Page 62 of Under Control

And neither was she.

“Then whatareyou?” She pushed back. “What are you tome?”

He searched her, drinking in her meaning. The game had taken a sharp turn and things had gotten raw.Real raw.

She didn’t expect he was going to answer.

Until hedid.

Eyes locked on her, his face tense and serious, he growled, “I’m not the hero you want, but I’m the monster you need.”

“What does that mean?”

“I’m going to marry you tomorrow morning. You’ll never worry about Petrov again.”

And that was when Danica realized that Carrick had just put her in checkmate, threatening to win their whole goddamn game.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Danica

“Carrick.” She blinked up at him, in disbelief.Marryhim?She was at a loss for words.

He remained stoic, steely.

“I thought…” she began, breathless. “I didn’t think…”

Before she could finish her sentence, he reached down and grabbed her jaw, tilting her chin up to him.

“You in those fucking librarian glasses,” he growled savagely, arousal deep in his throat.

And he kissed her.

She opened wider and wider as she received his kiss, which was hungrier than she’d remembered. It only matched her own desire and multiplied it. With enough tequila in him, his movements were less restricted, less controlled—more passionate.

God, she wanted him. Any woman would want him. There was no doubt. He was an absolute prize of a man—striking in every way. Determined, powerful and dominating… Her mouth watered thinking of what his rough, greedy hands had done to her the night before, and how he’d let his oversized cock fill her, taking her for the first time, forcing her to nearly burst at the seams.

But, sobering, she pulled back. While he held her shoulders as he looked down at her from his great height, she shifted under his gaze. He surveyed up and down her body, and the shade in his eyes shook her. She knew he was trying to figure out what the fuck her problem was.

Swallowing what felt like an acorn in her throat, she whispered something so quietly that she didn’t think he could hear.

“I deserve love. I can’t marry someone who is so vehemently opposed to the idea of love.”

A laugh escaped his hardened mouth, like she didn’t understand.

“You can—and you will,” he commanded as he shifted her a few feet back to where the chair was. “This is the only way.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s the only way I can protect you.”

His words crashed over her, and that same dark look took over his entire face. She knew then he was hungry…but not for food. He fell back into the chair behind him, holding her in front of him like a jewel to be admired—in nothing but her bra and underwear. He ran his hands up and down her body, as if studying what he was buying.

She realized then that it was her last chance. She had to do anything but give in, because the reality was that she couldn’t marry him. She’d learned that the hard way. Being with a man who couldn’t love, who refused to love? It was too dangerous.

Because I’m falling for him.

As her mind screamed at her to push back, to regain her upper hand, to run, Carrick cupped her ass down to where the wetness pooled in her panties, sending aching sensations up her spine. Unapologetic, he touched her as he pleased.

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