Page 46 of Steel Beauty

I sense him behind me. His warmth wraps around me from behind, not quite touching, but anchoring me all the same. He doesn’t touch me, but his presence is impossible to ignore.

The soft hum of “Straight On” drifts through the hidden speakers. Its soulful melody fills the air like it belongs here in this moment, weaving itself around us.

“You weren’t kidding,” I’m caught up in the beauty of the scene. “It’s breathtaking.”

“So are you,” he murmurs, his words low and intimate, behind me.

I don’t turn. I just stand there, the city sprawling out before us, letting the moment settle deep in my chest. For the first time, I realize being here—being with him—is exactly what I want.

He steps closer, his breath warm against the nape of my neck, sending a delicate shiver down my spine. When his lips graze the sensitive spot below my ear, a wave of heat rolls through me, melting every last bit of restraint. His arms wrap around me, strong and secure, pulling me against his broad chest. In his embrace, I feel comfort, desire, and a pull I can’t resist.

“I’ve thought about doing this all night,” he whispers, trailing feather-light kisses along the column of my neck. Each touch of his lips lights my nerve endings on fire, desire igniting deep in my core.

His husky voice brushes against my ear, and a rush of heat flushes through my body. His tender kisses set off a firework of sensations, awakening every inch of my skin. A primal urge takes hold of me as desire courses through my veins, centered deep within me.

I glance back over my shoulder, meeting his heated gaze. His eyes are dark with desire, mirroring my own barely restrained hunger. “I’ve thought about it too.”

“I was hoping you’d say that.” Then, in a smooth, casual manner, he calls out, “Close window shades.”

The window coverings glide down with a soft buzz, the city lights fading away as they close. The room transforms instantly—warmer, more intimate—while the music wraps around us like a gentle embrace.

He stands closely behind me, delicately brushing my hair to the side and baring the sensitive skin of my neck. A shiver courses through me as his warm exhalation dances over me, followed by the tender pressure of his lips.

His hands glide down my arms, igniting tingling sensations along their path. I surrender into his sturdy embrace, reveling in the warmth radiating from him. He nuzzles against my neck, the bristles of his short beard sending a delightful tremble throughout my body.

A soft gasp escapes my lips as he gently nibbles on my earlobe, and his fingertips glide along my hips, pulling me closer to him. His arousal presses against my lower back, igniting a flame within me. My breath quickens and desire builds in the depths of my core.

“You want this, right?” He pauses for a heartbeat. “I need to hear you say it so there’s no confusion on my part.”

I’ve never had a man ask for my permission. They’re usually too eager to take what they can, rushing in before I have the chance to change my mind and say no.

I turn in his arms, my hands sliding up to cradle his face. As I draw him down toward me, our eyes lock, the moment stretching between us. “I want you to fuck me. Fuck me hard and fuck me good. And when you’re finished, I want you to do it all over again. Is there any confusion on your part about that?”

A slow smile spreads across his face. “No… no confusion at all.”

“Good.”

He reaches down, grasping the back of my thighs and lifts me as though I’m light as a feather. My legs wrap around his waist, and my heels fall off my feet, dropping to the floor.

My breath catches as he presses me against the wall, his strong body pinning me in place. Heat radiates off his skin, and his intoxicating scent fills my nose. He presses his lips against my neck, trailing hot kisses down the side to my collarbone. Instinctively, I tilt my head to the side, bearing my neck to him.

Fuck, this is hot.

He holds on to my hips, pushing my back against the wall. I eagerly reach for his shirt, determined to feel his skin against mine. But those damn buttons won’t cooperate, adding a playful but frustrating struggle to our heated encounter.

Buttons 1 | Magnolia 0

“God, I want to feel you inside me.” Now. And my frustration multiplies as these fucking buttons fight me tooth and nail.

Caesar lets out a low, primal growl and tightens his grip on me. He carries me over to the bed and places me on the soft mattress. He flashes a mischievous grin as he stands over me, unfastening the last of the buttons on his shirt.

Pain-in-the-ass buttons from hell.

He removes his shirt and lets it fall to the ground before crawling on top of me. I don’t get much of a chance to admire the muscular lines of his body or the intricate tattoos that span his chest, shoulder, and arm—but I’ll definitely make time for that later.

I arch my back off the bed and remove my shirt, tossing it over my head to the floor. He focuses his efforts on unhooking and unzipping my pants, slowly pulling them down my legs until they are off, leaving me in only my bra and panties

He gently lifts my leg, his bristled cheek grazing the tender skin of my inner calf. “There’s nothing in the world quite like the softness of a woman’s leg.”

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