Page 35 of Riot

I’d never had a lover other than Doug, and he was about as far from a “lover” as he could get.He was a man who fucked me occasionally.Nothing more.I’d never experienced sexual arousal before Riot.I’d never experienced any kind of pleasure during sex.I’d grown to loathe the thought of anything to do with sex.Now, I wanted to explore everything I’d been denied, and I wanted to do it in the arms of a man of my choosing.I wanted Riot.

“We don’t have to do this, Violet.”Riot’s voice was rough, strained with the effort of restraint.“Marriage, I mean.I’ll protect you no matter what.”

I shook my head, taking a step toward him.“I know that.But I think I want this.All of it.”My heart hammered in my chest as I closed the distance between us.“I’ve never had a choice before.Not with Doug, not with anything.But I’m choosing you, Quinn.”

His eyes darkened at the sound of his real name on my lips.“Are you sure?Once I have you, I won’t let you go.”

“That’s exactly what I’m counting on.”

With a growl, he pulled me to him, his mouth finding mine a little desperately.This wasn’t the gentle kiss from last night.This was hunger and need and promise all wrapped into one.His tongue demanded entrance and I gave it willingly, meeting his passion with my own awakening desire.

He backed me against the wall, his powerful body pressing against mine.I could feel every hard muscle playing under his skin, the heat of him burning through my clothes.One hand tangled in my hair while the other gripped my hip, holding me steady.

“You deserve better than me,” he murmured against my lips.“But I’m too fuckin’ selfish to walk away.”

“I don’t wantbetter,” I whispered.“I wantyou.”

His hand slid from my hip to the small of my back, pulling me closer to him until I felt his hard cock against my stomach.The sensation sent a thrill through me.Not fear, though.Anticipation.“Christ, Violet,” he groaned, his lips trailing down my neck.I thought he inhaled like he was taking in my scent.“If you want me to stop, tell me now.”

Instead of answering, I tugged at the hem of his shirt, wanting to feel his skin against mine.Understanding immediately, Riot stepped back just enough to take off his vest and pull his shirt over his head in one fluid motion.The vest he carefully draped over the back of a nearby chair, the shirt he dropped on the floor.

I gasped at the sight of him.His chest and arms were covered in intricate tattoos, a beautiful canvas of art that couldn’t hide the scars beneath.Some scars were thin and white with age; others were puckered and angry -- the physical reminders of his time in prison.There was also the bandage along his side where he’d been hurt defending me and Caleb.Without thinking, I reached out to trace where that curved around his ribs.

“Does it bother you?”he asked, watching my face carefully.

“No,” I whispered honestly.“Well, only that you were hurt.This is part of who you are.These scars helped make you into the man you are.And my son, the kid who, because of how he’d hurt me, threatened to kill his own father if I didn’t leave the bastard, wants you to be my husband.”

“He wants me for your protector.I can be that without marrying you.Or fuckin’ you.”Something in his expression shifted, a vulnerability I hadn’t seen before.

“You’re worth more than simply being a protector, Quinn.You’re a good man.A kind man.You’re also a man who protects people important to him.”

“Christ, woman.”Then he kissed me again.His hand slid underneath the hem of my shirt, skimming up my side around to my back.“You better be fuckin’ sure about this.”

“I’ve never been surer of anything in my life.”

I knew this experience would be different than what I’d been through before.Doug liked to hurt, not pleasure.I thought I’d been kissed before, but what Quinn did to me was something entirely different.It was possession and tenderness wrapped together with a need so intense it stole my breath.He ran his hands over my torso anywhere he could reach, learning my body with reverent touches that made me shiver.When his palm cupped my breast through my bra, I gasped against his mouth.

“Too much?”he murmured, already pulling back.

“Not enough,” I whispered, surprising myself with my boldness.I’d never been a demanding lover.Couldn’t be.Now I was going to make damned sure I enjoyed myself.And the only way to do that was to make Goddamned sure Riot knew what I wanted.

Something dangerous flashed in his eyes.He lifted me effortlessly, and I wrapped my legs around his waist.He carried me toward his bed in the far corner of the open room.The whole time, his mouth never left mine, kissing me like I was oxygen and he was drowning.

He laid me on the bed with unexpected gentleness, his body covering mine.His weight should have frightened me after years with Doug, but instead I felt sheltered, protected.Quinn propped himself on one elbow, studying my face.

“I went to prison when I was sixteen.Before, I was with one woman.She was three years older than me.I lasted a minute and a half.”I couldn’t help but smile.Before I could say anything, he continued.“Even back then, I’d never wanted a woman the way I want you,” he said, his voice rough.“I swear to you, I will protect you and Caleb with my life.”

I felt small beneath Riot, but instead of fear, all I felt was an overwhelming sense of relief and expectation.He was so gentle, yet fine tremors racked his body and sweat erupted over his skin like he was stressed.I leaned up to kiss his neck, needing to give him whatever he needed.His confession and the careful way he treated me only affirmed my belief he was the perfect man for me.

He inhaled sharply at the touch of my lips against his skin, a shudder running through his powerful frame.“Violet…” He breathed my name like a prayer, his hand sliding beneath my shirt again, this time pushing it upward.“Can I see you?All of you?”

I nodded, suddenly shy but determined.He helped me sit up just enough to pull my shirt over my head, tossing it aside.His eyes darkened as they took in my simple cotton bra, nothing fancy or seductive about it.

“You’re fucking gorgeous,” he murmured, his fingers tracing the edge of the fabric.“So fucking beautiful it hurts.”

No man had ever looked at me this way, with reverence and hunger mingled together.Doug had always treated my body as something to use, never to appreciate.The way Quinn looked at me made me feel beautiful for the first time in years.Maybe ever.

I reached behind me to unclasp my bra, letting it fall away.His sharp intake of breath sent a thrill through me.When his calloused palm cupped my breast, his thumb brushing across my nipple, I arched into his touch with a gasp.

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