Page 49 of Locke 2

He pondered that. His attention to the dog was completely gone. He set Dahlia down on the floor, and I heard her pitter patter to her bed. Locke leaned over, resting his elbows on hisknees, his gaze trapped to me. “Just a kiss,” he muttered in question, though it didn’t sound very much like one.

“Just a kiss,” I confirmed.

“Quick or long?”

“What do you think?”

“Well, I don’t know, Kali, because I don’t kiss pretty girls good night.”

My face warmed. “Good kisses tend to be long, Locke.”

“You want a good kiss?”

“Who wants a bad kiss?”

“Little lion, I’m making sure you tell me what you want so I can give it to you straight.”

My lips broke out into a smile. “Give me alongandgood, good night kiss.”

In thought, he ran his tongue along his bottom lip while I waited for him to act. My stomach tightened when he stood up and slowly removed his suit jacket. My body came to life, my core waking up at the sight of him in his dress shirt. He raised the sleeves, watching me intently. “Kick off the covers,” he demanded. “I want to feel your little body when I give you this good night kiss.”

The covers were kicked off before he’d even finished the sentence. I didn’t care that I was showing my eagerness, or that my legs were sort of spread. The man made me wet and needy, and he hadn’t even dropped over me.

But then he did.

He slowly moved to the bed and climbed over me.

When his entire body fitted over mine, I felt thisclickbetween us. Like we’d fitted ourselves together, and it was the perfect fit. A dangerous thought, but it was honest. He was so big, and I was so little, and I felt protected beneath him. A far cry from the intimidation and fear I’d felt the night he’d taken me. No, this time it was different. This was supposed to be a kiss and nothing more…and I wanted more. Damn it, I did. I didn’t know in what way, but maybe it was one other way, or all ways. My head was too cloudy to know.

Already drunk off Locke, I detached myself from my mind and relaxed beneath him, feeling his warmth and hardness. His hand brushed along my hair, and it was so much more than gentle. His breathing thinned as I ran my hand down his chest, feeling all his hard ridges.

Our eyes locked, but it wasn’t enough. I wanted more light.

“Turn the lamp on.”

He didn’t ask why. He leaned over to the night table and a moment later, the lamp clicked on, casting the room in a pretty, yellow glow. At first glance, his face may have appeared empty to a stranger. But I knew better than to think his pulse wasn’t roaring in his ears. It was the subtle signs. Like the heavy look in his eyes, and the way his lips parted as he stared at mine. His tongue darted out and he ran it along his bottom lip. I watched it, entranced. Hot warmth pooled at the bottom of my belly. If he could just relax his body against the spot between my legs, I’d have come in a heartbeat.

But he didn’t do that. He purposely would leave me hanging. Unless—or until—I begged for my ruin.

He had relinquished a lot of his control and had given me so much power. But I yearned for his lead. When he led, he destroyed me and left me in the most beautiful ruin. He was reluctant to do so now.

I thought about the way we’d left things; how cold and abrupt he behaved yet I still felt his longing. His piercing gazes. His clear fight to resist me when I’d invited him into my bed, when I’d very clearly given him opportunities to touch me.

I surmised I bruised him. The gentleness faded after he felt called back due to my need for him, and not my want.

That was my fault.

I watched him and my heart felt full instead of just heavy. I was beyond tired, but I still ached for him and his naughty touch and his vicious tongue.

I darted out my tongue and ran it along his bottom lip. He froze suddenly, holding his breath as he whipped his eyes open to look at me. He may not have breathed, but my mouth was parted and I let out quick, tiny breaths.

“What are you doing, Kali?” he whispered, conflicted.

“Tasting you,” I whispered back, trying to sound teasing. “Don’t you like it?”

“I like everything about you.” It sounded like a defeated admission. One he had to look away to make.

“Do you like how I feel beneath you?”

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