I put the flashlight on the hood of the car. Then slowly, tentatively, I bring a hand up to his chest. As soon as I feel the warmth of his body beneath his layers of clothing, I let out a sigh.
“What are you doing here, Rae?” he asks softly, barely a whisper coming from him. “Why did you come to my house tonight?”
“I don’t know.”
It’s the truth. I thought I was here to ask about my brother, but that doesn’t seem so important anymore. Right now, there’s a big, rugged man caging me against the outside of a car. His eyes are at half-mast as they drift down to my lips.
Almost instinctively, my tongue slides out to lick them. A low growl rumbles through him, shaking through me and rattling more embers loose in my veins.
Need, need, need.
Is it wrong to want a man? To need a man? Is it wrong to give in to my desires, just once? To put myself first, instead of thinking of my family?
Yes, my brain tries to scream, but the voice is muffled by the roar of my lust.
My hand slides up to his neck, the tips of my fingers brushing his stubble. Benji presses his body into mine, leaning his head down a bit further.
His lips are so close. His scent is all around. His body feels so right.
I could be a woman tonight. I could let him take me. Devour me. Ravish me. Destroy me. I could tear those clothes off his body and run my fingers over his warm skin.
When was the last time I was attracted to a man? Really attracted to him? In the way that makes your stomach twist into knots and your thighs clench together? In the way that makes you hungry. Ravenous. Needy.
My breath comes in short, shallow gasps. My fingers tease the edge of his jaw, his beard, his cheek. Benji turns his head, laying a soft kiss on my palm.
I melt.
Such a big man. Such a gentle kiss.
But when he turns back to look at me, there’s nothing gentle in his eyes.
11
Benji
I should resist. I should stop. I should turn around and give Rae my back, telling her to leave.
But she’s here, invading my space, looking at me with those big, brown eyes of hers—and I can’t. I can’t resist. I can’t stop myself. My body moves toward hers like it’s where I’m supposed to be. She leans her back against my car, sucking her bottom lip between her teeth.
I groan.
Neither of us speaks. What would we say?
We both know she shouldn’t be here. We both know we’re playing with fire. We both know we want to burn.
Her palm is still on my cheek, and I sweep my fingers up her sides. She shivers, closing her eyes at the touch. I lap up every expression on her face. Devour every noise she makes, no matter how soft. She feeds the beast inside me.
Her lips, moistened by her tongue, call out to me. They scream to be kissed. To be taken. To be branded and claimed.
They should be mine.
Mine, mine, mine.
Hesitation swirls around me, whispering Sawyer’s name. Hissing in my ear, telling me to stop.
But I brush it away. It doesn’t take much effort. Rae is so close, and Sawyer’s so far.
Is she really as bad as he says? It doesn’t seem like it. It sounds like he left in a huff, and never gave her the chance to explain. It seems like she really, truly cares about her family. Just like I do.
And her lips are right here. So soft. So kissable. So pink. Calling out to me, louder than any hesitations I might have.
Rae’s fingers tease my jaw, moving back to tickle the hair at the nape of my neck. I lean in, inhaling the magic that surrounds her.
I haven’t felt like this in a long time. Too long.
Rae has awoken something inside me that can’t be denied. A beast. An animal. A carnal urge, roaring within me. With her body pressed up against my car, and my chest against hers, I can feel every movement she makes. Her eyes move to mine and her hand cups my neck.
I know what that means.
I angle my head toward hers as my heart stutters. I nestle a leg between hers, the heat of her core pulsing against me. I groan, and the beast roars once more.
I need her.
Need to have her. Take her. Give her everything she’s been missing. I need to draw a sigh from those perfect lips and hear my name panted as she comes. I need to feel her nails digging into my shoulders when I plunge myself deep inside her.
Mine, mine, mine.
Her breath is shallow. Her eyes pleading. I drop my hand to her waist, pulling her close as I growl. There are no words now. Nothing said. We’re speaking a different language. One with only looks. Soft grunts. Growls. Sighs. Moans.
When I brush my lips against hers, ever so gently, I feel her tremble. She’s like a coiled spring. Tightly wound. Trembling.
Ready to be released.
My hand sweeps around her back, and her body melts into mine. Exactly where it should be. Exactly how we should be. Right here, our bodies pressed together, with hardly a breath of space between us.
Another growl rumbles through me as I lay a soft kiss on her jaw. She lets out a sigh, whispering my name. My whole body thrums at the sound of it.
How sweet is it to hear a beautiful woman saying your name? How good does it feel to know her heart is thumping for you? Her lips are begging for you? Her body is yielding to you?
I kiss her jaw, tasting her skin. Sweet like candy. Soft. Perfect.
My
