Page 41 of Afraid to Hope

“Mm. I make you breathless,” he whispered appreciatively, the pad of his thumb brushing over her sensitive lips. He smiled his crooked, sexy smile and kissed the tip of her nose. “I like that. Kiss me again.”

Natasha slipped her arms around his neck and pressed her chest against his, sweeping his mouth deeply with her tongue, enjoying how his tongue tangled with hers.

Bane grabbed her hips and tugged her snugly to him, sliding his raging erection against her core.

She stepped back, her eyes round.He wasn’t kidding when he said he was a big man.

His eyes crinkled as he shrugged. “Not gonna apologize about what you do to me.”

His eyes followed his hands sliding over her legs, which were visible below the hem of his sweatshirt. She imagined wrapping them around his hips while he moved inside her.

“Your skin,” he murmured as he continued leaving feathery kisses on her neck, her chin, her shoulders. “So silky,” he groaned. His hands slid up and he lightly palmed her back, then cupped and kneaded her ass, pulling her up against him again, moving her so that they created friction.

“Oh my god, Bane. I can’t even—”

His mouth crashed against hers, then immediately grew tender, cutting off the rest of her words. He leaned back and looked deeply into her eyes, his own now malachite in the bright moonlight. “Damn. What you do to me. Unbelievable.” He guided her hand, encouraging her to explore him. Natasha’s other hand joined it and soon she was skimming his corded stomach and the flat planes of his chest.

Bane’s overpowering maleness made her feel feminine and dainty. Desired. Things she was unaccustomed to. “Please.”

“Tell me what you want.” He dipped into her mouth again.

“I want,” she said between kisses. “I’m on fire.”

“You sure are.” He breathed hard, pulling away from her. “I want… more… baby.”

“I do… too,” she whispered, shaking, intoxicated and sizzling with desire. She needed both feet on the terrace to stand upright. Her body was thrumming, burning with need. “Oh my god… I can’t… think,” she rasped. “Please… I… please…”

“Please?”

She writhed against him. “Please. I want to feel.”

His hooded gaze held hers as his fingers skimmed along her clothed arms, then traced along her neck and collarbone. “Hmm.” Bane murmured, teasing lightly, slowly, starting under the front hem of theHOOSIERSsweatshirt and silky tee she wore. His fingers patiently whispered in featherlight circles over her skin, whipping her into a fever. Her body undulated, seeking his touch. He skimmed her stomach and stopped just shy of her breasts. “We need to hit pause.”

She cried out petulantly. “No.”

“Sorry, babe. I’m clean, but my protection is downstairs.”

“I’m clean too. On birth control.” She wrapped a bare leg around his thigh and rode it, feeling the scorching heat of him even through his sweats. “You don’t need to leave.”

His eyes flared and he swallowed, then he bracketed her hips with his hands, slowing her motion and giving her a tender kiss. “Too many clothes. Take off the sweatshirt,” he panted.

She pulled it over her head and tossed it onto the terrace.

Bane’s eyes turned to malachite as he stared at her hard nipples, which she was sure were fully evident under the skimpy top. Nodding, he growled softly, “Take it off too.”

She pulled it over her head and added it to the pile, standing proudly in front of him—feral and hungry. His body tensed in response.

His large hands covered her full, ripe breasts. Natasha’s dark brown nipples puckered even tighter and Bane milked her breasts reverently. “Perfect.”

He lowered his mouth. Blood zinged straight to her core as Bane pulled and lapped, nibbling gently.

“Beautiful,” he whispered before his mouth moved to her other breast and latched on.

Her head bowed and her hands gripped his massive shoulders as he sucked. Holding on to him was all that kept her from toppling over, so drugged was she from the heady fog of desire. His tongue trailed with his fingers, over her ribs and stomach, leaving a trail of sparks and her trembling with need.

Bane knelt down. “What’s going on between these gorgeous long legs of yours, hmm?” His fingers traced over the back of her knees, then trailed the inside of her thighs and up inside her pajama bottoms. “You’re soaked,” he groaned. “Look at me.”

Natasha’s heavy gaze locked on his, unable to look away. She was sure she had never been this wet. She craved him. Her pounding heart and hot, insistent need made her dizzy.

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