Page 80 of Craving Danger

We stare at each other while a violent storm rages inside me. I can’t fathom how this woman survived such a nightmare, yet here she is.

Now I understand why she fears men. Her trust has been obliterated.

Needing to know, I ask, “Do you trust me?”

She doesn’t hesitate and nods.

“Close your eyes, baby.”

She shuts them, and I wait a few seconds, then say, “Don’t open them until I tell you to. Okay?”

“Okay.”

As I pull the balaclava up, my heart beats faster.

If she opens her eyes now, I’m fucked.

Closing the distance between us, I press my mouth softly against hers.

She gasps against my lips, then her hand darts up to my face, and I feel her palm against my jaw.

At first I kiss her gently, but then Samantha’s tongue brushes over the seam of my mouth. Our tongues touch, and as I enter her mouth, a soft moan escapes her.

The urgency in me grows, and needing more, I deepen the kiss.

I feel the connection I have with her in the deepest parts of my soul.

I love this woman.

Pushing her onto her back, my teeth tug at her bottom lip before I devour her as if she’s the last meal I’ll ever have.

I taste every inch of her mouth and knead her lips until they feel hot against mine.

I pour everything I feel for her into the kiss because I don’t know whether I’ll get another chance again.

Samantha

The way my mystery man kisses me makes me feel loved and treasured.

He sweeps me away from the memories of Todd and takes me to a world where I’m whole.

I’ve been violated and destroyed, but I’m intact, and it’s because of this man.

It feels like every choice I made, everything that happened to me, led me to this moment.

It led me to him.

Slowly, he ends the kiss and presses my face against his neck. I feel as he adjusts his mask into place before he holds me tightly.

His voice is filled with emotion as he says, “You’re such an amazing woman, Samantha. I’ve fallen in love with you, which is a feat in itself because I’ve never felt this way about anyone.”

Placing my hand against his ribs, I ask, “Then why won’t you show me your face?”

He’s quiet for a while before he explains, “I’m scared you’ll reject me.”

“I won’t.”

He pulls back, and our eyes meet. “What if I’m not who you expect?”