Oh my. I thought he was older than me, and I was right. He’s more than twice my age. That’s filthy.
And makes my clit throb.
“I have instincts honed by more than a decade of running the Bethnal mafia.” His hand comes to rest over my collarbones, as light and binding as a collar. “Of hard choices, and life-or-death judgements. I trust my gut. And my heart.”
It’s mad that I understand. My heart is saying the same—that he’s mine and I’m his. Somehow, this feeling is as bone-deep as the lessons of not trusting my family.
He leans in, lowering his mouth until I’m cross-eyed trying to keep looking at him. His breath is warm.
“Say no, little bunny. Say you don’t want me to kiss you. Say that you don’t feel this too.”
He’s so close. My lips tingle and my heart races, but I don’t say no. I can’t.
His thumb strokes over the back of my trapped hand.
“Did you really want to escape me?” The low rumble of his voice is like the harmony to a song I’ve been singing all my life, that’s out of time with everything in Maldon. I thought I was out of tune. But it’s not. I just didn’t have the right person with me.
And then he touches his lips to mine.
My first kiss.
4
ZANE
I keep the kiss gentle, holding back my sordid desires. I need to feast on this girl, but instead I give her feathery kisses and slides. I reveal what I want a sliver at a time. Using my breath on her lips and presses and drags, I coax her into passion, drawing out a bit more with every moment that flows by. She responds perfectly, arching into me and parting her soft lips in a little moan.
I continue to trap her wrists, not just to force her to take this sweet kiss, but because holding her captive makes my cock hard in a way that I’ve never experienced before. A feral part of me I didn’t realise existed relishes keeping her trapped and feeding her desires.
And if she’s in my hands and out of her mind with lust, she can’t run away.
Cupping her jaw, I angle her head to allow me easier access. I slide my tongue into her mouth and swallow her mewl of arousal as I explore and tease. This kiss should feel insubstantial, but it’s like the ocean lapping at the shore. It’s just a kiss, but my body doesn’t appreciate that, and it’s stronger than anything I’ve experienced before. Wetness slides across the helmet of my cock as I shift against my girl. I’m leaking pre-come.
It’s sheer chemistry. And it’s the same for her, judging by her movements against me. I doubt she is conscious of how she’s showing me her arousal. The hitches in her breath, the way she kisses me back, the involuntary shivers.
I drag my lips over her cheek, and down to her neck. She’s delicious, sweet and salty on my tongue. I want to explore every part of her. My brain is totally disengaged, and my physical instincts have taken over.
“Fuck, I love you,” I mutter hoarsely.
She goes rigid.
Cursing inwardly, I lift my head. Her lips are pink and shiny from our kiss, but there’s a pinch between her brows, and she’s no longer soft and pliable. Have I scared her? I didn’t intend to say that, but it feels right. And sometimes the only way is forward.
“It’s true.” I’m not taking it back.
“You can’t love me,” she scoffs, but a tremor in her voice tells a different story. “You’ve only just met me.”
“I can. I do.” I look into her dark-green eyes and will her to acknowledge this. “The moment I saw you, I knew. You’re my soulmate.” I’ve never believed in that before, but I’ve never been in love before, either. New experiences all round. “I love you.”
I slide my hand up her arm, caressing the delicate skin until I reach where I have her wrists pinned. Then I interlock our fingers and lower our hands. Pressing my body forwards, I keep her in position, captured between my bulk and the solid tree trunk.
She has relaxed, as though she wants to believe.
“Marry me.” She was going to wed that prick Witham. This is no different, except that we’ll be deliriously happy together, and I’ll treat her like a princess. No—she’ll be my queen.
She blinks in disbelief. “Why?”
“Because I love you,” I repeat patiently.
