Page 46 of The Charmer's Gambit
His lips captured mine in a kiss that stole all fight from my lungs. Holy hell, that wasn’t fair. He couldn’t just silence me with his mouth and expect me to cooperate. When I tried to tell him that, he took advantage and slid his tongue between my lips. For half a second, I considered biting him, but my body refused. Despite my claim, I still wanted him.
My hormones overrode logic, quieting the anger inside me and rekindling the fire deep in my belly. I shook with a need I couldn’t control and hated myself for it. Hated him. How could he be so hot and cold? Wanting me one minute, denying me the next, and then devastating me with his mouth? Because, Lord, the man knew how to kiss. He was right about his mouth rivaling his hands. He was a work of art, and he had me so hot and bothered that I couldn’t think straight.
I ground my hips against him, and he pressed down even harder. My back threatened to arch off the bed, but his big body wouldn’t let it. When I tried to free my hands, his grip tightened—a subtle control that left me conflicted. Part of me loved the idea of surrendering to him and letting someone take care of me for once. It was exhausting always being in charge, but that sense of control was what kept me sane, what kept me safe. And my hesitancy made me uneasy, took me out of the moment, and left me blinking in confusion.
Will pulled back, desire shining brightly in his gaze as he stared down at me. “You don’t trust me yet,” he whispered. “Thisis not a question of whether or not I want you, because it’s pretty damn obvious that I do.” He pressed his arousal into my lower belly to punctuate his point. “It’s a matter ofhowI want you. Trust, Rachel.”
I trembled. Was he right? Did I not trust him? I knew he wouldn’t hurt me. Everything I’d learned about him pointed to him being a good man. I’d so severely misjudged him in the beginning, but he’d slowly chipped away at all the stereotypes I’d unfairly assigned to him and showed me what lay beneath the hefty bank account.
“I want to trust you,” I said, realizing it was the truth.
His grin was sad. “I know, but you’re not there yet.”
“I might never be there,” I admitted.
He finally released my wrists and pressed his palms to my cheeks. “I’m a patient man, Rachel. And you’re worth the wait.” His lips brushed mine and lingered. I loved the way he tasted on my tongue. Like wine and peppermint. It tingled my senses, leaving me breathless and yearning. “But,” he continued, his mouth still touching mine, “I’m also observant. And I know someone hurt you.”
I stiffened at his words. He must have felt it, because he kissed me again, softly. His mouth coaxed mine into submission with tentative strokes that stirred emotions deep within my soul. When his tongue entered to dance with mine, I couldn’t deny him. This time he let me wrap my arms around his shoulders and run my nails over the smooth skin of his back. He felt so hot and hard above me. So safe.
“You will trust again, Rachel.” His words were a whisper against my lips. “You’re too strong not to. But we have to do this right. Because I want more than a night with you.”
I swallowed. “How many nights do you want?”
“Oh, darlin’, I want them all.” He kissed me again before I could react to that proclamation. Which was good because Ihad nothing. I’d only just accepted the possibility of a whirlwind affair, but something long term . . . Was I ready for that? How would it even work? Telling Ryan off tonight was only a temporary solution, a minor reprieve. He was still very much a part of my life, and I knew from experience that this little setback wouldn’t last long. He’d find a way to plow back into my world and ruin everything.
He could hurt Will. . .
“Shh,” Will murmured against my lips. “Turn that beautiful brain off and just feel.” His tongue entered my mouth as he palmed my breast. The move was so unexpected that it tore me from my thoughts and threw me into the present. He tweaked my nipple with those skilled fingers, and my bliss scattered all my thoughts.
“More,” I moaned as my back came off the bed.
“Yes, ma’am.” He bent to nibble my hard peak through the fabric while his hand trailed down my belly to the apex between my thighs.
“Fuck,” I panted, eyes closing. “Are we . . . ?” My voice faded into another groan as he massaged a circle against my most sensitive point.
“I said no sex,” he replied, following the question I hadn’t finished. “I never said anything about fondling, darlin’.”
“Unfair,” was the only word I could get out as he increased his assault. Then he pulled his hand back, and I cried out in frustration.
“You’d like me to stop?” he asked, his tone deceptively innocent.
It took me a moment to catch my breath. All the foreplay and emotions had left me far closer to climax than I ever could have imagined. My panties were soaked, and my nipples ached with need. I palmed his cock through the sweatpants and squeezed,which earned me a hiss from him.Yeah, two can play this game, Mershano.
“Don’t start something you can’t finish, darlin’.” The warning in his voice sent a rush of heat through me. Ilikedthat tone. And I showed him just how much by stroking him, hard, through the fabric. “Fuck.”
I grinned at his small slip in restraint. I managed one more caress before he caught my wrist in his hand and put it beside my head again. I expected him to hold it there, but he surprised me by letting go and palming my core again. He gave me no time to react before his lips captured my nipple through the tank top. My resulting scream was part surprise, part need. Because, oh my, he’d only been teasing before.Nowhe was touching me with purpose. His thumb found my sensitive nub through the yoga pants. I only had a second to recognize how impressive that was before he pressed down and sent pleasure racing through my veins.
He switched breasts, sucking my nipple hard into his mouth. God, how would that feel on bare skin? I wanted so badly to rip the damn tank top over my head, but my limbs were locked down by my mounting arousal. It built low in my abdomen, coiling so tightly it almost hurt, and I couldn’t help the whimper of need escaping my lips. This was so much better than my midnight sessions with my vibrator. Hell, it was better than any of my previous physical experiences. I’d never felt so pent-up in my life. All I wanted was to explode, and I could feel it, taste it, on the edge of my being.
Taunting.
Waiting.
So close.
“Come for me, gorgeous.” The words were hot against my lips and followed by a sharp pinch to my clit. It was so unexpected, and startling, that it snapped my restraint in halfand sent pleasure spiraling through my lower belly and into my limbs. Will swallowed my scream with his mouth and continued applying pressure where I needed it to prolong my orgasm. It shook me so hard, so deep, that it almost hurt. And then I was kissing him. Hard.
My emotions took over, demanding I worship him, thank him, for whatever it was he’d just done to me. But as I tried to reciprocate with my hands, he gently grasped them and held them between us. His mouth was relentless against mine, returning my kiss with a fervor I felt throughout my being. I had no idea how long it went on—minutes, hours?—but eventually the urges subsided, leaving me more exhausted than I ever remembered being.
