He sprung free, hard and long. The rounded tip was reddened and swollen under the lighting of the room. I needed to mark him everywhere. Our breathing melded and quickened together as I settled on top of him. His hard length rubbed against my slick core. I trembled and helplessly arched over him, the movements sending tingles up my spine. That familiar trembling sensation built from my toes. My pace quickened, and he jerked me against him in desperate motions. He wasn’t even inside me, but he was driving me crazy.
Lights seemed to explode behind my lids as warmth spread. I moaned helplessly and clawed his chest as he tensed under me. Roark groaned gutturally and arched under me, his movement lifting me from the ground as he came in hard jerks. Expecting semen to trickle in the aftermath, I was surprised when there was none.
I slumped forward in an exhausted puddle, burying my face in his chest, and tried to concentrate on my breathing as I smoothed my hand over his sides. He’d almost slid into me, and I wanted him to so badly, but the sensation of him rubbing against me had been too good for me to stop.
As bliss subsided, pain took its place. I was a mess. I missed Annie, and I was angry at myself. The pain of everything he’d done was still in my mind, but he felt so good. Despite my release, I still wanted him, and I knew it wouldn’t fade.
So why not?
I’d already resolved that it didn’t matter who I had sex with. It would be sex. Purely pleasure for pleasure’s sake, and it wouldn’t mean anything. Why not give in to the all-encompassing feelings he brought out in me?
A light bulb went off in my head. When Roark and I first met, he’d proposed a similar situation. Get this desire out of our system. I’d said no at the time because I thought I was waiting for something special, but now that I knew better, it didn’t sound like a bad option.
He fiddled with my bra strap, fingers brushing my skin and causing goosebumps to erupt down my body.
Plus, he’d make a great distraction.
Pulling myself up, I sat up further on his legs and gripped his still hard erection. He jerked up with a moan, his face contorting. He grasped my arms hard and flipped me, so he was on top. He held my shoulders down as he breathed hard.
I froze, realizing he was huffing. His breath came in harsh exhales as his head hung above me, eyes closed. He muttered something, but I couldn’t hear it. I continued playing with him. Pushing off the ground, I brought his head to my entrance. A guttural groan ripped from his throat.
“Wait,” he gasped.
“What?”
“Do you forgive me?”
“I want you for sex,” I said evasively.
He reacted as if the words had shot him, and he pushed back, letting me go. He stared at me in utter shock.
After some time of him just watching me, I sat up and slid my clothes back on. My face burned when I realized he was still mostly dressed.
“I want to have sex with you, Roark.” I threw it out there, shamelessly. I could tell I’d shocked the hell out of him. “I want you. I want the feelings you wring from me.”
“Can you ever forgive me?” he murmured, hope in his expression. It made my chest clench, but I shoved that feeling down.
“I want sex. That’s it. You and I will not be happening in any other capacity. Ever,” I said bluntly, and his face went expressionless. “Think about it. I’m going to take a shower.”
I ran out of the room before he saw how forced my attempt at confidence was.
22
I lifted my face toward the sprinkle of the shower. The hot water stung my flesh, but I craved the heat. I couldn’t believe what had come out of my mouth. I meant it, but I still couldn’t believe it.
A shaky breath fell from my lips. God, how was Annie? I recognized that I’d been seeking comfort from the adrenaline rush of having her taken, but I was coming down hard. I rubbed my eyes with my fists. I hoped she was okay. She hadn’t even gotten to eat. My lips trembled, and I slid to the floor of the shower, sniffling. I pressed my hand over my mouth to stifle my cries, but he heard me. Of course, he heard me.
“Rae?” The door to the bathroom slammed open, and Roark strode in.
I glared up at him through the fog in the bathroom. His eyebrows furrowed when he saw me on the floor. He disappeared and I thought that was the end of it until the shower door slid open, and he cut off the water.
He stepped over the ledge and dipped to wrap me in the towel, easily lifting me. I pressed my lips together and swallowed hard as he strode out of the restroom. He tucked me in like yesterday, his brow creased in concentration. My eyes flooded with tears and spilled over, blinding me.
“What is it?” he said gently, brushing the wetness from my face.
“I’m worried about Annie.”
He continued brushing a thumb across my cheek. I leaned into the touch and took comfort from it. “Gargoyles are known to kidnap women who they think may be their mate. They don’t mistreat them. In fact, they try to woo them.”
My entire body tensed. Mate? Hell no was my sister going to be mated to the thing that attacked us. Frustration overtook my fear. I hoped Roark was right, and I didn’t have anything to worry about. I thought back to the attack and realized he could have thrown the dagger I’d buried in his leg back
