Page 72 of Beneath the Starlight and Storms

“You… you started an… anorgy? At Lord Basilius’ welcome ball?” Now I understood why Cash said it was going to be a night to remember. No one would soon forget about it. Not for a long while.

Hook chuckles as his eyes heat with lust. “One hell of a welcome, if you ask me. He can thank me another time—” He freezes before whipping around at something. Narrowing his eyes on something in the distance, he curses before quickly grabbing my hand and pulling me into the nearest cove. I open my mouth to ask him what’s going on when low warning growls hit my ears, making me freeze.

By the sound of it, there were at least two angry beasts. And both were heading this way.

CHAPTER18

Hook frowns downat me as the growls get closer. “Do you trust me?”

“Not even a little.” My quick reply makes him smirk as he pushes me further back into the small dark cove, pressing me up against the wall and blocking behind us with his body.

The cove isn’t very deep. Anyone passing by would see us, but from the way Hook covers my body, I don’t think his plan is to hide us.

“Hook,” I whisper, wondering what his plan is as my heart flutters wildly in my chest.

“Shhh.” He slides a hand down my thigh and lifts my leg around his waist. I can’t make out his face, but I feel his eyes on me as our heavy breaths mingle as one. He presses into me, and I gasp, the angle letting me feel every delicious hard inch of him.

“So beautiful,” he whispers. I feel him draw closer before he places a soft kiss on my neck, making me moan. Heat unfurls inside me as his lips trail down my chin and along my jaw.

He groans. “Do you know how many times I’ve imagined ripping that dress off you tonight?” The husky sound of his voice slides down my back making me shiver.

“How many times I’ve wanted to touch you,” he breathes as he trails open-mouthed kisses along my neck. “Hold you…”

A growl sounds out and I freeze. I start to panic thinking we’re going to be attacked and eaten by the huge beasts but instead of making another run for it, Hook’s hand slides down the side of my neck, then down the length of my arm before trailing slowly around my back.

“Hook… The hounds…” A whimper escapes me as he kisses back up my neck.

“I won’t let anything happen to you. I promise. Let go and justfeel.” His lips find mine once more, dragging a moan from my throat and silencing me with a kiss that leaves me breathless and needy. Every part of my skin is sensitive as he seeps beneath it, beneath the barriers I’ve slowly built.He splits them open, leaving me bare just for him.

But instead of feeling vulnerable or scared, I feel empowered, as something full of hope rises up inside me. Some part of me that knows what’s happening between us is bigger than just a kiss. It’s bigger than my fears or worries and that if I just jump, if I just let go. He’ll be there to catch me.

He moves back a fraction and I slide my hands up to his chest, needing to feel him just as much as he needs me. His heartbeat quickens beneath my palm, a complete contrast to the slow, sensual kiss he gives me, dragging out this moment between us as if we have all the time in the world.

“Hook…” I whisper as I wrap my arms around his neck and pull him closer once more.

A low whine comes from somewhere behind Hook, threatening to drag me out of the haze of pleasure I was falling into. But Hook pulls me flush against him, driving my body insane with need. His grip tightens on my thigh as he continues to slowly work my body up into a heated frenzy and I soon forget about anything other than him and his touch.

I’m so lost in the haze of pleasure that it takes me a moment to realize there’s no more growling behind Hook.

As if he too realizes it, he slowly releases my thigh, but he doesn’t move back just yet. “We need to move,” he breathes, still not moving an inch.

I nod and he places a soft kiss on my lips before stepping back and out of the cove. I take a moment to calm my racing heart and heated body before following him.

His dark eyes watch me as I slip from the shadows, and I shudder at the dark, hungry look he gives me.

Something was shifting between us. Something that meant more than the desire filled looks and slight touches. I felt the pull between us grow. That sliver of a thread that seems to draw me to him each time he was near.

No matter how much I try to deny it.

“Why did they leave?” I ask him as I glance up and down the hall. There was no one other than us two here.

“They were hunting us because they scented your fear and my… ill-intentions.” Hook gives me a savage smile. “I needed to change what we both were feeling. And fast.”

“They sensed our desire instead and got confused before leaving.” I say more to myself than to him.

But he nods a reply before a devilish gleam enters his eyes. “I thought on my feet and ran with it.”

“And if it hadn’t worked?” What would have happened if it wasn’t enough, or those hounds still wanted to attack? What would he have done then?

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