Page 38 of Between the Ropes

In an instant, I’m on her, my hands gripping her waist, pulling her close as I crash my lips against hers. The kiss is raw, all-consuming, filled with every ounce of desire and possessiveness that’s been building inside me all night. My fingers trail up her thighs, under the fabric, as I press her back against the bed.

“I need you,” I growl against her lips, my body trembling with restraint, my need for her like a fire consuming everything in its path. “Right now.”

My lips crash against hers with a desperation I can’t hold back anymore. I growl deep in my throat, the sound vibrating in my chest as I pull her closer, my hands sliding over her hips, her soft skin hot beneath my fingers. Every part of her feels like it’s made for me, and the need to claim her, to make sure she knows exactly who she belongs to, is roaring inside me like a beast I can’t contain.

I trail my lips from her mouth down her jaw, kissing and nipping at her skin as I work my way to her neck. “You’re mine,” I growl against her skin, my voice dark and possessive. I can feel the way her body shivers beneath me, her breath coming out in quick, shallow gasps as I kiss down her collarbone, my hands sliding beneath the hem of the shirt she’s wearing—the one with my name on it.

There’s something primal about seeing her in my shirt, knowing she’s mine, knowing that no one else will ever get to touch her like this. It fuels the fire raging inside me, and I can’t stop myself from worshiping every inch of her, kissing her, tasting her. I tug the shirt up and over her head, tossing it aside, leaving her completely bare beneath me. My eyes rake over her,and I groan at the sight. She’s fucking perfect—every curve, every dip of her body is driving me wild.

I kiss down her chest, taking my time, savoring the feel of her skin beneath my lips. “You belong to me, no one else gets to touch you… ever.” I growl again, the words low and rough and I fucking mean it, I will kill anyone who tries to touch her. I kiss down her stomach, my hands gripping her hips hard enough to leave marks. Her back arches off the bed as I move lower, her breath hitching when I settle between her legs.

I pause for a moment, my hands gripping her thighs, spreading her wide for me. The sight of her laid out beneath me, her body flushed and trembling with anticipation, makes my cock twitch painfully. She’s fucking beautiful. And I’m going to make her feel so good, I’m going to fucking ruin her.

Without another word, I lean in, pressing a kiss to the inside of her thigh before licking a slow, deliberate line up her center. Her taste explodes on my tongue, and I groan low in my throat, my eyes rolling back at how fucking sweet she is. “Fuck, you taste so good,” I mutter, my voice thick with lust. I dive in again, licking and sucking at her with a hunger that makes her whimper.

Her hips buck against me, but I hold her in place, growling as I press my fingers into her skin. “You stay right here, baby,” I order, my voice low and commanding. “I’m going to fucking devour you.”

I can feel the way she trembles beneath me, her breath coming faster now as I focus on her clit, sucking and swirling my tongue around it until she’s moaning, her hands tangling in my hair. Every sound she makes sends a jolt of heat straight through me, fueling the possessive fire that’s burning hotter with every second. I can feel her body tensing beneath me, her thighs trembling as I push her closer and closer to the edge.

“Look at you,” I murmur between licks, my voice rough with need. “So fucking beautiful.” I glance up at her, my eyes darkwith hunger. “You’re mine, Natalie. Every inch of you. All fucking mine.”

Her response is a moan that’s almost a sob, her body arching off the bed as she gets closer and closer. I can feel it in the way her muscles tighten, in the way her breath catches in her throat. She’s so close, teetering right on the edge.

“Come for me,” I growl, my tongue flicking faster against her clit. “I want to feel you come apart.”

That’s all it takes. Her entire body shudders as she finally tips over the edge, her orgasm ripping through her with a force that leaves her gasping. She’s trembling, her thighs squeezing around my head as I keep licking, drawing out every last bit of her pleasure. The sound of her moans fills the room, and I can’t get enough of it, can’t get enough of the way she feels beneath me, the way she tastes on my tongue.

I finally pull back, looking up at her with a satisfied grin. She’s still trembling, her body flushed and glowing, her chest heaving as she tries to catch her breath. Her hair is a mess, her skin glistening with sweat, and her eyes are half-lidded, filled with the haze of her orgasm.

