Page 78 of Unexpected Heroine

The feel of his scruff abrades my chin, heightening the heady sensation of being this close to him. In almost the same way that it did last night, my desire spikes from zero to a hundred in two seconds.

When we break out of the kiss, he wobbles his head from side to side and starts to object. “I haven’t done enough. I’m not a hero. I still need to?—”

“Shh.” I bring my forehead to his. “You’ve done everything I’ve needed. Absolutely everything.”

“I should’ve done a better job of protecting you.”

Despite the mysterious connection between him and my father that Viktor claimed exists, I refuse to let this man blame himself for my carelessness.

“Hush your face,” I admonish while hardening my eyes at him. “I’m the one who fucked up. I had no business being there alone. It’s all my fault. I’m the one who needs to apologize.”

He shakes his head emphatically. “Lettie. I’ll always blame myself for not protecting you. Save your guilt for something else. Save your tears for happy times. I’ll take this one. Let me bear it for you.”

Oh my heart.

While I struggle to catch my breath from having the wind knocked out of me by his words, he continues. “I couldn’t protect you like you deserved, but I can take the blame off your shoulders. Please let me.”

What is a girl supposed to say to that?

His strong palms travel up my body and settle on the sides of my neck. Tenderly, he tilts my head to the side and claims my mouth.

When our lips align, tiny sparks tingle all over my skin. I open for him, welcoming his tongue as it tentatively touches mine. Warmth floods my body, and my core pulses with need.

The arousal is so overwhelming I begin to tremble. The steep flare of neediness was shocking last night, and it’s just as unexpected today.

I worried I’d never want this again.

But I really fucking do.

And I want it now.

Grabbing his cheeks roughly, I tilt his head to one side and deepen the kiss. As my lust spikes, my hips flex and grind. A tiny whimper escapes me as I drag my needy pussy over him and stroke his tongue with mine.

Gasping, he pulls his face away, looking utterly shocked by my sudden intensity. “Lettie, what are you doing?”

He drops his hands from my neck, settling them at my waist to halt my movements.

Stubbornly, I continue pulsing over him. “What does it look like?”

His eyes fix on mine, darting from the left to the right as if he can see my intentions. He won’t find them because even I have no clue what’s come over me.

This arousal is more powerful than I’ve ever had before.

I’m frantic for him.

“Don’t do this again, Lettie.” There’s a mix of sternness and confusion braided through his husky tone. “You’re still hurt.”

“If I set the pace, I’ll be fine.”

I think.

“Sweetness, I don’t know.”

“I want to feel good. I need you to make me feel good.”

Slowly, he tilts his head back, letting it hit the headboard with a soft thud. “Oh I see.”

He sees? What does he see?

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