Page 69 of Trapped and Tackled

I shift closer and as I deepen our kiss, Talon wakes up. His hand cups my cheek as he kisses me back. Tentatively, sweet and soft at first. And then harder, with an edge.

“Len…” He breaks away, resting his forehead against mine. “Baby, we?—”

“Please, Talon.” I don’t even care how needy I sound. For months, I’ve been questioning myself. For weeks, I’ve been mentally berating myself. And now, I’ve worked up the courage to confide in this man and he…he gave me unconditional grace. He gave me his love and light.

He gave me himself. And I want all of him.

“I need you,” I admit.

His eyes flash. They darken. And then, they smolder—all intensity and desire.

“Leni, you just admitted some really heavy things. Maybe?—”

“I know what I want, Talon,” I cut him off, understanding his line of thinking. Loving him more for it. But… “This isn’t a desperate, throw caution-to-the-wind decision. I’ve wanted you for weeks. We’ve been skirting around it but, Talon, the feelings I have for you, they’re real. You’ve healed parts of me you don’t know about. And I want this. I want you.”

“Christ.” He sounds physically pained. He rolls his lips together as I run my fingers across the scruff of his jawline. His breath hitches and his hold on my side tightens. “If we do this, Leni, it’s real. I won’t be able to walk away. Or pretend it was a weekend thing. Or hide us from your father and the team. You’re the only woman I’ve ever had these feelings for, and I’ve been in the game a long fucking time, baby. Either this is real, or we’re just friends. No matter what, I’ll always have your back. I’ll help you through whatever comes next. But baby, this doesn’t just blur a line. It crosses it completely.”

It’s exactly what I hoped he’d say. Still, hearing him voice his want for me—for real—causes relief and hope to roll through my body. Talon’s assurances mix with the desire already sparking to life. “I want to cross every line with you,” I admit.

He breathes out, his eyes holding mine.

A knock at the door sounds. “Room service.”

Talon snorts and shakes his head, starting to shift off the bed.

“Leave it,” I say, not wanting anything to interrupt this moment. “I want you, Talon.” I look right into his eyes when I say it. “I wasn’t a girl who cowered. I used to know what I wanted and asked for it. The version of myself I became… I’m not proud of it. But I’m finding my way again and you’ve been a big part of that. I know how I feel about you. I know what I want with you. I want this.” I gesture between us before dropping my hand to his thigh.

“Room service.” Another knock on the door.

“I’ll be right there; you can leave it,” Talon calls out.

I grin, biting my bottom lip.

He shakes his head. “You’re going to be the end of me, Leni.”

And then, we both move forward, meet in the middle, our lips crashing together. I move up onto my knees as Talon’s arms wrap around my middle, one hand landing in the center of my back to anchor me to him. As he pulls me closer, my breasts flatten against his chest and the contact alone is stimulating. It’s been so long since I’ve been able to free-fall into a feeling, a moment, with a man and not be afraid.

As I reclaim parts of myself, giddiness strums through me. I kiss Talon deeply and he meets me eagerly, our tongues caressing and discovering each other. He tastes like mint and summer and hope.

My hands grip the hem of his shirt. I pull it up his body slowly, leaning back to appreciate the muscles that ripple underneath. Washboard abs, a toned torso, perfect pecs. His shirt clears his head and then, his strong arms close around me again, pushing me onto my back as he covers my body with his.

I laugh.

He grins. “Is this okay?” His voice is soft.

“More than okay.” I wrap my legs around his waist and hook my right ankle over my left foot.

“If anything doesn’t feel good or isn’t what you want, what you like?—”

“I’ll tell you,” I promise.

He holds my eyes for a beat, as if gauging the sincerity of my declaration. Then, he lowers his mouth to mine and kisses me again. Deeply and passionately.

Talon’s hands slide up my body, underneath the thin material of my button-down. One hand covers the cup of my bra and squeezes my breast playfully before tugging it down to roll my nipple between his fingers. I gasp, arching into him.

His tongue dives into my mouth as my core rubs against his growing erection.

And fuck, does it feel good. I whimper from the contact alone, slowly grinding against him.

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