“It feels crazy!” I cried turning to look at him, but the words I was going to say next died in my throat.
The man in white was gone and standing there dangerously handsome in all black, looking fierce like the beast so many accused him of, was Gabriel Calhoun. He was so much bigger up close than he had been from across the room.
I took a step back. I think that maybe I should scream for help, but it was something in his deep midnight gaze that caused me to stall. It was as if it could see straight through me and into my soul.
Even with the drugs in my system my heart began to pound loudly in my chest. The power that came from this man was breathtaking. I put my hand to my throat as if that alone would protect me from him.
He was king!
Nothing about him said flexible. Everything about him said that he was extremely dangerous, like Ms. Willie Mae’s bipolar bull. I sucked in my breath sharply when my back came up against the velvet table. I wasn’t even aware I was still taking steps back.
He slowly walked toward me. I knew that I should run, but this powerful man was looking at me as if… as if he wanted me. I mean, really wanted me—not like Reggie, or Crush. Not like Mayor Davenport or the man in the white that said he suddenly had a taste for chocolate pie. The way this man was looking at me bypassed the want I had seen in any of their eyes.
“What do you want?”
My voice shook as I looked to the side to see if there was anywhere else for me to move. He was cornering me and I felt like a gazelle moments before it became prey to a lion.
“A taste.”
I closed my eyes as the vibration from his deep raspy voice caused my inside to come alive like it had never done before.
What was happening to me?
I gasped when his warm hands wrapped around my waist. Slowly, he lifted me and seated me gently on the velvet table in front of him. The whole time he watched me. There was nothing about me and my response to him that he missed.
I inhaled because he was so strong. He had easily lifted me off my feet and had taken his time bringing me up his big body to sit on the table in front of him. I jumped slightly when his hands settled on my thighs. He opened them to make room for his body as he stood in front of me.
The table was tall enough so we were at eye level. His gaze took me in fully. I felt like there were no parts of me he didn’t see. His eyes raked over my hair, my face, my mouth, my neck. He didn’t even try to hide his need for me. I licked my lips. His gaze followed.
I was not prepared for this moment. Nothing in my life trained me for this. My hands were in my lap and I began to twist my mother’s ring around my finger. He was just standing there, watching me—real close. So close that I could smell his spicy cologne. It smelled like danger.
“How is it that you’re here?” He asked.
I licked my lips again not understanding his question. He gently cupped my face with one hand and lightly rubbed his big thumb across my bottom lip; his eyes followed his finger.
“You’re innocent, I can smell it. Why are you here?”
I shrugged. He never looked away from my mouth—his appetite so real. As if it had a will of its own, his head lowered toward mine. He must have realized what he was doing because he paused and raised it just slightly.
“Can I kiss you?”
His hushed voice was causing something strange to happen in the pit of my belly. Oh man, I should say no, but how can I? I couldn’t be this close—so close to this kind of power and not want to experience what it tastes like.
I nodded my head slightly. He lowered his mouth to mine. The first touch of his lips was gentle. It was as if he just wanted to see if I would run, or melt. I lifted my hands to rest on his big shoulders. He brought his head up for just a moment. His thumb gently brushed across my bottom lip.
“You taste good.” He whispered.
I smiled, that kiss had been so sweet and nothing to be afraid of at all. The look he gave me then caused my smile to disappear as fear and excitement shot through me all at once. It was a dangerous look. It was the look a lion wore right before he pounced.
When his lips touched mine again, there was nothing gentle about it. His mouth took control, forcing my lips open. It was pure ravishment. I moaned as intense pleasure invaded my body to settle deep within my awakening core.
He aggressively sipped from my lips as if he was starved and I was his food. When he deepened the kiss the only thing I could do was ball his shirt up in my fist as I held on for dear life. My toes curled by his muscled legs.
Suddenly, he broke the kiss off and looked down at me frowning so fiercely. I shivered.
“Have you ever been kissed?”
His deep voice was playing havoc on my nervous system, I shook my head.
“Give me your tongue.” He rasped out before his hungry mouth took mine again.
I did what he told me, and oh my goodness! The way he kissed me now was beyond scandalous. I was lost. I couldn’t tell you where he ended and I began. He sucked from my lips and I was pleasantly overwhelmed.
At some point, he laid me back on the table as that ravenous mouth of his moved down to my neck. He was relentless, like a
