Page 64 of Shatter Me

"So are you." I deliberately lick the sauce from my lip, satisfaction coursing through me when his eyes darken.

"Careful, Natasha."

"Or what?" I slide my foot up his leg under the table. "You'll make me wait longer?"

His hand captures my ankle, thumb pressing into the sensitive spot behind my bone. "I could."

"You won't." The wine and his touch make me bold. "You want me just as badly."

"Always." He releases my foot, but the heat in his gaze promises retribution. "Finish your dinner."

I take another bite, savoring the perfect balance of flavors. But even Rosa's incredible cooking can't distract me from the electricity crackling between us. Every accidental brush of hands reaching for bread, every shared glance, builds the tension higher.

My whole body thrums with anticipation. After last night's distance, I need his hands on me, his mouth, his body pressed against mine. From how his jaw clenches when our fingers brush, reaching for the wine, I know he feels it, too.

The pasta is divine, but I can barely focus on eating. I can only think about getting him alone, finally satisfying this burning need that's been building all day.

25

DMITRI

Ican barely contain myself as we stroll toward the park, my hand resting possessively on the small of Tash’s back. The silk of her dress teases my palm, and the sway of her hips drives me to distraction. I bring her closer every few steps, stealing kisses that leave us both breathless.

“Someone’s impatient,” Tash whispers against my ear, her teeth grazing my earlobe.

I lead her down the hidden path I discovered years ago, away from the main thoroughfare. Moonlight filters through the trees, casting mysterious shadows across her face. The secret garden lies tucked behind a wall of climbing roses, completely hidden from view.

I press her against the cool stone wall, caging her with my arms. “You’ve been teasing me all through dinner.”

“Have I?” Her fingers trail down my chest. “And what are you going to do about it?”

The scent of roses mingles with her perfume as I lean in close, my lips brushing her neck. My hand slides up her thigh, pushing the silk higher. “I’m going to make you beg.”

“Here?” Her breath catches as my fingers trace patterns on her inner thigh. “Someone could?—”

“No one comes here this late.” I capture her mouth in a searing kiss. “And if they did, they wouldn’t dare interrupt.”

Tash’s hands fist in my shirt. “What are you planning to do to me in this little garden of yours?”

“Devour you,” I growl against her lips, claiming them in a fierce kiss that steals our breaths.

My fingers find the delicate silk beneath her dress, and I tear the flimsy fabric away with one sharp tug. Her gasp echoes in the quiet garden, a sound that sends fire racing through my veins. The moonlight catches the flush on her cheeks, turning her into a goddess of shadow and starlight.

I press closer, trapping her between my body and the cool stone wall. Her hands clutch at my shoulders, nails digging in through my shirt. The pain only fuels my hunger for her.

The roses around us release their heady perfume into the night air, mixing with the intoxicating scent that is uniquely Natasha. My control slips further with each passing second. The careful mask I wear for the world cracks and falls away under her touch.

My fingers tangle in her hair, tilting her head back to expose the column of her throat. “Do you have any idea what you do to me?” I murmur against her skin. “How you make me lose control?”

I lift Tash, her legs wrapping around my waist as I press her against the wall. The stone must be cold against her back, but she doesn’t notice or care. Her fingers dig into my shoulders, and I capture her gasp with my mouth.

My control snaps completely. The careful facade I maintain shatters as need overwhelms me. Her silk dress bunches between us as I adjust our position. The moonlight catches the gold flecks in her eyes, turning them molten.

“Dmitri,” she breathes my name like a prayer.

I silence her with another crushing kiss, pouring every ounce of desperation into it. My hands grip her thighs, holding her steady as I position myself. The roses around us fade away until there’s nothing but Tash’s racing heartbeat against my chest and her breath mingling with mine.

Her nails rake down my back through my shirt, spurring me on. I can’t think or breathe—only this burning need to claim and mark her as mine. The careful control I’ve maintained my entire life dissolves under her touch.

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