Page 22 of Bleeding Hearts

I snag the hand towel from its spot and pass it to her. “You could’ve told me that.”

After drying her hands, she passes it back to me. “When? You didn’t give me a chance. You manhandled me the second we entered my bedroom and then acted like your ass was on fire when I dared to share I don’t wear panties.”

Her reminder makes my dick twitch. I know she felt it. Her ass is right up against the damn thing and her fucking skirt is just a thin layer of cotton. The twitch causes an immediate reaction to her nipples, making them perk up and press against her blouse. And in this light, it’s not just the diamond points I notice. Through the light-colored material, I can make out the dark circles of her areola.

“Fuck,” I growl. Even I’m shocked by how animalistic it sounds.

Bethany practically purrs in my arms. “This is a bad idea.”

She’s right, it is. But fuck if I care.

My hand on her waist gathers the material of her blouse until it meets warm, soft flesh. “Tell me you want this.”

Her head lobs back against my chest as she bites her bottom lip. While I wait for her response, I glide my thumb along her stomach, noticing the subtle tightening of her muscles beneath my touch.

“More than I should,” she whimpers. “But we need to discuss what this is before we act. I don’t do relationships.”

This isn’t a surprise to me, not really. While I process what she’s saying, I run my nose along the side of her neck, letting the scent of her captivate me. Her body molds to mine, surrendering to my touch, as she becomes putty in my hands.

“What does that mean, exactly?” My whisper is spoken like a secret into her ear, enjoying the heat of her skin against my face. “I don’t share.”

“Okay.” A sharp hiss escapes her lips. “I’m not into sharing either.”

“Funny woman. That’s not exactly what I meant.” Nibbling on her lobe, I savor the sound of her pleasure-filled gasps.

“I won’t sleep with anyone else. That’s not my thing. I don’t like labels or do long-term. I keep things casual and brief.” She clarifies while rubbing her ass against my erection.

That has me pressing her closer into me, my cock digging into the small of her back. “This will be just sex. Nothing more.”

My hand squeezes her waist, thinking maybe this is best. If she’s not into relationships, then we need to avoid emotional attachments. No strings. A good way to protect my heart from breaking again. Once was enough. I’d rather never go through that again.

Bethany reaches up, her fingers graze against my cheek, compelling me to meet her eyes in the mirror’s reflection. “You sure? I don’t want you to get your hopes up. I mean it when I say I don’t do relationships. You won’t change my mind. This is only temporary. It will have an end date somewhere in the near future. If you’re not okay with that, then walk away now. No hard feelings. We can still be friendly neighbors.”

Lifting her effortlessly, I spin her around and then lower her ass onto the vanity. Looking into her eyes, I agree to her terms. “When you’re done with me, all you have to do is say so. I’m a big boy. I can take it. I’ll walk away with no hard feelings. Now, are we doing this or not?”

Her fist grips my shirt, tugging me closer. “Shut up and show me just howbigyou are.”

Fucking hell. This woman knows how to unleash my inner caveman. Our lips meet as I move my hand from her back to gently cup her breasts, moving her blouse out of my way. They aren’t big, but they’re soft and fit perfectly in the palm of my hand.

I’m not gentle. Rougher than I would normally be. She seems to bring that side of me out as well.

Gentleness is meant for someone you care about, relationship sex, which we’ve decided isn’t what this is. What we’re doing is fucking, and nothing about that calls for gentleness. It’s rough and raw. The kind of sex you have when you need a release. And right now, we both need that.

Stepping back, I bring my hand around her throat and gently squeeze to ensure she stays put. “I don’t have a condom with me. So today will be all about your pleasure. Next time, you can make it up to me.”

She swallows hard, and because I’m squeezing her throat, I feel it against my palm. “There may be some in my drawer next to the bed.”

My hold tightens a little more. “I’m not using condoms you bought for someone else. They won’t work for me.” Each squeeze becomes more intense, leaving her breathless. “The last time I tried to use a condom not big enough for me, it was a disaster. Fucking thing wouldn’t stay on, didn’t fit right, and ended up splitting in half. I’m not going through that again. Plus, I’m not sure you’ve healed enough for me to be pounding into you. Your body is still recovering, and I don’t want to hurt you.”

The first time I get inside her, I want to drag it out, take my time. Today, our time is limited. Her sister could show up any minute and interrupt us. I wouldn’t even care. I’d tell her to leave and not come back until morning. But even that might not be enough time to fuck her out of my head and tame the raging beast inside me who hates the terms she slapped on what this is. I’ll accept her terms, but it doesn’t mean I have to like them. For months, the tension between us has been escalating, making it impossible for me to walk away.

I’m asking for trouble, I know. But that’s my problem, not hers, and I’ll deal with it when the time comes.

Her hand lands on my wrist, holding my grip on her throat firm. “Fine. But you better hurry, or I’m going to lift my skirt and touch myself to relieve the pressure.”

Swiftly, I raise her skirt with my other hand, revealing the enticing heat between her legs. “When I’m here, you aren’t allowed to touch yourself unless I say. Understand?”

The minx in front of me smirks. “Only if the same rule applies to you.”

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