Page 28 of Conflagration
Knowing that my laughter is about to bubble over, I look away to try and compose myself, but it’s no use. I shake my head, and he looks even more confused. “I’m sorry. I couldn’t help myself. The look on your face when you thought I was a virgin? That was freaking priceless!” I fall back onto the bed, lost in my giggles. When I finally calm down, I open my eyes and see him glaring at me.
“You think you’re funny, don’t you?” he growls, and I go still, finding that I love the sound of it.
I shake my head, and he just cocks an eyebrow as he crooks a finger at me, beckoning for me to come closer. I readily comply, crawling across the bed until I get to him. He pats his lap, and I straddle his waist as he grabs hold of mine.
“I should spank you for that,” he threatens, moving a hand down from my waist to cup my ass.
A shiver runs down my spine at the thought. I’ve never experienced that. I’ve only read about it in my romance novels, but the idea of Branson’s palm coming down hard on my ass actually turns me on.
“Maybe you should,” I whisper, pushing my ass back into his hand, daring him to do so.
He leans up and peppers kisses along my jaw then down my neck, biting and sucking before retracing his kisses until his lips land on mine. “Is that what you want?” he asks, his lips still pressed against my mouth
My mind is dizzy as my heart races, and his lips still as he awaits my answer. “I… I think I do,” I mumble.
I barely get the words out before his tongue slides into my mouth, tangling with mine. My hands move up to the back of his neck, my fingers gripping his hair as his hand continues to grip my ass.
All too soon, he pulls away, leaving me breathless and wanting more, so much more. He grins up at me, seemingly unaffected, and if his hard length weren’t currently pressed up against my boxer-covered pussy, I’d nearly be offended. But even if he looks calm, cool, and collected, I know he’s not.
“Well then, baby, I guess we’ll be spending a lot of time in here. Seeing as how you’re a virgin and all, we’ll have to work up to the kinky stuff,” he says, giving me a wink.
I laugh, pushing against his shoulder. “Must you ruin every single moment, Branson? You’re such a mood killer,” I tease.
His expression changes and I sober almost instantly. “I didn’t like waking up in the living room without you,” he reveals, causing my heart to sink.
“Bran—” I start, but he pinches my ass and shakes his head.
“Let me finish.”
I shut up immediately so he can continue.
“I’d been dreaming, and when I woke up alone, for a split second, I thought I’d dreamt you. Or that you’d left me.”
His hand moves up to the hem of the boxers I’m wearing, and he’s now stroking the skin on the small of my back. That, combined with his sweet words, makes me want to melt.
Leaning in, I press my forehead to his. “I won’t leave, Branson. Not until you tell me to.”
His eyes rise to meet mine, and there’s a strange mixture in their expression that’s hard to read. Hopeful. Fearful. Surprise. I’m not sure what, but it’s unnerving. “And what if I never do?”
I suck in a deep breath at his question. Then I sit up and give him a small smile, not sure if I know how to answer it. “Well…then I guess eventually we’ll have to redefine temporary.”
He rests back against the headboard, shaking his head. “I can’t do anything other than temporary, Ari. That’s all I can offer,” he says, causing my heart to constrict.
He’s contradicting himself in the worst way, and I have a feeling that he’s just as confused as I am. Part of me wants to reel myself back in before my emotions get the best of me and I start to fall for a man who’s emotionally unavailable. The other part of me doesn’t care if my heart gets broken, because at least, for a little while, I’ll know what it’s like to truly be wanted. It’s an internal struggle, but the latter eventually wins out.
“I get that, Branson. And I have zero expectations. We’ll have fun while this lasts, and then we’ll part ways. No harm done.” Even as I say the words, I know I won’t walk away from this unscathed. But the damage will be more than worth it in the end, and if I crawl back to Atlanta with my tail tucked between my legs, at least I’ll be doing it with the memories of my time with him.
He nods then runs his thumb along my jaw. “Good,” he says, his voice husky. He clears it before giving me a cocky smirk. “And while you’re here, you’re with me.” I nod, and he shakes his head. “I meanwith me. As much as I want you, I won’t push you on the sexual stuff.Much,” he says, that grin letting me know that he won’t entirely let it go. Not that I want him to. “What I mean is, no more waking up alone. Whether it’s in my bed, on the couch, or on the fuckin’ floor, you’re mine. In my arms. You got that?”
I shouldn’t like this, but his possessive tone is like an aphrodisiac, and moisture floods the boxers I’m wearing. It’s ownership in its most primal form, and I like the idea of being his for the time being.
As I struggle not to rock against his erection, I raise an eyebrow. “You know, I’ve never been really good at taking orders. Look how well it worked out for the last guy.”
It’s obviously the wrong thing to say. A scowl forms over his gorgeous features, and this time, both hands move down to my ass, gripping tightly. “That’s because he wasn’t man enough to know the difference between knowing how to possess his woman body and soul and having her be a possession. There’s a huge fucking difference. Make no mistake, baby. I love that you’re seeking your independence. That you left the asshole who thought he could control you. I don’t want that. But when you’re in my home, in my bed, I will own you. I’ll own this,” he growls as he digs his fingers into my ass. “You will be completely and utterly mine. And I can admit I like to have full control. That doesn’t mean there won’t be times where your mouth is sucking my cock so good that I can’t help but surrender to you and let you do your thing. That’s how a real man owns his woman, baby, and that’s how I’ll own you.”
“Wow,” I whisper then blush crimson red, not having meant for the word to escape my lips. He chuckles then loosens his hold on me. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Let it marinate, baby. I know this is new for you.” His grin is cocky and knowing.
