Page 31 of Knight With Benefits

“I’m sorry, but I’m not ready for another alpha. I don’t know if I ever will be.”

Tears pooled along her lash line, clearing more of the lust from my brain, and I raised a hand to cup her cheek. Fine lines marred the space between her brows, but I was glad there was no bitter tinge of fear to her scent despite me crossing the line without getting her permission first.

“I’ll never do anything you’re not ready for. You’re safe with me. I can’t say I don’t want you, you’ve tempted me since I found you at The Hangout, and it’s hard to resist the urge, but if you only want a friend, I’ll find a way to keep my hands to myself.”

The corner of her lips tipped up even though the crease between her brows remained. Rubbing my thumb along her cheekbone, I smiled back until she spoke again.

“I’m not sure we can be friends, Carl.”

Chapter Thirteen

Gwyn

He looked like I’d kicked him, and while I knew he enjoyed teasing people, it didn’t feel right to leave him hanging.

Licking my lower lip, I took hold of all my courage and said what was on my mind.

“I want you too, and the tension between us is just going to keep getting worse if we don’t do something about it.”

He closed his mouth, the shocked look melting into uncertainty. I hadn’t flirted in decades, hadn’t had any desire to be the one pursuing any type of physical relationship, but I locked away the tremor of fear and decided that starting over meant I could go after the things I wanted.

Even if it was the thick length I’d felt pressing into my belly when he’d jerked me up from the floor.

“I’m not looking for a relationship. I barely know who I am on my own, but we’re both adults, and… and…”

Despite telling myself it was okay, and that I was going to be brave, the words still died in my throat. They sounded silly in my head and my mouth refused to release them, but the spark in Carl’s eyes returned as my meaning sank in.

“I told you, I’ll do anything you want.”

His little smirk had my core clenching. His fingers tightened on me again, and when I didn’t resist, he fit my body against his once more. The sheer size of him was overwhelming, his shoulders blocking out the entire room until there was nothing for me to focus on but him.

“Then kiss me.”

It was a bare whisper, more of a plea than a command, and I was still wondering how it had managed to slip out when his lips descended.

His beard was softer on my face than I’d expected it to be, the brush of his lips fleeting. I was left on my tiptoes, head leaned back, staring into dancing green orbs as his breath feathered over me.

“Is that what you wanted?”

The murmured question had my brows drawing together as I frowned.

“No.”

His head dipped, the contact lasting a full second, but he pulled away again.

The growl I released was pathetic compared to his, but it let the alpha know how I felt about his teasing. Slipping my hands around his neck, I didn’t let him do it a third time, pulling myself up the few inches it took for my mouth to crash into his since I wasn’t strong enough to pull him down to me.

His lips were firm and warm, full enough to squish slightly when I pressed mine against them. The rumble coming from his chest vibrated straight through my nipples, sending a wave of warmth to pool between my hips. I’d never felt such physical desire before outside my cycle, and for a moment I worried I’d tipped into heat without realizing it, but my mind was perfectly clear.

Carl ran his tongue along the seam of my lips, asking me to open. After every experience I’d had being rough and demanding, with no consideration of my wants, the gentle reminder that this was my choice increased the wetness coating my folds.

I yielded, allowing him inside with a moan as he stroked his tongue along mine. My fingers flexed on their own, trying to meld him to me as my head spun from the sinful sensations he caused.

Carl lifted me from the ground, my legs curling around his waist instinctively. I wasn’t a small woman by any means, but with him I didn’t worry I was too heavy. His size made me feel small and protected, and some part of me knew I could trust him.

He released me from the kiss, and I sucked in a huge breath as his mouth moved along my jaw, sending waves of goosebumps down my arms. The scrape of his beard after the soft heat of his mouth had my skin tingling, and I clung to him. The thick ridge of his shaft was still trapped behind his jeans, but it was enough for me to grind on, the seam of my own pants digging into my clit enough to make me gasp.

“I need to know you want this. That it’s not too soon.”

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