“Fuck, baby,” I murmur, crawling up her body, my lips brushing against hers. “You’re so fucking beautiful like this.”

She looks up at me, her eyes wide, her lips parted as she tries to speak, but all that comes out is a soft whimper. I grin, pressing another kiss to her lips before whispering against her mouth. “You’re mine to ruin, and mine to protect.”

29

Ryan hovers over me, his muscular arms framing me in as he moves, his body like a cage around mine. His skin is warm, slick with sweat from the intensity between us. His biceps bulge as he grips the headboard, the muscles in his chest flexing with every breath he takes. His long, dark hair falls around his face, some strands sticking to his damp skin, the rest falling in wild waves over his broad shoulders. His molten brown eyes lock onto mine, dark with hunger, and I feel a rush of heat flood through me.

I’m breathless beneath him, my heart pounding in my chest as he holds himself over me, our bodies so close I can feel the heat radiating off him, but he’s teasing me, not quite letting our bodies touch fully. His gaze is so intense that I can barely stand it, but I can’t look away. He’s the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen, all raw power and dominance, every inch of him carvedfrom muscle. He looks down at me like he’s starving, like I’m the only thing he needs, and it makes my head spin.

“You have no idea what you do to me, do you?” His voice is a low growl, thick with possession and lust. His eyes flick down to my lips, and a slow, wicked smile spreads across his face as he leans in closer, his mouth hovering just above mine. "No fucking idea."

His words send a shiver through me, my entire body reacting to him. I arch my back, trying to close the distance between us, desperate for him, but he doesn't give in just yet. He grins, his gaze flicking down my body, taking in every inch of me, and the heat in his eyes intensifies. His hands grip my hips, fingers digging into my skin in a way that makes my breath hitch.

Then, without warning, he lowers his body onto mine, and the feel of his solid weight pressing into me steals every coherent thought from my mind. His skin is hot against mine, every hard line of muscle pressing into me, and I moan at the contact, wrapping my legs around his waist instinctively, and then his cock presses into me. He feels so damn good—strong, powerful, overwhelming in the best way.

Ryan moves with a slow, deliberate rhythm, his hips rolling into mine as his lips trail down the side of my neck. I tilt my head back, giving him more access, and he takes advantage of it, his tongue darting out to taste my skin before his teeth scrape lightly against my pulse. “You’re mine,” he growls against my throat, his voice rough with need. "I want you to remember that."

“I’m yours,” I gasp, my hands gripping his shoulders, feeling the muscles bunch beneath my fingertips. His body feels like steel, hard and unyielding as he moves above me, and the sensation is driving me wild.

He presses deeper, his movements becoming more urgent, more demanding, and the pressure builds inside me, making my breath come faster. I cling to him, losing myself in the feeling ofhim—his strength, his dominance, the way he looks at me like I’m the only thing in the world that matters.

Ryan leans back slightly, his eyes blazing as he watches me, his hips still moving with a steady, relentless rhythm. "You make me want things I promised myself I didn't need." he says, his voice rough and low. He grins, that same cocky, devastating grin, and then he leans in, his lips brushing against my ear as he whispers, “Baby, I need all of you.”

Ryan’s lips graze my ear, sending a jolt of electricity through me. His voice, that deep, gravelly tone, makes my whole body hum with anticipation. I’m so lost in him, the world narrowing down to just the two of us, the way he feels against me, inside me. The steady rhythm of his hips has my head spinning, and I can’t think beyond the sensation, beyond the heat building between us.

His hands slide up my sides, fingers digging in just enough to remind me of his strength, of the raw power in his body. He’s always in control, always holding back, but right now, I can feel that control slipping. There’s a wildness in his eyes, molten and dark, as he watches me beneath him. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him look so possessive, so completely consumed.

“Look at me,” he growls, his voice rough as he slows his pace, almost pulling out of me completely. My eyes snap open, meeting his, and I’m lost in that gaze—intense, burning, as if he’s staking his claim right here, right now. “You feel that?” he murmurs, his lips brushing against mine as he speaks. “That’s all me. You’re mine, baby. Every inch of you.”

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