Page 23 of Desperate Temptations

She was never the type to sleep around. She had only slept with one man, her husband. She never expected she’d find another man whom she’d want to give herself to. This man wouldn’t have ever been on her radar. She was accustomed to classic men, those with whom everyone felt comfortable. You could never say that about this man. Few people wouldn’t feel anything but apprehensive around him. He would only let certain people close to him, like other warriors in the unit he worked with in the military, his family, and maybe her someday.

Her heart contracted. If it weren’t for the circumstances, she might never have met him, and the thought of never knowing him made her thankful. And she hadn’t been grateful for anything in a long time.

What was it about this man? A thought seared through her mind and washed the color out of her face.

“You’ve been with a lot of women, haven’t you?” Without waiting for his reply, Jessa stood abruptly, held her hand out, and then turned her back to him. “Please don’t answer that. It’s none of my business, and frankly, I really don’t want to know the answer.”

Jessa had taken a few steps when a strong arm wrapped around her waist and tugged her back. She gasped and tried to struggle away from him. He steadied her at the same time he pulled her onto his lap and held her head against his chest with one hand.

“Jessa, settle down. You’re going to hurt yourself.”

It was the tone of his voice, not the words, that calmed her. She didn’t fight him when he tilted her face up so he could see her, but her heart almost stopped at the cold and furious expression in his eyes.

He pulled her closer to him when she tried to move away from him. “Listen carefully to me, Baby. I admit there have been women...” He shushed her when she tried to interrupt him. “I’m not going any further about that. You don’t need to hear details because it’s the past. All you need to know is, I won’t be seeing anyone else ever again. I have the woman I want to spend my life with, there won’t be another one, ever.”

She scowled at his arrogance, but her heart thumped harder at his possessive tone.

“We’re not together. I don’t know why I asked you that. It really isn’t any of my business. I’ve got no hold on you and vice versa. Just because we did ... you know...” Jessa said defiantly and waved her hand.

She shivered when he just smiled and interrupted her.

“Oh, yeah, we’re together.”

Her heart pounded so hard, it resonated in her ears.

Jessa shook her head, struggling to get off his lap, for some reason still needing to fight for her independence.

“No, we’re not. It’s ridiculous to think about forever when we just met. This is going too fast.”

He bent his head, slammed his mouth down, and took her lips. Cain used the pressure of his own mouth to open hers, then he made the kiss deeper, using his tongue to taste every part of her mouth. He used one hand to turn her into his chest and hold her tightly against him, cupping her bottom. With his other hand, he used to restrain her head for his possession, spearing his fingers through her hair.

Jessa couldn’t catch her breath as extreme sensations bombarded her system. Her arms wrapped tightly around his muscular shoulders, as her fingers dug into his muscles. Her head tilted, giving him better access to her mouth. A deep groan slipped from her throat when his mouth slid down her neck and nipped at the sensitive area between her neck and shoulder.

She closed her eyes and used her other senses. The pressure of his mouth sent shivers racing through her body, and the taste of him made her hungry for more. The feel of him, so big and hard, made her feel tiny, feminine, and safe. And, oh God, his smell, musky and male. That alone made her body tremble and her cunt weep with desire. Jessa moaned, and she twisted closer until she felt she’d become a part of him.

Chapter Twenty-One

Cain lifted his head slowly and looked down at her upturned face. He smiled gently, even with the pain of being separated from her that tightened a solid band around his abdomen. It took all his strength not to haul her into the bedroom and lay her down on her soft white comforter. Or, God, spreading her on the table—it was closer, and he wouldn’t have to move.

He told himself it would happen soon, but first she needed to come to terms with Drew’s death before she could move on with him, or it could backfire on him and tear her from his arms. He ran a hand through her hair and smoothed it out of her face.

“Sweetheart, open your eyes and look at me.” Her eyes popped open, and immediately a blush crept up her face, making him angry again. “Don’t you dare regret this. You have nothing to feel guilty or embarrassed about.”

Cain adjusted her on his lap, taking pressure off his aching cock and some of his discomfort away.

“Now let’s get back to our discussion.” Cain rubbed his thumb over her lower lip, puffy and red from his kiss. “I think that kiss proved we have something between us. You can’t deny it. Hell, I won’t let you deny it.”

He hated the confusion in her expression. She put a hand on his chest and pushed because she wanted to get off him.

“Let me up, please.”

He placed a hand on her stomach and kept her where he wanted her.

“Not yet, Sweetheart, we’re not done. Besides, I like holding you, and you might not admit it right now, but I think you like me holding you.”

“I want you to know you can’t bully me into a relationship with you.”

Cain chuckled. “I’m bullying you?”

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