Page 52 of Grim

"I won't," she whispered.

His hand slid lower, fingers pressing through the thin cotton, finding the heat of her. Sophia's breath jumped. Her hips shifted, a reflexive search for more pressure.

He traced her through the fabric, slow, deliberate, learning the shape of her arousal. The cotton grew damp beneath his touch. The knowledge sent a flush across Sophia’s skin.

He hooked his fingers into the waistband and pulled her panties down her thighs, slowly, watching her face the whole time. She raised her hips to help him, and he slid the fabric free, letting it fall somewhere beside the bed.

His hand returned to her bare center, his fingers sliding through her slickness, gathering the wet heat.

Sophia gasped, her back arching slightly.

"Easy," he murmurs. "Let me take care of you."

His middle finger circled the sensitive bud of her flesh. The pressure perfect, not too much, not too little, like he was reading her body with every touch.

Sophia's hands gripped the sheets. Her breath came in shallow pulses.

His finger slid lower, slipping inside her, slow and steady. She cried out softly, her hips rolling into his hand.

Grim added a second finger, stretching her gently, his thumb finding her again, pressing in tight circles.

"Let go," he whispered. "I've got you."

The rhythm of his hand unhurried, thorough, each stroke pushing her higher. The heat built in her belly, coiling tighter and tighter, her breath turning to soft, broken sounds she couldn’t contain.

Sophia was close. She could feel it rising, a wave gathering behind her ribs.

He didn’t stop. He didn’t rush. He worked her through it, his forehead resting against her temple, his breath warm against her skin.

"Come for me," he breathed.

And she did.

The release crashed through her, her body shaking, her cry swallowed against his shoulder as he held her through every pulse, every tremor. His fingers worked her through it, slowing only when she stilled, when her breathing started to even out.

Grim pulled his hand away with deliberate care, and she heard it, the soft, wet sound of him bringing his fingers to his mouth.

Sophia opened her eyes in time to see Grim close his lips around them, his eyes on hers, dark and satisfied.

"Sweet," he murmurs.

Sophia's cheeks burned, but she was too boneless to feel anything but warm and claimed.

Grim shifted, pulling her against his chest, one arm wrapping around her waist, the other sliding under her pillow.

Sophia thought she fit against him like she'd been made for that space.

She exhaled, the tension in her body finally loosening. She rests her head against his shoulder, her hand splayed over his chest, feeling the steady rise and fall of his breathing.

She shifted her hand down his chest, moving lower to his waistband. He grabbed her hand gently, moving it up and pressing a soft kiss to the top.

"Sleep," he murmured, “don’t worry about me.”

Her cheeks warmed, not with embarrassment, but with something tender. Protective. Gentle. Maddox Hale, who could level a man with one hit, was drawing a line for her.

She smiled. “Being a gentleman?”

His expression softened, barely, but enough to undo her.