Page 30 of Room Ten: Praise Times Three

She blinks rapidly, pressing her lips together. “Okay.”

Staring down at her, her jade green eyes sparkle. “I wish we’d met under different circumstances.”

“Really? You would have talked to me if we’d met at the gym?”

“Probably not,” I chuckle. “I don’t make eye contact with women at the gym. My focus is on my workout. But anywhere else—absolutely.”

“No one like you has ever paid me any attention.”

“Men are stupid.” I grin.

“I’ve only had one boyfriend, and he only wanted me to satisfy some high society checklist. Dutiful wife from a pedigreed family with the right amount of class, education, and money. I’ve never flirted or been flirted with. I wouldn’t have known how to respond if we’d met under different circumstances.” She bites her lip.

“There're all kinds of flirting to be done. Some is overt. Some is subtle.” I smooth my thumb over her bottom lip, freeing it from her teeth. “Like every time you bite you lip, it sends blood rushing to my cock.”

She sucks in her breath.

“Does that offend you?”

Shaking her head, she keeps her gaze locked with mine, even though her cheeks turn red. “No one talks to me that way.”

“I shouldn’t talk to you this way, but I can’t help myself.”

“I don’t want you to stop.” She clutches at my shirt.

“I really want to taste your lips and see if you are nearly as sweet as you look.”

She drops her eyes. “I’m afraid I’m a horrible kisser.”

Leaning down, I hover my lips over hers and wait until she brings her eyes up to mine. “I’ll be the judge of that.”

I start slowly, brushing my lips over hers, knowing I’m destined for hell or the unemployment line—whichever comes first. Victor’s going to kill me, but I don’t think my partners will mind a little time off if it means we get her. Maybe we’ll start our own company like the Alpha-Three team did in New York. Darian, Xander, and Garrett have done well for themselves despite turning Victor down. From what I hear, they are happy with a little wife of their own.

Leti sighs, giving me unspoken permission to deepen the kiss. I lick the seam of her lips and then plunge my tongue in when she opens for me. Sweetened with a hint of pancake syrup—I know she’d be delicious no matter what. Her tongue is tentative, as if she’s unsure what to do.

Her inexperience doesn’t bother me in the least. If anything, it’s a turn on. I wouldn’t consider myself to be a Daddy Dom, but I definitely have some of the tendencies. I want to take care of her, teach her, and guide her. I’m not looking for a little girl, but I’m not turned off by her naïveté, either.

I run my hands down her sides and slide them under her ass, lifting and setting her down on the counter. “Wrap your legs around me.”

She does, and I smile. “Good girl.”

“More,” Leti whimpers.

“Mmmm,” I growl, pulling her ponytail loose and thrusting my hands into her hair. “So demanding.”

I kiss her until she’s breathless. Until she’s lost her inhibitions and kisses me back with the same fervor I have burning low in my belly. She clutches at my shirt as she locks her ankles behind my back, pulling me in tight against her body. I can feel her heat against my cock through my cargo pants, and it takes everything within me to pull back. The guys are going to be pissed I started without them, but I think this is what she needs.

She needs us, but getting us at the same time would be overwhelming for somebody with her lack of experience. This is better. First a taste of me, then some time alone with Soren. She’s already comfortable with Caiden, but I doubt he tasted her like I am right now.

I should feel bad for manipulating her like this, but it’s for her own good. And if I benefit from it, too, so be it. First, we make her comfortable initiating physical contact with something as innocuous as a hug. Then, she finds kissing us in private acceptable. Then, it’s easy to kiss us in front of each other. And then? Jesus, I can’t think about what comes after that.

“I think you’re an excellent kisser, Leti. Caiden and Soren are going to think so, too.”

Her green eyes sparkle. “They want to kiss me, too?”

“Oh, yeah.”

“Isn’t that wrong?”

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