Page 95 of Watch Me Burn
His growl ripples across my skin.
“You’re late.” I don’t turn around, aiming for casual, but the tremor in my voice is unmistakable. “I was starting to think you weren’t coming.”
He steps closer, so close the heat of his chest burns through the fabric of my nightgown.
“I always come, little doe. Look at me.”
I turn to face him. My body comes alive under his intense stare, nipples straining against the thin silk. My heart hammers in my throat.
“Dr. Ritchie cleared me.” The words tumble out too quickly. “I’m healed. Everything’s back to normal.”
He remains silent and motionless, his predatory gaze fixed on me.
“Did you hear me?” I ask, frustration creeping into my voice as I step toward him. “I said we can… you can…” Why am I shy? This man has seen me, touched me, and taken me in ways that negate any shyness. “You can fuck me again.”
“I heard you.”
His voice is low and controlled. Too controlled.
Why is he standing there like carved stone?
“Don’t you want me anymore?”
A growl rises from his chest, and my stomach flutters with relief. There’s my wolf. There’s the man I’ve been missing.
“Of course, I fucking want you. I’ve thought of nothing else.”
“Then do it. Take what’s yours.”
He moves one step, closing the final distance between us. His thumbs slide under the slip at my waist, tugging it up, inch by inch, until the bare curve of my ass is exposed. His touch is light, too gentle. This isn’t how he usually grabs me, with bruising force and desperate need.
“I won’t break.” I grip his hands, pressing them harder against my skin. He doesn’t shake them off. Thank God. “I’m not fragile.”
He tilts his head. “I know.”
But there’s still a hesitation in his grip.
“No.” Frustration bubbles up inside me. This isn’t what I want. This isn’t what I need. “What happened to the man who can’t wait to claim me?” I step back from his touch. “The one who rips my clothes off the second he gets here. The one who fucks me like he’ll die if he doesn’t?”
“He’s still here.” His voice is tight. “But things have changed, Luna.”
My head whips from side to side. “No, they haven’t. I’m still me. You’re still you. And I still want you exactly as you are.”
“Brutal? Selfish? Taking without thought?”
“Yes.” I step closer to him again. “That’s who you are with me. That’s who I want you to be.”
His hands clench at his sides. “And if I hurt you?”
“You won’t.” I reach for his jacket, hooking my fingers into the zipper and tugging it down, something I know better than to do. “Not in any way I don’t want.”
He grabs my wrists, stopping me. For a moment, I think he’s going to push me away. Instead, he spins me around, pinning my arms behind my back.
“Is this what you want?” His breath is hot against my ear, and his grip anchors me in place, holding me captive in this exposed position, a vulnerability so delicious it leaves me dizzy. “To be handled roughly? To be used?”
“Yes.” Desire floods through me. “God, yes.”
Fabric rustles behind me, then cold plastic brushes my skin.
