Page 71 of Dearest Protector

And completely out of control.

I could sense his need to possess me, and it made me crazy.

I panted as he continued to explore the skin at my neck while his hands slid beneath my tank and ran up my bare back.

Every fervent touch ramped up my heated body until I felt like I was going to spontaneously combust.

My back hit the mattress before I even realized that Ben had moved.

He held my wrists over my head, his big body looming ominously above me as he rasped, “I am not going to fucking take you like this.”

“Why?” I panted as our eyes clashed and finally locked together. “You don’t hear me complaining. I’ve wanted this for a long time, Ben, and I think you know I want it. I think you want it, too. Just put us out of our misery for God’s sake.”

I tried to pull my wrists free from his grip so I could touch him, but those attempts were futile.

“Do you think for even one second that Idon’twant you?” he said in a raw, tormented voice that I’d never heard before.

I shook my head slowly, my eyes never leaving his. “Then why are you stopping?” I questioned, my tone confused.

If he wanted me, I was all his. I thought I’d made that pretty obvious.

“You’re a fucking virgin, Ariel,” he grunted. “And we really need to talk. There are some things I have to tell you.”

“I’m probably the horniest virgin on the planet right now,” I shot back at him. “I’m not completely innocent, Ben, and I’ve been on birth control for years because I have rough periods when I’m not on the pill. Use a condom if you want, too. I don’t care. And whatever we need to talk about can happen later.”

I wanted him.

Right now, nothing else mattered.

“Christ, Ariel, do you really think I’m worried about myself right now? I’m clean, and I haven’t been with another woman for over two years, but it’s not me I’m concerned about. There’s something we definitely need to discussbeforethis happens. I’m also a big guy. I could easily hurt you if I don’t get a damn grip, and I have zero control at the moment.”

This was a side of Ben that I’d never seen before, and seeing him this uncontrolled and wild formewas my undoing.

“I doubt it would hurt more than it does right now,” I told him.

Ben’s chest was still heaving as his eyes ran over my face like he was searching for the truth. “Is this really what you want?” he asked gruffly.

“You already know it is,” I answered breathlessly. “I don’t care if it hurts a little the first time.”

“I’ll make sure it’s minimal,” he vowed. “But once this happens, there’s no going back for me to the friendship zone, Ariel. So be certain you know what you’re asking for.”

“Let me go,” I said as I jerked hard at my wrists.

If he thought I’d want to go back to beingjust friendsafter this, he was out of his mind.

The loss of this kind of intimacy would kill me.

He frowned, but he finally released me.

I reached out and put one hand on his shoulder and ran the other along his stubbled, hard jawline as I murmured, “I’ve never wanted any man but you, Ben. You’re the only guy who has ever made me this crazy. Let go of your need to take care of everyone else and take whatyouwant. I guarantee that I want exactly what you want.”

Maybe it was still hard for me to believe that Ben wanted me this way, but the physical proof was obvious, and his desire was written all over his gorgeous face.

“You’ll be stuck with me, Ariel. I mean that,” he warned.

I smiled. “Oh, poor me. Stuck with the hottest, most amazing man on the planet? Whatever will I do?” I teased.

God, didn’t he realize how badly I wanted to be his? How badly I wanted to be connected to him and only him?

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