Page 81 of Oblivion

Penny’s plump lips parted and a breathy, aroused gasp escaped. It was the sweetest damn sound I’d ever heard. She bucked her hips forward, shamelessly seeking the unintentionally offered pleasure.

I only moved one hand,just one,to latch onto her hip and anchor her in place. Already too close to breaking point, I couldn’t take any more temptation.

“I want you” I growled, frustrated.

Penny’s nails dug into my torso as she urged me closer. Like a seaman following a siren’s call to his death, this soldier was caught in a trance I couldn’t break away from.

I ducked my head to save myself from kissing her.

“I want you...” I repeated with renewed strength. “...to finish your coffee, then we can go.”

Literally tearing myself free and leaning against the opposite counter, I fought for both breath and mental faculty.

She prowled forward, blue eyes blazing with forbidden temptations. “And what if I don’t want coffee anymore?”

“I’mtellingyou to drink it,” I snapped.

She ignored my icy tone and leaned close, murmuring in a seductive tone that made my lips mash together.

“Don’t forget about your breakfast, Dante.”

Sufficiently provoked, I pushed off the counter when she turned away. My chest hit her back, and I knew she felt my erection digging into her ass. I shoved, annoyed as hell that I couldn’t do a damn thing to ease the sexual tension.

“Thefuck,man meat?”

I hissed and ripped my shirt over my head. “Get out of the fucking way, Penny, before I walk footprints into your spine.”

She gasped and whipped around. The angle allowed enough space for me to push past and stalk to the balcony.

For the second time in the past few hours, I found myself out there, lying with my back on the cool outdoor surface, and both times, Penelope Prescott was the reason why.

CHAPTERTHIRTY-TWO

Dante

It took a good ten minutes to stop my blood boiling, and when I went back inside, Penny gave me a sideways look.

I grabbed eggs and bread from the pantry, loaded the toaster, then cracked two eggs into a pan. With breakfast underway, I leaned against the counter and folded my arms across my chest.

“We need to set ground rules.”

Her eyes, already locked on mine, blinked once. “Agreed.”

I flicked out a finger. “One: no more coming onto me. It’s not fair when I can’t finish what you started.”

Penny scoffed. “You meanwon’t.”

“Won’t,”I corrected, with emphasis, then flicked out a second finger. “Two: no more looking at me like that.”

Her eyebrows lifted and her pretty eyes grew round. “Like what?”

I pointed at her face. “That. Exactly like that.”

An indignant laugh fell from her open mouth. “You don’t want me to look at you with my face exactly the way my face is? You’re insane.”

Insane?No.Cautious as hell?Yes.

I shrugged and turned to tend to the eggs. “I’ve been called worse. Crack out the c-bomb if you really want to get a reaction. Sure you don’t want eggs on toast? Sunny-side up?” I shot over my shoulder.

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