Page 92 of Wrecked
The temperature in the cave shoots up a hundred degrees.
I clear my throat. “And what happens after I take it off?”
She gives me that shy smile I love so much. “I guess you’ll have to take it off to find out.”
CHAPTER 40
ELLIE (PRESENT)
Nate’s face transforms before me. He’s no longer a man, he’s an animal, a predator.
And I’m his prey.
He stalks toward me, his eyes never leaving mine. It’s too late to stop this. Too late to change my mind. That man isgoingto have me. He’s done waiting. Done playing this game, dancing around our feelings. He’s going to show me who I belong to.
Him.
It’s always been him. It will always be him. When we leave this cave, it’s done. No more demands, no more pain, no more anger. We let it all go.
We become Nate and Pip, again.
The hurricane outside might be racing toward landfall, but there is an even bigger storm brewing inside this cave. The charged atmosphere creates a threatening sort of intimacy, triggering chills to creep up my spine. The whistling wind coils through the trees, and raindrops drum against the cave walls, skillfully serenading Nate’s advances. The perfect soundtrack for my complete undoing.
My utter ruin.
Katie is mourning the loss of her sister and fiancé, and I’m preparing to give him my body. She still wears his ring, but I get the rest of his life. She’s crying over the loss of him, as I reclaim the heart she thinks belongs to her. I stand feet away from him, dying to feel him thrust inside of me, knowing she is missing him—missing me—at home. I am about to cross a line I can never uncross. I should feel regret. I should feel reluctant. At the very least, guilt. But the only thing I am feeling now is impatience.
It seems to take him hours to cross over to my side of the cave. His strides are slow, as if he’s hunting me. His eyes trail my body in a way that sets my skin on fire. They linger below my waist, growing darker as his pupils dilate. His gaze is locked, his nostrils flaring as his tongue peeks out, wetting his bottom lip.
Finally, his eyes flick back to mine. There is a hunger there, a beast demanding to be fed. His hands fist at his sides as he tries to rein in the monster lurking below the surface. He’s ready to attack, and once he catches me, there will be no mercy…no escape.
He’s starving.
And I’m a feast.
I feel a flush spreading down my face, down my chest, right down to my core. His abs flex as he prowls toward me. The look on his face should frighten me. Instead, it excites me. He’s going to devour me, and I am going to love every second of it.
I move backwards as he stalks toward me. I don’t even mean to, it’s purely instinctual to try and flee the danger in front of me. My back connects with the cave wall, trapping me in place as Nate gets closer. The side of his mouth lifts in a cocky grin. He’s got me right where he wants me.
Next thing I know, he’s in front of me, caging my body against the cold, damp wall. A predatory smile appears as he bares his teeth, giving him an animalistic appearance. The corners of his mouth twitch as if he can sense my anxiety. Hiseyes fill with amusement as I press myself harder against the cave wall. The anticipation is making me jump out of my skin. A strange buzzing sensation prickles my fingers and toes. His stare alone ignites a spark deep inside me. If he doesn’t make his move soon, these heightened emotions are going to cause me to blackout.
“I asked you a question,” he growls, causing an electric current to zap straight to my core.
“Wha—what?” I stutter. I can’t even remember my name, let alone the last question he asked me.
“What happens…” His hands reach the bottom of my tank top, sliding underneath while gripping the material. His fingers caress my stomach, causing me to shiver when a chill travels up my body. “After I…” He starts to lift my shirt, passing my belly button and reaching the underside of my breasts. “Take your…” He uses the material to yank me forward, away from the cave wall. He lifts the material higher, baring my full breasts for his eyes to feast on. His chest heaves, his nose flares, and I’m pretty sure he growls as his eyes focus on my erect nipples. “Shirt off.” He jerks the tank top over my head, his movements rough as his desire takes over. He isn’t going to be gentle. What we are feeling now goes beyond lovemaking. This is going to be carnal.
Without waiting for my answer, he dips his head and latches on to my taut nipple. He draws me into his warm mouth, and I can’t help the moan that slips out. I slide my fingers into his hair, pulling him closer. He groans his approval, opening his mouth wider around my ample breast and sucking hard.
“Oh God,” I whimper as he switches sides, giving my other breast the same attention. His five o’clock shadow scrapes against my skin like rough sandpaper, intensifying the pleasurable pain of his forceful sucking.
He’s going to decorate me with his mark.
He’s claiming me.
He lifts his head, and I hardly recognize the man standing in front of me.
He’s feral, untamed…perfect.
