Page 97 of Beautiful Exile

Arden let out a soft moan, her nipples pebbling. My dick hardened in response, not giving a damn that this wasn’t the time, and I still had soaked boxer briefs on. My thumbs circled the tight buds as Arden’s head tipped back.

I released her breasts, even though it was the last thing I wanted to do. Sinking to my knees, I lathered bodywash over one leg, then the other. Arden’s breaths came in quick pants as her fingers dug into my shoulders.

Water coursed over her, rinsing the soap free, but I still didn’t move. She was so beautiful, a work of art in her own right. So strong, withstanding some of the worst this world had to offer.

Those gray-violet eyes found mine, brighter now. “Linc.”

My whole body tightened in response to just my name on her lips. “What do you need?”

The violet flashed. “You.”

A stream of curses flew through my mind. “I don’t know if that’s a good?—”

Arden cut me off, bending to take my mouth, her tongue stroking in. The second her taste hit me, I was gone: cherries and mint and something that was only her.

She pulled back, tugging me to my feet. “Trust me to know what I need. And right now, I need to feelyou. Everywhere.”

My dick pulsed with that image and promise. I stepped back and saw a hint of pain in Arden’s eyes at the perceived rejection. I quickly sat on the tiled bench in the shower and took her hand. “Take what you need, Vicious.”

34

ARDEN

My whole bodytingled with that pins-and-needles feeling you get after coming in from hours in the cold. Muscle and sinew waking up. All because of Linc.

And it wasn’t him just pulling me out of my haze. It was more. He woke things inside me that felt as if they’d been frozen for years.

It scared the hell out of me.

But I wasn’t walking away. I was stepping into the fear without armor. No bleeding it into my art. No fighting it out on the mat. No riding for hours to drown it.

I was diving in.

Linc’s hand curved around mine. “Whatever you need. Take it, Vicious.”

My nipples pebbled, and my core clenched as the water fell on my back, just enough to keep me warm. My hold on Linc’s hand tightened, and I moved it between my legs. My hand beneath his, I used his fingers to part me.

My mouth fell open in a silent gasp. There was power in this. In us beingtogether. Moving as one.

I dragged his fingers over my slit, rocking into him. Goose bumps rose on my flesh as I guided him where I needed him the most. Together, our fingers circled my clit.

My breaths came in short pants now, and when my head tipped back down, I found Linc watching me with reverence.

“So beautiful, taking what you need. Owning your pleasure.”

I shivered, but there was no fear here. Only heat. Just promise.

I dropped Linc’s hand, pulling down the only thing between us—those soaking-wet boxer briefs plastered to his skin. My knuckles grazed his powerful thighs, making mine clench in response. Then I climbed onto the bench to straddle him. The hard, cool tile dug into my knees, but I didn’t give a damn. Not when I was about to get what I wanted most.

My hand encircled Linc’s dick, gliding up and down. He let out a moan, and his eyes fluttered closed for a moment before flying open again as I squeezed gently on an upward glide. There was fire in those green depths as Linc looked up at me, still not touching. Then he cursed. “I don’t have a condom.”

The reminder of what we were about to do had everything in me tightening in the perfect way. “I’m on the pill, and I’ve been checked.”

“I have, too. I’d never take risks with you.”

Invisible claws dug into my heart. “Linc.”

“Tell me. What’s my girl going to take now?”

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