Page 21 of Infatuation

By the time he pulled back, they were both breathing unsteadily.

“You choose, now. You come back to your place with me, or you tell me to fuck off.”

He watched her lashes lower as she sighed. It sounded like regret, and he realized he might have made a big mistake with her. Maybe he had pushed his luck with her, and she had written him off. She wasn’t a woman who had to wait around for a man, especially one that had been a jackass.

But in the next instant, she looked up at him, her gaze direct, unwavering. He felt as if she were looking into his soul.

“Let’s go.”

eight

Shannon’s nerves were popping with excitement and a little bit of fear by the time she walked into her house. The ride home had been quiet, Kade not saying a word. She didn’t live far from her business, but it had seemed to take forever to make it back to her house. Kade shut the door behind him, and she set her purse and keys on the table in the front hallway and faced him.

He looked so different. Fire flamed in his eyes, darkening them with the desire he felt for her. "Last chance, Dupree.”

The way he said it sounded scary and thrilling at the same time. She knew he was trying to give her an out. He hadn’t spoken of any commitment. At the moment, he wasn’t thinking of the future—she was sure of that. Doing this, she was taking a chance on her heart but not her body. Even in his state, she knew that he would never abuse her. He couldn’t think beyond today. She understood that. It was the only way he could cope with whatever he was going through. Still, she knew that he would never dally with her if he hadn’t felt some kind of connection. She knew he was good, a really good man. And right now, he needed her.

“I don’t need any warnings, McKade.” She settled her hands on her hips and lifted her chin. He wasn’t going to scare her off, not now. “Unless you aren’t up to the task, SEAL.”

He hesitated for a second, as if not believing she had just challenged him. The silence stretched as they stood there staring at each other. For a moment, just a moment, she thought he might walk away. That scared her more than his mood right now. Then, he grabbed her arm again and dragged her back to her room. Not that she wasfighting him at all. She wanted this, wanted him in her bed.

He shut the French doors behind him and locked them. When he turned to her, she felt the first little lick of real fear. He masked his emotions, and she couldn’t tell what he was thinking. Shannon knew he was a good man, but she wondered at the moment if he realized it himself.

“Strip.”

She hesitated, not sure if she heard him right. This was not the playful lover she knew in Hawaii, the one who laughed with her in bed. This man was definitely dangerous. While he did scare her a bit, there was another emotion coursing along with it.Arousal.

“Did you hear me, Shannon? Do it now, or I’ll punish you.”

She shivered at the thought of what he might do. It would definitely be more than last time, she was sure of that. She did as he ordered but slowly. She wanted to make sure that he understood she was giving this to him. It was her choice, not his.

She removed her high-heeled sandals, kicking them to the wall and out of the way. Then, she slowly pulled down the zipper to her dress. She shimmied out of it, letting it fall to the floor. He showed no emotion in his expression. If anything, he looked mad. His lips turned down in a concentrated frown. His eyes, though, told another story. Heat was burning still, even hotter than before.

“Panties and bra too, Shannon.”

He didn’t raise his voice, but she heard the command. His tone was low and gravelly. It did odd things to her. She liked a little playing in the bedroom, but she had never seen herself as someone who would be into hardcore BDSM. But that low, demanding voice was starting to get to her. In fact, it made her want to make him happy, to please him.

She undid her bra, and he watched. A first for her. She had never stripped for a man. Not that she hadn’t thought about it, or didn’t have enough confidence in herself to do it. She had just never wanted to do it for a man. Until now.

She shook her shoulders, freeing the fabric and causing her breasts to sway slightly. The cool air hit her nipples, and she drew in a sharp breath. They were already so sensitive. She could not imagine what it would feel like when he touched them. By the time she got it free, she thought he made a sound, but she wasn’t sure. He still showed no emotion on his face, and if she hadn’t been so tuned in to him, she probably would have missed it.

She held the bra out and then dropped it to the floor. She waited.

“The panties.”

Again, not loud, but even more demanding. Shannon got the feeling that Kade was barely holding onto his control, and something in her wanted to push him over the edge. She turned to face the bed, giving him full view of the red thong she wore. Again, as slowly as she could, she skimmed them down her legs, bending over as she did so. Her pussy throbbed, her body ready to be touched, pleasured. She stepped out of them.

“Turn around.”

She did, and the man she faced scared her a little bit. She could see the way he was grinding his teeth. His jaw flexed each time he did. And his eyes…they were as dark and dangerous as the man who stood before her.

“Get on the bed, on your back, and spread your legs.”

She wanted to tell him not to order her around. A little play was one thing, but being ordered about was different. Everything in her independent nature wanted to rebel. But something deeper, something that yearned tobe with Kade, was stronger. It aroused her on some level she had never touched before. Her need spiked. She did as he ordered and waited. Cool air washed over her pussy as she felt it dampen. God, he hadn’t even touched her, and she was dripping wet.

He approached the bed, still fully dressed. His blue gaze travelled down her body, and she felt it as if he were touching her. There was no doubt of the bulge in his pants. He was definitely aroused. He apparently wasn’t getting rid of his clothes anytime soon.Dammit.

He skimmed his hand up the inside of her thigh. Those callused fingers danced over her sensitive skin. She couldn’t help the shiver that moved through her body.

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