Page 99 of Beneath the Starlight and Storms

Placing my hands on his arms, I feel his tight muscles bunch beneath my fingers.

“No?” I raise a brow, wondering where he was going with this.

“No,” he growls, as his hands slide up my back. “I was going to keep you here. Hide you away from everything and everyone that could cause you harm.”

I bite my lip, trying to hide my smile as a flutter of amusement rushes through me at his words.

“We both know I would never agree to that.” I slide my hands up his shoulders, watching his eyes darken before placing them around his neck. “Besides you said it yourself, I’m extremely resourceful. I’d eventually figure a way out,” I remind him.

His lips twitch as his eyes lighten. “Then I’ll have to find a way to keep you busy. Train you to become something everyone fears.”

“Even you?” I didn’t fear him even though I knew he was capable of so much more. But would he fear me if he knew what I could do?

He shakes his head, his eyes softening. “I wouldneverfear you. But maybe you should fear me. There’s something dark inside me. Something that seeks it out.”

He frowns, probably thinking that this news upsets me. But it just makes me feel closer to him. To know he also has something dark inside him.

“Your darkness doesn’t scare me. I see all of you. And not one jagged piece frightens me. I don’t need you to protect me, Hook. I just need you by my side. I need you to be brave. Here and now.”

Instead of hearing me, listening to what I was trying to tell him, the stubborn man only hears what he wants as his frown deepens.

“Iwantto be able to protect you. Always,” he says.

“Then protect my heart. It’s already yours.” I tell him and mean it.

I needed him to keep it safe. Because he wasn’t the only one who feared the darkness within. Should anything ever happen to him, I don’t know what I would do or become.

His eyes widen. “I don’t deserve—”

I lean forward and press my lips to his, silencing any more of his doubts.

“I don’t care what you think you deserve.” I breathe against his lips. “I wantyou. All of you. And unless you don’t want me—”

“I want you. I’ve always wanted you. There was never a doubt in my mind about that.” A hand slides up to the back of my neck as his grip tightens on my body.

“Then take me,” I tell him, a challenge in my tone.

“Tink...”

Unable to help myself, I lean forward and capture his mouth, silencing him once again. He parts my lips on a throaty groan, kissing me long and hard. I surrender to him. To the blaze of heat surging through me.

Something inside of me calls out to him, claiming him. Whether it was his darkness and mine, I didn’t know. But I knew I didn’t want it to stop.

He drags his lips from mine, his lids heavy, his breath ragged. “My beautiful, vicious little thing. You have my heart and all its darkness. You always have. It was yours from the moment I met you and will be yours until I take my last breath. I’ll be your darkness from here on out. But only if you’ll be my light.”

His look is guarded as if I’d deny him. But I wouldn’t deny him anything right now. My reply is nearly immediate.

“Deal.” Before he gets the chance to deny it his vow or change his mind, I capture his mouth once more. This time teasing him and taking my time to enjoy the taste of him. The way his mouth molds to mine. His tongue dipping and swirling around mine.

I torment him with promises of what’s to come. Lure him with every teasing bite and stroke.

He finally catches on to my little game as he drags his lips away once more.

“Are you sure you want to play right now?” His body grows taunt as he watches me. “Because if we do, I’m not going to stop until I’ve claimed every inch of you.”

But that’s exactly what I wanted. I want him to claim me and from the growing dark look in his eyes. He knew it too.

“Do it. Make me yours, Hook. You own me, mind, body and soul. It’s yours to take or ruin.”

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