Page 30 of His Temptation

Daragh let her go, stepping back, giving her space. But not too much.

“Eat. You’ll need your strength,” he said, his voice still thick with dominance. “We have a long night ahead of us.”

Siobhan swallowed, her throat working as she slowly sank back into her chair. She didn’t speak. She didn’t have to. She could fight. She could resist. But in the end, she was his and she would bend to his will.

The moment the door to their bedroom closed behind them, the air between them thickened. Siobhan stood at the center of the room, her spine rigid, her eyes ablaze with defiance and something she wasn’t ready to name. Her gown, still pristine from their wedding, whispered against the polished floor as she inhaled slowly, as if trying to steady herself.

Daragh had no such hesitation.

He crossed the space between them in two measured steps, reaching for the delicate row of pearl buttons at the back of her gown. She flinched slightly, but she didn’t move away. That was her first mistake.

The second was thinking she had any control left.

His fingers brushed over the small of her back, tracing the lace-up detail before he began untying it with infuriating patience. “You know, I half expected you to put up more of a fight at the altar,” he murmured, his voice rich with amusement.

Siobhan let out a short, breathy laugh, but there was an edge to it. “I thought about it.”

Daragh tugged at the laces, loosening the bodice inch by inch. “And yet, here we are.”

Her breath hitched when the fabric loosened enough for it to slide down and puddle in a silken heap at her feet, exposing the smooth line of her spine. The dress had a built in corset and Siobhan had wisely chosen not to wear panties. God she was gorgeous… and all his.

Daragh pressed his lips against the curve of her neck, inhaling her scent—wild, untamed, and uniquely hers.

She was completely naked, and as his gaze roamed over her, heat pooled in his gut. His cock became engorged, bordering on painful.

“You looked exquisite this afternoon, kitten,” he murmured, running a finger along the lace trim of her corset. “But I think I prefer you like this. Bare. Unprotected.”

Siobhan balled into fists at her sides. “I am not unprotected. I’ve been on birth control for years.”

Daragh chuckled, low and dark. He let his hands skim down the delicate swell of her hips, lingering on the softest part of her. “Noted, but the real question is who’s going to save you from me?”

She sucked in a sharp breath, but he didn’t miss the way her thighs pressed together, her nipples stiffening. Her body betraying her even as her mind fought against what they both knew was inevitable.

Daragh turned her to face him, gripping her chin and tilting her head back so that she had no choice but to meet his gaze. “Say it, kitten,” he ordered, his voice dropping to a growl.

Her pupils dilated, her lips parting slightly. “Say what?”

His thumb dragged over her lower lip. “That you belong to me.”

Siobhan’s breath shuddered between them, her chest rising and falling too fast. But she didn’t speak.

Daragh exhaled sharply, his patience slipping. He slid his arm around her waist and hauled her against him, his mouth capturing hers in a kiss that was pure possession. Siobhan gasped, her hands bracing against his chest as he devoured her, drinking in the taste of her.

She fought him at first—tried to cling to whatever control she had left—but it wasn’t long before her body melted into his, her fingers gripping the fabric of his shirt, pulling him closer.

Daragh growled against her lips, nipping at her bottom lip before soothing the sting with his tongue. “That’s it,” he murmured. “Give in.”

Siobhan let out a ragged breath, her nails digging into his shoulders as he lifted her effortlessly, carrying her toward the bed.

CHAPTER 9

SIOBHAN

The moment Siobhan's back hit the mattress, Daragh was on her, pressing her wrists above her head with a grip that brooked no argument. His body caged hers, a wall of unrelenting heat and dominance. The bed dipped beneath his weight, trapping her beneath him, his touch moving over her skin with maddening precision. His free hand explored every dip and curve as if memorizing her, as if mapping the territory he had just claimed.

Her breath hitched as she arched against him, her body betraying her with the sharp jolt of arousal that coiled low in her belly. She wanted to fight, to push him away just to prove she still could, but the second she opened her mouth, his lips crashed against hers. The kiss was deep, demanding, and it shattered what little control she had left.

Daragh moved with calculated ease, his fingers trailing lower. The contact was electric, a fire racing along her nerves, leaving her panting. He groaned against her mouth; the sound reverberating through her as he discovered just how ready she was for him.