Page 45 of Catnip, Claws, and Chaos

“Sure,” I say, my voice gruff. Picking up the bottle, I walk over to the cupboard for a clean glass.

“I don’t need my own,” I hear her say. “I can drink from yours.”

I turn around just in time to see her lips settle on the rim of my glass. There’s something so intimate about seeing her mouth in the same place mine was a minute ago. She makes her usual grimace of disgust as the golden liquid goes down her throat.

My mind immediately conjures an image of those same lips wrapped around my cock, and I have to grit my teeth as blood rushes south. What is it about this woman that reduces me to my basest instincts?

“I’m sorry,” I say. I have to clear my throat to talk. “I can buy something else next time.”

“I don’t need it.” She shrugs and shoots me a quick smile. That’s one of the things I like most about Emily. She doesn’t limit herself to curving her lips and showing her teeth. No, when Emily smiles, her whole face lights up, her eyes sparkle, and two adorable dimples appear on her cheeks.

Val’s smile was the same way. It transformed her entire face and made her eyes dance. I used to tell her that her smile was more intoxicating than any drink. She’d laugh and tell me I was being corny. But it was true. And now here I am, feeling that same pull toward Emily’s smile and warmth spreading through my chest.

I swallow audibly. I’ve got to get out of here if I don’t want to lose the shred of self-control that remains. “I think I’ll go to bed.” I walk past her, stopping a step away. “Good night, Emily.”

“Logan?” she says. I turn back to her. She’s still looking at me with that bright smile. “I just wanted to thank you again. If it hadn’t been for you—” She shakes her head and stretches out a hand toward me, touching my forearm. “I don’t even know how I can repay you.”

Her touch is light, barely there, but it sends electricity shooting up my arm. Through the thin fabric of my shirt, I can feel the warmth of her fingers, the slight pressure of each one. Such a simple touch shouldn’t affect me this way, but my body betrays me, responding instantly.

I feel like a pig for what I’m about to do, but her words trigger something inside me. All the self-control I managed to hold shatters.

My hand cups the nape of her neck. I weave my fingers into her hair and press my mouth to hers, nuzzling her beautiful lips with my tongue until they open for me. She’s so ready for me, so finely attuned to me, that she immediately lets me in, giving a faint moan.

Her lips are soft and warm, tasting faintly of whiskey and mint toothpaste. The combination is intoxicating. The small sound she makes in the back of her throat drives me wild and makes me want to consume her completely.

Her hands move over my chest and down my hips. She grabs the hem of my shirt and begins to pull it upward. Her movements are frenetic. She’s impatient. I release her mouth and help her, pulling the shirt over my head and tossing it aside.

The cool air of the apartment hits my bare skin, but I barely notice. I’m burning up, every nerve ending on fire with need. Her eyes widen as she takes in my chest, and the naked hunger in her gaze only fuels my own.

Emily looks at me, catching her bottom lip between her teeth in that way that drives me crazy. There’s no way I can resist her. Reclaiming her lips, I run my hands over every inch of her body.

“Undress for me,” I command her.

She lifts her eyes and stares into mine. She likes it when I give her orders, I realize. I can tell she wants me to be in charge. Taking a step back, she fingers the hem of her tank top. She’s not wearing a bra, and her hard nipples thrust against the fabric. She pulls the shirt over her head and drops it on the floor. I want to touch her, but even more, I want to see her completely naked, at my mercy. My cock throbs painfully against the zipper of my jeans as Emily slides her thumbs under the elastic of her shorts and pushes them slowly down her thighs.

“What do you have against underwear?” I say in a hoarse voice.

She shoots me a cheeky smile as she kicks her shorts off and stands before me, completely nude. “No woman likes to wear panties and a bra to bed,” she says as if it’s something I should know.

Standing before me in all her naked glory, she’s breathtaking. Her skin is pale and smooth, her breasts small but perfect, withrosy nipples hard from arousal. Between her thighs, I can see the dark shadow of her pubic hair and the glisten of moisture that tells me she’s as aroused as I am.

I grab her by the hips, pick her up, and set her down on the kitchen island. “I’ve wanted to taste you since the moment I met you,” I murmur against her skin, leaving a trail of kisses along her neck.

The skin of her throat is delicate and soft under my lips. I can feel her pulse racing. She tilts her head back to give me better access, clutching at my shoulders, digging her nails in slightly.

My mouth descends to her firm breast, and I gently bite one nipple while rolling the other between my thumb and index finger. She gasps and lifts her hand to my head, sinking her fingers into my hair.

“Logan,” she moans. “Please.”

“Not so fast, kitten.” Releasing her nipple, I continue down her flat stomach. Emily lets herself fall back onto the cold surface of the island, exposing every inch of her body to me. I draw circles around her belly button with my tongue before descending farther and running my tongue along the crease between her pussy and her thigh.

She squirms beneath me, lifting her hips, seeking more contact. Her scent grows stronger, musky, feminine, and intoxicating. I take my time teasing her, wanting to build the anticipation until she can’t stand it anymore.

“Logan!” she cries. Her voice sounds desperate.

I press my hand into her belly to hold her still while, with the other, I open her pussy lips. “So beautiful,” I murmur, kissing the nub of her clit.

Her cry of pleasure arouses me. I want to hear the sounds she makes when she comes. I want to know what she tastes like. Running my tongue over her clit, I insert one finger in her pussy. It’s so tight and wet.

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