Page 22 of Law

As if that might not be enough, he closed his lips over the mark, sucking and licking until she knew it would leave a branding anyone would be able to see.

She should be ashamed. She should be outraged. Instead, wave after wave of satisfaction and pleasure crashed over her as he kissed his way back up to her lips.

Finally, he took the same control of her mouth. His tonguewould not be denied, demanding entry which she willingly gave. He explored her mouth, sliding his tongue deeper and groaning as she met his intensity with her own.

Her mind fuzzed, losing the control it normally exercised over her every thought. There were no thoughts, no worries, only feelings of desire and need.

She’d been kissed before, or so she thought. Law made her realize she hadn’t known until this moment what a kiss was. What it could do. How it could make her feel, until all she wanted was more.

More of everything. His kisses. His touch. Him.

She ran her hands over his chest. Even through the thick sweater he wore, she could feel the muscles flexing and bunching as he held her.

Was this really happening?

She ran her fingers through his hair, her nails scraping his scalp. Groaning into her mouth, he rocked his hips into hers. His hardness pressed against her. Oh yes, this was definitely real.

Sliding his hands down her body, he squeezed her bottom and pulled her harder against him. Suddenly, he broke the kiss and took a step back.

She would have followed him if he hadn’t held her in place. Sucking in several deep, measured breaths, he slid his hand from her hair. She almost cried out at the loss.

The woods around them came back into focus. The scent of evergreens and acrid smoke from the chimney once again reached her senses. Birds chirped in the cold afternoon air.

Her face heated at the realization of how far she would have allowed him to go if he hadn’t stopped. She would have let him do anything. She’d lost herself in him and what he was doing to her.

She’d felt perfectly safe, knowing if she’d told him to stop, he would have. But she hadn’t wanted him to. Did that make her a bad person? Would he think she was bad?

“Whatever you’re thinking right now, just stop. I’m telling you right now, I stopped that kiss because it was the right thing to do. I needed to stop to protect you from making an impulsive decision that you might regret. I don’t ever want you to look back on anything we do and feel like you were pressured or tricked. That’s not going to happen.”

“Do you regret kissing me?” The words were out before she could stop them. She’d give anything to have them back. If he regretted it, she didn’t want to know.

He took her hand and pressed it to his lips. “No, babygirl. That was the closest thing to perfect I’ve ever experienced in my life. I don’t regret kissing you. And I don’t regret marking you. I know this is insane, but we fit. In ways you don’t understand yet, but you will. But I don’t want to rush you. If we make it to where I hope we do, it has to be because both of us want to be there. And that will take time.”

He thought their kiss was perfect?

His admission warmed her from her chest to her core.

A gust of wind sent a shiver racing down her spine. Of course, her Viking noticed.

“What do you say we go back inside now. I’ll run you a hot bath to warm you up. After that—” An alarm interrupted him.

With a frown, he pulled out his phone, his expression shifting to a scowl. He took her hand and led her in. “I want you to stay here.” He brought her into the main room. “Wait here for me. Do not open the door to anyone except me. Do you understand?”

Tension coiled in her stomach. Something was wrong. “What’s happening?”

“Nothing I can’t handle, fairy cat. Your job is to do what I tell you. I’ll explain everything when I get back.”

Tension grew into dread. “Get back? Where are you going?”

“Not far, but I need to go now. Wait here and do what I told you.”

She nodded as he ran to his truck. His stomping on the gas caused the back of his truck to fishtail while he sped down the dirt lane, pushing her dread to terror. Her Viking wouldn’t leave her behind unless it was something dangerous.

She paced the room, battling the urge to vomit. What could it be? How long would he be gone? What if he got hurt? She’d just be waiting here while he lay in a ditch somewhere, injured and bleeding.

Then her mind kicked into gear, conjuring a horrifying scene. It wasn’t the first time her reality blended with her imagination, and when it did, her thoughts felt as real as the air she breathed. They consumed her entire being. Her body couldn’t distinguish what was actually happening from what she had imagined.

She kept her word by staying safe indoors, even though everything within her urged her to go to him. He might live in his glass fortress, but even a Viking wasn’t Superman; he could be hurt.

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