Page 34 of Major Penalty

“What are you—”

His other hand grips my jaw, cutting me off and sending my heart into overdrive. He brings his face closer to me, his eyes boring into mine as he tightens his hold.

It all happens too fast—his arm pulling me up by my waist until my feet leave the ground, his other forcing my jaw closer, a deep growl escaping his throat. And that’s when his lips crash against mine, trapping me in a bruising kiss. His previously unmoving lips are devouring mine, rough and deep. There’s no uncertainty, no holding back, as his teeth nip my lower lip, causing a small whimper to slip out.

Oh, God.

I’ve only been kissed once before. And this is nothing like it. Ares forces my lips open, and his tongue slides past them, caressing mine.

My back hits the door. His hand tangles in my hair, tugging, pulling me deeper. I lose everything. Every thought, every word. It’s just him—his lips, hands, breath, and body weight pressing me into the door.

I whimper into his mouth, clutching at his hoodie, my legs dangling as he holds me suspended.

He groans deep in his chest and presses closer. I’m dizzy and lightheaded, kissing him back, my hands going up to his face.

And then he pulls back, just enough for his breath to fan against my lips. Just enough for me to see the way his blue eyes burn.

We stare at each other, panting. His grip on me loosens, and he sets me down gently. My knees are threatening to give out.

“Get inside.” His voice is low and hoarse. “Now.” An order. I don’t move. Ican’tmove. “Irene. Get the fuck inside before I do something stupid.”

“I…”I can’t.

He exhales sharply, eyes darkening, before he opens my small purse and fishes my keys out.

His hand brushes past my waist when he reaches and unlocks the door behind me. He pushes it open and then places the keys in my hand. His fingers slide to my waist before he gently pushes me, guiding me inside.

I cross the threshold, and he releases me before his fingers curl around the door handle. With one last lingering look, he pulls the door shut, sealing me inside with nothing but the ghost of his kiss and the wreckage of what just happened.

Chapter ten

~ARES~

It’s been two days since she kissed me. Two days since I kissed her back like a man starved. And I haven’t stopped thinking about it.

I stand in front of my bathroom sink, gripping the edges of the marble countertop, staring at my reflection like it holds the answer to this fucking mess, like it’s going to tell me what the fuck is wrong with me. But I already know. I can still taste her.

I exhale sharply, shaking my head. Fucking stop.

I turn on the faucet and splash cold water on my face, hoping it’ll stop the burn.

It doesn’t. I can still feel her full lips on mine, taste her on my tongue, and hear her little gasp in my mouth. Her hands were gripping my hoodie, holding on like she’d never been kissed like that before. And the hesitant strokes of her tongue against mine told me she hadn’t.

She’s so adorable and bubbly—the type of girl who wants sweet, vanilla lovemaking. The kind that lasts ten minutes before she falls asleep in your arms, all soft and lovely and full of fucking dreams.

That’s not me. That’s never been me.

Yet, there’s this little, nagging voice in my head asking me if I can be that for her. If I can try to be what she needs.

I shake my head. Can I try?

If I get my hands on her, I’ll ruin her. I’ll make her come again and again until she begs me to stop, and I won’t. I’ll keep going until she doesn’t know which way is up. Until she can’t make out a coherent thought anymore.

She doesn’t know what I’d do to her. What I’d turn her into. If I get my hands on her, I’ll make her forget what it means to breathe without me inside her.

Every goddamn minute since I kissed her, I’ve been fucking obsessed with the taste of her.

But it’s not just the kiss; it’s how she was with the kids at the park. She gave herself to them so easily, smiling and laughing. That shit doesn’t come naturally to me. I don’t know how to be easy with people. I know why I’m doing it. I’ve been one of those kids. I know what it’s like to feel abandoned, to have nobody but a caseworker who couldn’t give two shits about you. I do it because these kids remind me of myself. I would do everything in my power to ensure they don’t feel even half of what I did.

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