Page 45 of Captive Union
“Kira.” He places his hand on my shoulder. “I’m sorry for yelling at you the other day. I’d just been in the fight with Maxim, and my head wasn’t on straight. I’ve been so consumed with my hatred for him that I lost sight of what’s growing between us. I don’t want to lose any progress we’ve made.”
I set my drawing down and look at him. “I’m still confused about how I feel. On the one hand, I care about you and want to make this marriage work. On the other hand, how can I when I still feel stuck in some ways? Does that make sense?”
“It does.” His fingers trail over my cheek. “I always intended for you to be mine, but I want it to be your choice. I’ll give you some space to figure out how you’re feeling. Come to me when you have an answer.”
I grip his hand as he starts to remove it, stopping him. “I might never have an answer. But what I do know is that I owe it to myself to explore our connection. I want to be bold.” Sitting in my feelings for the past couple of days has made me realize I’m ready to take things further with Erik. It’s scary, and I know my family would disapprove majorly, but I have a right to explore it.
Erik smiles. “I like the sound of that.”
“Good,” I breathe out, standing. This is it. I just need to step forward, and everything will change between us. I’m ready, though.
I grab Erik’s face and pull him down, so I can kiss him. He responds immediately, wrapping his arms around my back and bringing our bodies closer, so there’s no space between us. I sigh into his mouth, sinking into the kiss as he kisses me deeper.
His hands rub up and down my spine, sending shivers over me. I cling to his shoulders, needing something to keep me steady.
This kiss is different from our others. Something is shifting between us, and I know it’s because of me. Hearing Maxim tell me that I would essentially become a prisoner if he found me pushed me to further things with Erik. If I’m going to be a prisoner no matter who I’m with, I might as well experience more of life with Erik than would be possible with my family keeping me in my room.
I gasp as Erik kisses down my cheek to my neck, suckling my skin. My body jerks from the sensation, melding myself against him.
“Erik,” I sigh, gripping the back of his head as he kisses my neck.
I can feel his smile against my skin as he says, “You’re so delicious. I can’t wait to taste all of you.”
I clamp my legs together as my arousal grows. I’ve never felt this unhinged in my life.
“I’ll be patient,” he murmurs, planting kisses along my neck. “As long as you need me to be.”
“What if I want that now?” I whisper into his ear.
He lifts his head, his dark eyes drilling into mine. “What are you saying?”
I grip his biceps. His strength is unparalleled, and it makes me feel somehow both smaller and braver at the same time. This is the moment things officially change between us.
It wasn’t him taking me here. It wasn’t our marriage.
It’s this.
“I’m ready, Erik. Ready to be yours completely.”
Instead of kissing me like I expect him to do, he pulls back slightly. “What made you decide that?”
I huff. “Are you really questioning this right now?”
“I just want to make sure you’re sure. I don’t want you to regret this later. When you become mine, you will always bemine. Forever.”
“I know,” I whisper. I clear my throat, raising my voice. “I’m ready, Erik. I realized this after talking to Maxim. You’re right. I have a chance to live my life to the fullest with you, and I’m going to take that. I’m tired of doing what everyone expects of me. I’m ready to be bold. I’mready.”
His eyes darken. “Good.” He doesn’t waste any more time.
I gasp as he scoops me up in his arms and places me on our bed. Over the past few weeks, all we’ve done is snuggle. But tonight, we’ll do a lot more than just snuggling.
My breathing becomes ragged as I lay there, looking up at him. He’s gazing at me with so much softness in his eyes it would make me cry if I wasn’t so turned on. Ever so slowly, he trails his fingers over my legs, lifting my leg, so my knee is pointing in the air. He rubs circles into my knee, still looking at me with his soft, dark eyes. I control my breath and start to relax into the bed.
The circular motion of his hand on my knee is simple but effective in making heat grow within me. Pulsing begins in the spot between my legs. I shift my hips, wanting to shut my legs, but with Erik’s hand on my knee, I’m forced to keep my legs open.
Erik moves his hand up to my thigh, drawing circles there, too. Instinctively, I start to rub my hands over the top of my chest, then down between my breasts to my stomach and back up again, the fabric of my dress moving with my motions.
His eyes somehow grow darker as he watches my movement with my hands. He grips my thigh tighter, which sends a rush of arousal straight to my pussy. I’ve never thought of my intimate area in that term before, but I said I was ready to be bold, and it sounds right at this moment.
