Page 39 of Duke

She’s all fire; spitting sparks.

But I like the burn—no friggin’ love it.

She’s in my face shoving an envelope filled with cash in my hands, “ … for my car. I don’t need your charity.”

I grab fistfuls of her silky hair and shove my tongue right into her mouth; silencing her with my kiss. Her fists pound my back, but soon the pounding turns to clutching as she loses. She needs to accept that in losing she wins. We both fuckin’ win.

I moan moving my hands down to cup her ass bringing her hips flush against mine. My cock juts into her tummy, and she whimpers, “I fucking hate you.”

“I know cherry. It’s okay. If this is how you hate—I fuckin’ love it. Hate me forever.”

She’s mad as hell. It turns me the fuck on. We are going to burn the house down with our lovemaking when it happens.

I pull back and grab her hand, threading our fingers together. She’s pissed but stunned. My eyes take in her mussed hair, wet lips, and dazed eyes.

My cock pulses.

I did this to her—made her forgeteverything.

“Come on sugar, hop in. We need to talk.”

I open the passenger door to my truck and practically push her in. She’s still holding out, fighting me even though we both know fate never loses. She silent as I back out of the drive and turn towards town.

“I’m leaving today. Should’ve left weeks ago, but I couldn’t… because I saw you. I came into Stan’s minutes after burying my father. I was only gonna stop in for one drink but when I saw you, all my plans went up in smoke. I have to have you, Shanna. All the blood drains down to my dick every time I’m near you. It’s all I can think about. I’ve never been a man that’s ruled by lust or sex, but I have this primal urge to mate—to fuck you raw that’s not going away. It’s getting worse, and I’m afraid I’m gonna snap and either fucking beat someone or haul your ass caveman style to my lair and lock the door.”

My eyes cut away from the road. She’s pressing her thighs together and bites her lip.

I cut the wheel to the right pulling onto the shoulder. My breath comes out in a hiss; my fingers find the back of her head. Despite my raw words, I stare into her eyes before kissing her like a fuckin’ princess. My touch is gentle with my passion chained. I’m wooing my virgin, giving her the tenderness, she needs.

“Shanna,” I whisper into her mouth. “I could love you girl. Let me… let me in. Lower your damn walls.”

She moans and unbuckles her seat belt, crawling into my lap. I slide my seat back and let her straddle me, in the front seat of my cab on the side of the only highway in and out of town.

Her hot little tongue plays with mine, and my hands palm her ass while pressing her core down in my lap.

“I love your beard,” she whispers coming up for air, “don’t ever shave it.

“Yes, ma’am.”

She smiles before diving back in. We kiss and sigh and moan before the honking cars passing by bring us both back to earth.

She sits back in her seat buckling herself in and I stare at her knowing the truth: I already love her—loved her for weeks. She’s my mate and leaving her is gonna kill me. But I love her so much; I need to do right by my girl. This filly still needs fields to run wild in before she’s put in a pasture with a fence. I don’t want her to ever resent me for taking her freedom away so young.

“Shanna, I need you to know I’m leaving to give you some space… to finish your degree and spend time with your pops. I’m coming back, and when I do. It’s you and me… got it?”

She sucks in a breath nodding. I put the truck in gear and pull back on the road.

“I need you to understand something.”

I cut my eyes over to hers quickly before focusing on driving, and tip my head, “What’s that sugar?”

“Pops stifled me... made me feel suffocated more than loved at times. I need you to let me do things my way. I can pay my bills and run my bar.”

My hands clench the wheel. She’s mine to take care of and look out for. It’s just my luck; I’d fall for the one woman who won’t let me.

“Okay, cherry. I’m sorry. The guy at the shop is an old buddy of mine. He served, too. I paid nothing… a fraction of what he should’ve charged.”

“Well, thank you, but I’m still paying for it. You were in the military?”

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