Page 55 of Heated
That lastYou sure?was the last permission he requested. His tongue dives between my lips like my mouth belongs to him and he just returned to reclaim what was his. Over and over, tangling, twisting, and sucking. He sweeps in, leaving no part of me a stranger to him. And I open wide for him. Offer myself up for him. Because this pleasure he’s giving me ...oh my God.This kiss is better than all the sex I’ve ever had. Dirtier too. All due to the things this man can do with his tongue. He’s gifted.
I circle his wrist, hold on, and let him drown me. He doesn’t hesitate to take me under again. And again. With each lick, suck, bite, I’m lost, and I don’t want to be found.
In one instant I’m drenched in passion, and in the next, I’m shivering in the abrupt abandonment of his mouth and whimper in disappointment.
“Dammit.” His rumble vibrates against the corners of my lips, and his grip on my curls tightens before loosening. “This isn’t why I came here, baby.”
Baby.
I close my eyes, letting that roughly spoken, sexy-as-hell endearment caress me. Stroke over my nipples. Circle my clit. My body stiffens and melts at the same time. But then his words penetrate. This—holding me, kissing me, blowing my mind with unprecedented pleasure—isn’t why he’s here.
In other words, mistake. This is a mistake.I’ma mistake.
Goddammit.When am I ever going to learn? Especially when it comes to this man?
The hand that I just used to grab ahold of him I now use to push at his arm. After sitting up, I shift away, inserting space between us, until his powerful frame no longer aligns with mine. Until his scent no longer embraces me.
“Sorry.” My mouth tingles, feels swollen, sore, and it requires every bit of my control and pride not to brush my fingers across my lips. “That shouldn’t ha—”
“Don’t say another fucking word, Zora,” Cyrus snaps.
I jerk my head in his direction, not a fan of his choice of words or his tone.
“Excuse you?”
“I’m beginning to get an idea where the roots of that disproportionate reaction came from.” Before I can reply with what he can do with his “idea,” he moves from one breath to the next, closing the space I injected between us. And my chin is recaptured in one of his hands while the other grips the back of the couch, and his body borders my front. “Look at me, and listen to me. Don’t get in your head, and for fuck’s sake, don’t listen to whatever demons you got stalking you. I meant what I said. I didn’t come over here for that kiss, to finally get my mouth on you. But I damn sure don’t regret it.”
Finally get my mouth on you.
Finally?
Maybe he reads the question in my eyes because that brief half smile flickers over his lips. “Yeah, finally. I dare anyone with a dick—or without—to take one look at that mouth and not fantasize about getting theirs on it. But I wanted your friendship. Still want it. And you know what, Zora?” He leans closer, his breath coasting over my lips, and I can taste his kiss again. “The two don’t have to be mutually exclusive.”
Wait.
What?
He’s not saying ... “Cyrus, you don’t mean—” I stop, draw in a breath, and gather my thoughts because I need every single one of them. “This isn’t supposed to be real. That’s not what you want from me.”
“It’s up to you what we are, Zora. I’ll be what you need.”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” I demand. And yes, I hear the desperation in my voice, but I can’t help it.
Because Cyrus is flipping the script and not handing me a copy. I don’t know the ending of this version, and it terrifies me. Part of me wants him to take the choice out of my hands like he did earlier. Make the decision for me so I can just enjoy the results without the weightiness of the responsibility.
My mouth tingles in warning ... or temptation. I honestly don’t know which one.
“It means we have several more episodes to watch. Now”—he bends down, picks up my forgotten plate of cake, and hands it to me—“let them eat cake. Or you. You eat the cake.”
I stare at him. Blink.
And burst out laughing. And laugh. And laugh until my sides hurt. Until tears burn my eyes.
And it feels damn good.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CYRUS
