slowly lifting my gaze as I crawled my fingers up his arms, rolling the material from his shoulders. With a slight jerk, the shirt fell to the floor. I licked my lips in appreciation and he noticed, his chest rising and falling. “No.”

“A simple, straightforward answer. You deserve to have everything that your heart desires, no matter what risks you must take to achieve them.”

I brushed and danced my fingers across his chest as I thought about his advice. “You’re right. I’ve held back.”

“From fear or uncertainty?” He touched my face, his fingers flexed open. The intimate hint of the building heat was rocket fuel injected into my bloodstream.

“Both.” Being honest with him felt natural. I’d never been this honest with myself. I touched his face, exploring every contour and every carved feature, luxuriating in the feel of the light stubble already growing on his chiseled face.

He pulled his hand away, taking a deep breath. “Risks offer the sweetest rewards.”

“Yes. They do. They also offer danger.”

“Not always. Turn around, my angel.”

“Why?”

“Because I told you to. Because you want to. And because you know you belong to me.”

CHAPTER 15

Christos

I realized I was holding my breath after issuing the command. This was a pivotal moment. Either Valencia would release her inhibitions, or I would lose her forever. The comprehension of that was more disconcerting than almost anything that occurred in my life. I was at the point of never being able to release her. Not even if she asked.

She lifted her gaze, her breathing as labored as mine. In her eyes, I sensed she knew what was on the line. What we’d shared. Passion. The ability to take risks, uncertain of the future. Was I perhaps putting too much stock into the moment? No. I’d never felt so enthralled by anyone and no one was going to take her away from me.

Including the stunning woman standing in front of me.

She’d been right to ask if she was my prisoner and the answer was easy.

Yes, she was.

Yet I wanted her happy. I craved seeing her smile and hearing her laugh. I longed for her touch because she wanted to do so. Not because I commanded it. This was her decision. But only for now. I would have no recourse but to make it for her.

She nodded as if in some strange acceptance of what was happening between us. While the electricity was still pulsing through us, the hunger constantly increasing with every passing second, the weight of what this meant was heavy on her mind.

The moment she slowly turned away from me, I breathed out a sigh of relief. How odd someone could have such a profound effect on me when the truth was, I didn’t know her well enough. But what I knew of her created a dark, sadistic need that would never be rivaled.

I inched closer, doing what I could to control the beast. As I gripped her zipper, she tipped her head over her shoulder. The anticipation was heavy in the air. I eased the thin piece of metal down the back of her dress, exposing her soft skin. When I ran my fingers along her spine, she shuddered audibly.

The sound was like sweet music. She wanted this as much as I did.

As I peeled one strap from her shoulder, I lowered my head, pressing kisses along the trail. She didn’t move, her breathing still ragged and I sensed the tension continuing. She had no idea what I was made of, worried the man would consume every inch.

And I would.

I dragged my tongue along the back of her neck as I peeled away the other strap, now using both hands, pushing the thin material past her rounded hips. Gravity took the rest to the floor. Shedidn’t move, didn’t utter a sound as I began exploring her back, brushing my fingers along every inch.

“I megalýteri ptychí tis omorfiás eínai i gynaikeía pláti kai to apaló dérma.”

“What did you say?” she whispered.

“I said the greatest aspect of beauty is a woman’s back and soft skin.”

“A poet.”

“Hardly. A man in need.”

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