Page 68 of Sacrifice the Knight (Checkmate 6)

19

Eric

Sunlight creeps through Katrina’s window and pulses light over my eyelids. It’s not a steady light, but wavering, as though wind is moving the curtains… except the window is closed.

Pushing up onto my elbow, I cast a glance toward the closed window, the closed door, then back to Katrina’s bare back as she lies on her stomach beside me. Her breasts are squished beneath her weight, and her hair is messed sixty ways from Sunday. But her cheeks are flushed in the most beautiful way. Her lashes kiss her cheeks, fluttering as though she might be dreaming.

Her pouty lips move into a smile, but when she doesn’t follow it withstop watching me sleep, ya creep, I figure she’s still asleep.

Maybe she’s thinking of me.

I bring a gentle hand closer and brush a little hair off her face. Wouldn’t that be something if she was dreaming of me? It would be sweet, and small restitution for all of the times I’ve slept and thought of her.

Whatever it is she’s thinking of, it makes her smile. And that makes me smile as I lean closer and press my lips to her temple.

“Wake up, sleeping beauty.” I cast another glance across the room and hate that I didn’t ask what time she’s on shift today. It’s barely seven, which is early for a weekend, but she’s normally at the diner by now, and I’d feel like shit if I’m the reason she’s late. “Hey.” I push more hair off her face and nuzzle her neck. “You gotta wake up, beautiful.”

“Stop watching me sleep,” she grumbles sleepily. “Ya creep.”

I chuckle. “What time do you start work today? The sun’s up.”

Groaning, she pushes up to her elbows and turns to study the clock; then with a second grunt, she drops down again and hugs the pillow. “Start at nine. Still have two hours to sleep. Don’t ever wake me up again.”

“Well…” I grin. “I mean…” I fix the sheets so I can crawl impossibly closer. Her exhaustion wars against my conscience and the need to make her rest, but her smile makes my cock hard, and when, if ever, will I be able to sleep and wake in the same bed as her again?

Possibly never.

So I slide my hand over her rounded ass, groan when memories of last night race back through my mind, then I press my lips to the back of her shoulder.

Over and over again, I rub circles on her skin and press peppered kisses to her shoulder blades. “You could sleep,” I whisper. Another kiss. Then another. “Or you could come.”

“I choose sleep,” she grumbles.

I laugh. Climbing over her so my legs rest on either side of her hips, I grind my cock against her ass and grin when her sleepiness turns to squirming. “Are you sure about that, beautiful? You could have a fitful nap for two hours, or you could be energized in other, much more pleasurable ways.”

Groaning, she pushes me back a step, then up to her knees. “Do both. You fuck, me sleep. Make me come while I’m still dreamin’.”

“Suits me.” I slide a finger in without waiting to see if she’s really on this ride with me. For as long as we stay in this room, she’s mine, and asleep or not, she trusts me to pleasure her.

She hisses when I slide a second finger in and pushes back onto my hand, but her eyes remain closed, her lips still pouty and soft. My hips move in time with my hand, and my cock seeps with want, dripping onto her calf muscle and drawing another hiss from between her lips.

“I want you more than I want my next breath.” I pump my hand and curl my fingers until she’s coming on a gentle sigh. Her eyes remain closed, and I swear, she might legitimately be asleep. “I want you more than I want food.” My hand continues to move, but I reach across to her bedside table and yank out a brand new strip of condoms. Ripping one open and withdrawing my fingers, I make fast work of sliding the rubber down before she kicks me in the nuts for stopping. Moving between her legs and taking hold of her succulent hips, I line up and slam in on one fast movement.

Her hisses turn to quiet screams, but her walls clamp around me and almost drag me over the edge in one single thrust. “Fuck!” My breath races as though I’ve run a marathon. “Jesus, Katrina.” I pull back to the very tip of my cock, then slam in again and grit my teeth. “You undo me.” My thighs burn because I was in this position a lot in the last twelve hours. I hold her hip with one hand and her shoulder with the other, so I can control her whole body. Her eyes arestillclosed, but her body knows me; it welcomes me. It fucking snares me and drags me into her web.

This was never supposed to happen. This thing I feel for her, the way my heart throbs with both pleasure and pain, terrified and exhilarated at the same time.

“I wasn’t supposed to love you,” I grunt and slam in. Now’s a good time for her to stay asleep, because I need to purge my heart and admit my deepest, darkest fears. “I was supposed to fuck you and sate a hunger.” I slam inside her so each time we meet, she shoots forward and half-smothers herself with her pillow. “You were supposed to be easy. Then forgettable.” I slam in again and bite my bottom lip before I say the very thing that could ruin everything.

I love you. I love you. I fell in fucking love with you.

“Fuck, Katrina.” The fact that this woman didn’t react when I first mentioned love proves she’s still asleep, so I bring a hand back and smack her ass until the slap echoes in her room.

Her head snaps up, her eyes fiery with rage as she looks over her shoulder and into my eyes. “What the fuck?”

She’s awake now. I take both her hips in my hands and ride her the way I’m supposed to, like a mongrel dog looking for a fast fuck, not a man in love who’ll probably be the reason she gets hurt. “You’re so fuckin’ tight, Katrina. So hot and sweet.”

Forgetting her anger, she turns back to her pillow and buries her face. Her neck strains, and her shoulders bulge as she holds her weight up under my onslaught. She meets my thrusts with a solid brace on the bed, so instead of slamming her forward, she holds her own and swallows me up until the tip of my cock touches her womb. “Fuck, Eric.” Her body is strong, but her words are a cry. “Jesus, don’t slow down.”

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