Page 287 of By His Rule

“I want…” Her voice is rough and cracked with emotion. “I want…you.”

The final word is so quiet, it almost gets carried away in the breeze, but I hear it. I hear it loud and clear, and it makes my entire body come alive in a way I’ve never felt before.

This isn’t some woman telling me that she wants a night with me because of my surname, my money, my connections. This is a woman who is terrified of being hurt but willing to put her heart on the line. For me.

Fuck. She brings me to my fucking knees.

My lips part to respond, but I quickly discover that I don’t have any words.

There aren’t any worthy of this moment. Only actions are good enough.

I lean forward and let my lips brush against hers.

Our first kiss is hesitant, as if we’re testing each other out all over again, confirming that what we’ve said is correct before diving in too deep.

But then as the seconds tick by, the air around us and the connection crackling between us amps up.

The second my lips part and my tongue sneaks out, so do hers. We collide with an expression of desire as I wrap my arm around her waist, pinning her body against mine as my fingers sink into the hair at the nape of her neck, angling her exactly as I want her.

Her moan mingles with mine as we devour each other right there in the middle of the deserted beach.

Not that it matters it’s empty; we could be in the middle of a crowd right now and the only person I’d be aware of is her.

“You can’t take it back this time. I won’t let you,” I rasp as I drag my lips from hers and kiss across her jaw and down her neck. “You’re mine, Lorelei Tempest. Mine.”

“Kian,” she moans as I suck on the patch of sensitive skin under her ear. “Yours. I’m yours.”

“Fuck. Say it again,” I demand as I drop my hands to her ass and lift her from the sand.

She instantly wraps her legs around my waist and I turn around, walking away from the ocean a little before dropping her onto her back in the sand.

“I’m yours, Kian Callahan. Please…” She gasps as I settle myself between her legs. “Please be gentle with me.”

“With your heart, always. In the bedroom…never.”

68

LORELEI

His kiss makes everything disappear.

I forget about my anger, my frustration, my confusion.

The only thing I feel is relief, and it’s stronger than I ever could have expected.

My body trembles as his hand skims up my side before wrapping around my throat, holding me in place as he licks deep into my mouth.

The weight of his body presses me into the dry sand beneath me. His hips grind between my legs and in only seconds, I’m burning red hot for him.

We make out on the beach for the longest time, sealing our promises from only a few minutes ago with a kiss to rival all kisses.

He’s rock-hard. It’s impossible not to feel him against me.

My body aches for him. To feel him touch my bare skin, to feel him push inside me.

It would be so easy to throw caution to the wind and take what we both need right here.

But as hot as it would be…if we’re going to do this, then I want to do it right. And a tumble in the sand isn’t it.

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