Page 46 of Cruel Longing

“Are you in?” I asked.

“Are you?”

I laughed. “Is this how it’s going to go?” I pressed my forehead to hers. I could feel the beat of her heart accelerate. Her arms slid to my neck.

“I can’t give up what I fought for,” she whispered. “Even if it crosses paths with your ego.”

I grinned. “My ego is fully intact.” What she didn’t realize was that powerful confident Amara was even sexier than the girl I had known. I could only imagine what she had gone through to rise to the top. I had some idea of the deals she had made.

Together we would make a formidable team.

I nipped at her lush edible lips. Her eyes fired like smoldering emeralds.

“Aren’t you glad I told you to take the day off?” I teased.

She growled in response. “I—” Her expression turned vixen-like. “Why are you still talking?”

I laughed. “As opposed to?”

“I’d rather you keep your promise from earlier.”

“You’re going to have to remind me which promise that was. I’ve been promising a lot since I walked through that door.” My lips hovered along her collarbone. I saw the goosebumps break out across her flesh. I grinned.

She groaned. “Bastard.”

I laughed. “Can’t even say it, can you?”

She arched into me. The robe fell from her body. Her lips grazed across mine. “Luka…”

I felt the ache in my cock. The growing need to bury myself inside her. She tasted like strawberries and sweet French pastries.

“Hmm?” She rubbed her tits against my chest. Vixen was exactly what she was.

“Fuck me,” she whispered.

I growled, taking her mouth under mine. “Bossy,” I murmured.

Her lips parted with a quiet sigh as I threaded my fingers through hers. The entire day was ahead of us and I had every intention of keeping my promise to fuck her all over this room.

Twenty-Two

AMARA

Iwatched Luka from across the room. Bella had delivered our third meal of the day to my rooms. We had sealed ourselves inside for the entire day. I’d never done this. Not once. Not even if I had a cold or the flu. I at least made an effort to creep to my office and spend time behind my computer screen. I’d sneak in a few minutes by the pool, making the excuse that the vitamin D would restore my health.

Today I was perfectly healthy. Maybe even beyond healthy. I was invigorated. Yet, I didn’t want to leave the suite and chance piercing the perfect bubble Luka and I had created inside. Yes, it was a sex bubble. But, it was a fucking amazing sex bubble. Sweet, wild, fiery, consuming, beautiful, overwhelming. Was it possible this was what it felt like to fall in love with Luka again? Every time I let that idea in, the panic was as tangible as the excitement. I had to push them both away and focus on him instead.

Luka was distracting enough to drown out nagging competing emotions.

“Do you need me to call for anything else?” I asked. He joined me in the sitting area with two trays.

“No. These are great.” He sat across from me. “Your staff is well-trained and talented.”

“Thank you.” I smiled, lifting the silver lid from the platter. Bella had become invaluable.

“Except the one guy.” He lifted his knife in his right hand.

I groaned. “You mean Ciro?”

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