Page 71 of Duty Unbound

I lifted her easily, her legs wrapping around my waist as I carried her toward the bed. She pressed hot, openmouthed kisses along my jaw, down my neck, her teeth grazing my pulse point. The sensation shot straight through me, making my knees threaten to buckle.

I needed to get myself under fucking control or this was going to be done before it even got started.

Laying her on the crisp hotel sheets, I took a moment to drink in the sight of her. Black lace contrasted beautifully against her pale skin, her wet hair still clinging to her collarbone like a spun web. Her chest rose and fell rapidly, green eyes dark with need as she watched me remove my belt.

“You’re still overdressed,” she pointed out, reaching for my waistband with fingers that trembled slightly.

I caught her wrists, kissing each one, before leaning over her and pinning them gently above her head with one hand.

“Patience,” I growled, using my free hand to trace the delicate lace edge of her bra. Her back arched into my touch, a soft whimper escaping her lips that went straight to my cock.

“I’ve been patient for weeks,” she protested, but her breath hitched when I lowered my mouth to the sensitive spot just below her ear.

“You weren’t so patient last night.” I kept my voice low and deep. “You weren’t so patient when I buried my face between your thighs and tasted you, were you?”

“No.” God, I loved how she could barely get that simple word out.

“I loved how you said my name. How you clutched my hair. How wet you got. How sweet you tasted.”

“Ethan, please…” She was grinding up against me now, trying to get her hands free. But I wasn’t even close to done torturing her yet.

I bit lightly on her neck, before moving my lips back over her jaw and claiming her mouth again with deep strokes of my tongue. If that wasn’t a preview of what was to come, I didn’t know what was.

I finally released her hands to reach behind her, unclasping her bra. The sight of her revealed to me made my mouth go dry. Perfect breasts, peaked with arousal, begging for my touch. I cupped them reverently, learning their weight, their softness.

When I lowered my mouth to one tight nipple, she cried out, her fingers tangling in my hair. I took my time, alternating between gentle suction and the lightest scrape of teeth, discovering what made her gasp, what made her arch closer. Her other breast received equal attention, my thumb circling the sensitive peak as my mouth worked its twin.

“Yes, please,” she begged, her hips rolling against mine in an ancient rhythm. “I need more.”

I kissed my way down her stomach, muscles quivering under my lips as I traced the curve of her waist, the dip of her navel. My fingers hooked in her lace panties, drawing them down slowly, revealing her completely to my hungry gaze. She was already wet, her arousal glistening in the soft light.

“I’ve been dreaming about this,” I admitted, pressing kisses to her inner thigh, feeling her tremble. “About tasting you again, about making you fall apart.”

“Later,” she gasped, tugging at my hair with surprising strength. “I need you inside me. Now.”

“Yes.”

Her urgency matched my own desperate need. I shed the rest of my clothes quickly, grateful for the protection I’d had with me all day—no way in hell was I going anywhere without it if Mel Rivers was going to be in my vicinity.

She watched with hooded eyes as I slid the condom on, humming in appreciation, her tongue darting out to wet her lips in a way that nearly undid me.

I planned to go slow, to draw this out, but that plan got shot to hell pretty damned quick.

The sensation was overwhelming—her tight heat enveloping me completely as I pressed in. Her inner muscles fluttered around me as she adjusted to my presence.

I had to pause, gritting my teeth against the urge to lose control too quickly.

“God, Mel,” I groaned, dropping my forehead to hers. “You feel incredible. I’m trying to go slow. Take our time.”

“I don’t want slow.” She wrapped her legs around my hips, pulling me impossibly deeper. “Move. Please, Ethan. I need you to move.”

Still, I fought for control. I didn’t want to hurt her. I forced myself to move by degrees, withdrawing almost completely before sliding back in.

But when her nails dug into my shoulders, leaving crescent marks that would linger, my control slipped. She urged me faster,harder, and I complied, setting a rhythm that had us both gasping for breath.

“Yes,” she breathed, meeting me thrust for thrust. “Take me hard. Don’t stop. Take me like youcan’tstop.”

As if I had any other fucking option.

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