Page 39 of Devil's Tulip

“Shh, careful, little phoenix, or you might burn yourself to ashes.” His voice is so guttural, his accent so thick, I almost don’t recognize what he’s saying. But I don’t care. My body is burning up, my brain hazy with lust, more arousal coating my thighs as my clit pulses. All I know is that I want—no, Ineedto cum.

I press down against his cock again, trying to find my own pleasure if he’s not going to give it to me. But then his second hand leaves my neck, both gripping my waist now, effectively locking me in place.

“Michael,” I whine.

He chuckles, that deep, rumbling sound driving me crazy as he kisses up the shell of my ear, slow, teasing, dragging out the moment. And then—without any warning—he bites down on the sensitive flesh. Hard.

A jolt of shock runs through me, and I can’t help but gasp, my eyes flying open, startled. Our gazes collide, and it’s like looking into the sky right before a heavy storm—charged, violent, crackling with a tension I can feel deep in my bones.

For a moment, we just stare at each other, caught in this electrifying silence. My pulse is erratic, my breathing shallow.God, this man. I didn’t think it was possible to feel this much heat, this hunger, just from a look. But wow, here it is, wrapping around my senses, making it impossible to focus on anything but him.

And I know, without a doubt, that whatever comes next, I won’t be able to resist it.

“Unless you want me to fuck you right here and now, Gianna... Get off my lap,” he says, slowly releasing his grip on my waist, one finger at a time, his expression pained.

But that’s exactly what I want.

I grab him on both sides of his skull, my fingertips tracing the smooth skin of his scalp. He shudders beneath me, the tremor running through his body as I pull him closer. And without hesitation, I lower my head and crash my lips into his, our teeth clashing from the force.

He groans, his hands coming back up to my waist, and I slowly, deliberately roll my hip over him, seeking the pressure of the tip of his cock against my clit. “Fucking hell, Gianna!” He rips his lips from mine as his head falls back against the chair.

“Do you get it now?” I ask, my voice husky, barely able to keep control.

His head lifts lazily, a wicked smirk playing on his lips. “Yes,” he purrs, his chest rumbling with satisfaction as his hands slide from my waist to firmly cup my ass. “I do.”

I squeal as he rises fluidly to his feet. My hands instinctively wrap around the back of his head to steady myself, but there’s no need for that. He simply bends over, swipes the plates off the dining table, and places me on it.

My back barely touches the surface before his palm presses against my sternum, pushing me flat. “It’s time for my dessert,” he growls, getting back to his seat. Then his hands hook into the waistband of my shorts and start to pull them down?—

A shrill alarm splits the air moments before water rains from the ceiling, drenching us.

“Fuck!” Michael curses, quickly pushing his seat back away from me and jumping to his feet. Shaking water from his hair, he rushes towards the kitchen.

The fucking dessert—theactual dessert—I forgot in the oven must have gotten burned.

The alarm stops but I stay where I am, worked up as fuck, barely resisting the urge to rub my thighs together, hoping he’ll come back and continue where we stopped.

But when he returns, he says, “I need to go turn off the water.” And he does not look amused.

A frustrated groan catches in my throat. And as he walks away, tiny tears of regret leak from the corners of my eyes, mixing with the water dripping from the faucets in the ceiling.

Because I know that’s the end of this little interlude.

13

MICHAEL

I promised myself three more days with her before taking her back to the city. Today is the fourth. And I’ve barely spent four fucking hours with her.

Not for lack of trying—oh no. After that day I lost control a week ago, Gianna became a menace, pure and simple. She’s teasing, testing, practically pleading for me to fuck her.

And I want to. More than I want my next breath.

Which is why, despite myself, I’ve resorted to jerking one off in the bathroom like a damn teenager after every meal with her. It’s pathetic, but it’s the only thing keeping me from doing what Ireallywant—bending her over the nearest surface and fucking her so thoroughly she won’t be able to walk straight for a month.

I need to take her back to the city before I break.

Because if Idobreak and fuck her, I might not have any control over her.

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