Page 157 of Before Dawn

Then, she looked up at me. And fuck, I was gone.

The way her green eyes darkened, pupils swallowing the color whole. The way her lips parted slightly, like she was on the verge of asking me for something. And God help me, I’d give her anything.

Her fingers skimmed lower, a teasing path down my stomach, and I sucked in a sharp breath. She knew exactly what she was doing—driving me to the edge, watching me crumble for her.

I caught her wrist, bringing her hand to my lips. “Baby,” I murmured, my voice rough, desperate.

She arched a brow, amused. “Yes?”

I kissed the inside of her wrist, then her palm, lingering, letting her feel how badly I needed this—needed her.“Let me have you,” I whispered. “Please, baby.”

She didn’tanswer.

Just watched me.

I swallowed hard, my pulse pounding in my ears. I leaned in, pressing my lips to the corner of her mouth, barely there. “A kiss,” I begged, my voice raw. “Give me something,amor.”

Still, nothing.

My fingers traced her jaw, my lips hovering over hers, breathing her in, drowning in her. “Anything,” I whispered. “Please.”

Her nails scraped against my scalp, slow, teasing, like she was savoring my suffering. Like she wanted to see how far I’d go for her.

And fuck, I’d go anywhere.

I let out a shaky breath, my forehead pressing against hers. “I need you,” I confessed, voice thick with longing. “I need you so fucking bad.”

A slow exhale left her lips, warm against mine. Her fingers tightened in my hair, tugging me closer. Then, finally—finally—her mouth brushed mine, the softest, sweetest torment.

I groaned, gripping her waist, barely holding myself back. “More,” I pleaded. “Please. I’ll do anything.”

She let me suffer a second longer, her lips barely moving, teasing, taunting. Then, in a whisper so quiet it almost wasn’t there, “Then take me.”

That was all I needed.

I claimed her mouth in a kiss that left me shattered, lost, drowning in her. My hands roamed, greedy, desperate, like I could somehow pull her closer, make her a permanent part of me.

I’d begged for her. And now, she was mine.

My pulse raced, but I found my hands steady as I reached out to run my fingertips down one of her breasts, pinching her nipple sporadically.

Her words struck something deep inside, igniting a primal hunger I couldn’t ignore.

I leaned in closer, my voice low and commanding. “Take off your clothes and lie down on the side of the bed.”

She hesitated, then met my gaze—curious, dark. One brow arched, no fear, only anticipation.

“I’ll be right back.” I rushed to the closet for my suspenders, unhooking them from a pair of pants. When I returned, she was already lying there, waiting. I crossed the room, my focus locked on her.

“Slide closer.” My voice came out rough, unrecognizable. “Legs bent, heels on the edge.”

She obeyed, lifting her legs, and my mouth watered as my gaze locked between her thighs.

I ran my hand up her foot, over her leg, gripping her knee to spread her wider. With a firm pull, I wrapped a suspender around her leg, securing her ankle to her thigh. “Is that too tight?”

“No,” she whispered, her attention glued to my face. “It’s perfect.”

Within a few seconds, I tied the other leg in the same bent angle. “Keep your legs spread, arms overhead.”

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