Page 101 of Heritage of Fire

“Awe, did I actually hurt you?” she says with a smirk, her “awe” dripping with sarcasm.

I approach her again, gathering her into a hold.

Knowing what to do, she ducks down, ready to stomp, but I anticipate the move. I wrap my leg around her back legs, dropping her to the mat. My body falls on top of hers, weight distributed on my forearms. Her eyes trail up my exposed arms, fingertips tracing over my biceps.

“Come on, Moonbeam, where’s the fire?” I give her a wink and a wide grin, but she doesn’t smile. She holds my stare, her warm irises pulling me deeper into madness. The desire to touch her aches in my chest, but I need her to make the first move.There’s so much affection for Luna—more than I’ve ever felt before.

I push up and rock back to sit, then pull her to a stand with me. My hands move of their own accord, fingertips stroking up both her arms in tandem. The sparks between us ignite into an unquenchable flame.

“Don’t start something you’re not going to finish, Nik.”

I freeze. I’m taken aback by not only her words, but her tone. It’s sure and unwavering—so much different from the Luna I met on our wedding day.

My heart hammers in my chest. Confused, I take a step back. “I don’t understand.”

“You don’t do relationships, Nik. Everyone knows that. I don’t want—Ican’tjust have fun with you like that. I’m not wired that way.”

“You’re my wife. Pretty sure that’s as relationship as it gets.”

She flushes and marches over to the water cooler, where she downs a paper cup of water and tosses it in the trash before turning to look at me. She sighs. “You know what I mean.”

I stalk over and tug her to me. My hands move to frame her face, and I pull it close to mine. “Idon’tknow what you mean. I’m mad for you, Luna.”

Her breath hitches on an inhale, but she doesn’t seem to release it. Longing courses through me, but before I can decide which part of her I want to kiss first, Luna surges up onto her toes and presses her lips to mine.

An electric jolt shocks me, and a small hum leaves Luna. I trace her lips with my tongue, savoring her sweet taste. She parts for me, her tongue seeking mine, and I oblige.

I tilt her head for better access, exploring her mouth and grazing her lower lip with my teeth. She pulls at my shirt, and I walk her backward until I’m slamming her into the wall. A gasprips her mouth from mine, and I move to her neck, scraping my teeth along her delicate skin. Soothing every nip with my tongue.

Her head falls back against the wall, her eyes flutter shut, and a moan falls from her as I ravage her neck. How can she taste this good?

I crave her.

All of her.

Her throat bobs as she swallows, and the movement lights a fire under me. I press into her, molding our bodies together. But I still don’t feel like we’re close enough.

“I’ve pictured my hands on you ever since that night in the library—I’veneededmy hands on you.”

She whimpers.

Bending down, I grip her behind her thighs; then I’m hauling her up and throwing her over my shoulder.

She shrieks and I chuckle, allowing my fingers to trail over the curve of her bottom.

I fling open the gym door and make my way to the apartment steps. Frank is stationed at the bottom.

“Sir?” he asks.

Ignoring him, I ascend the stairs. Luna laughs behind me and scrambles for purchase against my back.

I plow through the door and set her down, then quickly turn to shut and lock it.

There will be zero interruptions.

When I whirl back to her, Luna has pulled her top off. The sports bra she’s wearing is pink and vibrant compared to the black of her leggings.

She backs away with every step I take toward her, biting her lower lip and dragging it out of her mouth. When she finally hits the kitchen counter, I use my thumb to pull her lip free.

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