Page 146 of Descent

His rough voice hits my frayed nerves like an electric shock. “Do you know what would really make me feel better?”

Languid heat spreads through me and I lick my lips. I feel the icy fingertips of fear, but I feel arousal, too.

Rotating my hips, I grind against his cock. Not too hard, just enough to excite him.

His grip on my hip tightens. His grip on my throat does, too, but he stops before he can cut off my ability to breathe for even a split second. “No breath play,” he murmurs as his lips follow the trail down my neck. “Not while you’re pregnant.”

“Oh,” I say, my voice a little tremulous. “Right. That makes sense.”

“Be a good girl and grind that sweet pussy on me again,” he commands.

I bite down on my bottom lip, a little breathless as I do what he says.

“You like that?” His voice is so smooth, so sure. He knows I did.

He’s right.

He nods, pulling me closer and ghosting his lips across mine. I feel his breath on my mouth as he asks, “Do you want to be areallygood girl for me, Hallie?”

His face is so close, I can only nod a little without bumping into him.

But I do. He knows I do.

His lips tug up, and it feels somehow like a reward. “Good. Then do it again… but remove your panties first.”

Chapter Forty Three

Hallie

Calvin decides that since I have good news to share with Charity and they haven’t had a chance to meet, we’ll have a small engagement party to celebrate. Just a small gathering with a few close friends.

The party is set for a Saturday night, so I’m not surprised during the day when people show up at the apartment while he’s at work.

A party planner comes with her team to decorate and move furniture in the rooms where we expect to entertain.

Chef Ryan comes early and brings a helper since Calvin only likes tastes of things and ordered a dozen hors d'oeuvres.

But then there’s one that surprises me.

I’m sitting at the island, shamelessly sampling the appetizers Ryan has finished making. Calvin planned more of a Mediterranean theme for the food tonight and I am here for it.

“Mm,” I murmur, stuffing another chicken and pesto pastry puff into my mouth. I chew slowly to savor it, then look up at Chef Ryan as I swallow. “I know you probably get this a lot, but will you marry me?”

Ryan smirks. Before he can answer, a surprise guests appears behind me noiselessly like a creature out of someone’s nightmares.

“I believe you’re already spoken for.”

I recognize that brash voice now. I turn to look at Arson. “Um. What are you doing in my house?”

Another guy is with him. He takes off down the hall while I stare, mouth agape.

“Excuse me,” I call after the guy, then look at Arson. “What are you doing?”

“Don’t worry, Calvin knows we’re here. We’re checking the place for bugs.” Seeing my face, he adds, “Not that kind of bugs. Jesus. The kind a tech genius might hide if he wanted to listen to people without them knowing it.” He looks at Chef Ryan and shakes his head. “Can you believe this chick? Thinks I’m in here looking for cockroaches or something. What do I look like, the fucking exterminator?” He, too, reaches over and nabs one of the delicious pastry puffs, but he steals one off the plate Ryan gave me.

“Why would you steal my snack?” I ask, as if genuinely hurt. “That was so mean.”

“Life hurts, sweetheart, get used to it.” Then he steals another one.

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