Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 33157 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 166(@200wpm)___ 133(@250wpm)___ 111(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33157 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 166(@200wpm)___ 133(@250wpm)___ 111(@300wpm)
Her fingers traced the tattoo on my chest just beneath the collar of my T-shirt, a slight tremor in her touch betraying her nerves. But when she spoke, her voice was steady. “I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.”
I kissed her then, a kiss that spoke of raw hunger and years of pent-up longing. My hands roamed over her, needing to memorize every curve of her lithe form. I rocked my hips from side to side, settling myself in the cradle of her body.
Her fingers tugged up my shirt to find skin. The second her palms settled on my skin, she let out a contented sigh. Like she’d been waiting to touch me forever and finally got her wish. She’d had her hands on my bare chest before, but nothing like this. She slid her palms from my sides around to my back -- still under my shirt -- only to dig her nails into my flesh. God! It felt so fucking right!
Apple’s breath hitched, her nails dragged along my skin, sending shivers down my spine. I deepened the kiss, and our breathing became erratic as the space between us grew charged with electricity. Her legs wrapped around my lower back, pulling me closer, urging me to erase all the empty spaces that had kept us apart for too long.
Kissing Apple was everything. It had always been my most fervent dream, especially when I was away from her, but this time… This was different. This wasn’t a woman experimenting with a would-be lover. This was a woman who knew what she wanted and was determined to take it.
Breaking the kiss, I looked into her eyes, dark with desire and something deeper, something like a dare. “Tell me what you want,” I whispered against her lips, needing to hear her say it again, needing to make this moment perfect for her as well as making sure it was real and not some kind of hallucination.
Her eyes locked onto mine, fierce and unyielding. “I told you, Deacon. I want you to fuck me. Make it good.” I tilted my head at her, knowing there was more she wanted to say but that she was reluctant to say it. She sucked in a deep breath, then let it out. “If this is the only time I get to have you, I want it to be good.” She moved one hand to my face, gripping my beard hard. “Show me what I’ve been missing.”
“Tell me, Apple. You been with anyone besides me? Kissed another man?”
She raised an eyebrow, not letting go of me, but loosening her grip on my beard. She stroked her fingers through it almost reverently. Her expression told another story, however. Her eyes flashed with anger and pain. “And if I have? Isn’t that what you told me to do? To find a guy I could be happy with?”
I couldn’t help the surge of jealousy. Judging by the smirk on her face, she noticed it too. “Apple…”
She shrugged. “That’s none of your business.”
“So long as you don’t do it again.” Yeah, that popped out before I could censor myself.
“Oh, really?” Her eyes widened and she raised a disbelieving eyebrow at me. “You telling me you ain’t been with another woman? It’s been more than four years since we met. You told me before you hadn’t been with a woman since we committed to each other. You don’t expect me to believe you’ve not fucked another woman in all that time. Especially after you broke up with me.”
“You don’t have to believe it, Apple. But I haven’t. A man can get off without having pussy.”
“So? You got someone to suck you off. Or fucked her ass. Or maybe you found a man?” Again, she shrugged. “Makes no difference to me. We’re not committed anymore. Haven’t been since you came back to Iron Tzars.”
I growled, knowing she was right but unable to keep the jealousy at bay. “Pushing you away was necessary, Apple. And believe what you want. But I’ve not touched or been touched by anyone in a sexual manner since the last time I kissed you.”
“Not sure I believe that, but whatever.” She turned away but her legs tightened around my waist, like she wanted me to leave but wasn’t fully committed to the idea.
“You don’t have to believe me, baby. Just know that it’s you for me. Always has been.”
“You said I was too young for you.”
“I was trying to push you away.”
Now, she looked angry. “Why, Deacon? Why not let me make my own decision?”
“Because, I needed you safe and you’re too stubborn and loyal to have left when I told you to. Especially after me being gone for so long.” I buried my face in her neck again, loving the scent of her. Loving the closeness even if it did feel like there was still an invisible barrier between us now.