Page 119 of Facade

“Message received,” I ground out through gritted teeth.

I may have buried the embarrassment for now, but my anger didn’t change the fact that I couldn’t look at him.

I whipped back around, shoving my foot into the stirrup—

Then was yanked back into his hard chest.

“What the hell—”

He righted me, fingers leaving a trail of goosebumps in their wake. Traitorous, deprived body.

His hands stayed clamped around my arms, caging me there. His brow creased.

“I’ve wanted you since the moment I saw you.” His breath hitched—subtle, but impossible to miss this close.

My gaze dropped to his mouth. “Then why push me away—why say you’re no good for me?”

His jaw flexed, silver leaking through the blue.

“Because I’m not.”

Breathing was difficult, my entire world narrowing to him as his hand cupped my cheek, eyes bearing down on mine as he leaned toward me.

Then his lips pressed against mine.

A groan scraped from my throat as his tongue swept into my mouth, every stroke stirring something feral inside me. Strong arms wrapped around my waist, lifting me effortlessly. As our bodies clashed together, my legs wrapped around him, his arousal pressed against my core, turning me molten.

The heat of his mouth disappeared, and he sucked in a breath through his teeth, leaning his head against mine.

“You’ll be my fucking undoing,” he murmured, the grit of his Gargoyle leaking through, sending goosebumps skittering over every inch of my body. My Gargoyle tried to answer, a ripple beneath my skin making me shudder in his arms.

“Show me.”

Silver flashed in his eyes before a primal growl reverberated in his chest, and suddenly, his mouth was back on mine, hungrier than before, tongue plunging deeper. My hands instantly threaded through his hair, squeezing as the roughness of his fighting leathers rubbed deliciously against my sensitive breasts.

An ache throbbed between my legs as he moved from the wall of the stable, walking us back to the house, never breaking contact. As the door was slammed open, and I came up for air, a nervous anticipation built low in my belly. I hadn’t been with him since that first time when it'd been forbidden. Rushed. But now, nothing stood in our way.

The house darkened as clouds rolled in, and as he sat me down on the edge of the lush bed, no blue remained in his gaze.

My teeth grazed my bottom lip as I watched him work the buckle to his sheath, dropping it to the floor. A whimper pushed past my lips as he worked his fighting top next, throwing it across the room. As he knelt in front of me, my gaze snagged on the scars within the ink on his shoulder and bicep, and I ran my fingers over the jagged flesh.

“I’ll always be there for you.” His hand cupped my face, his expression serious.

I knew then that he blamed himself for these three years I’d been gone. It was the conviction in which he said it that made the realization hit. There was nothing I could say to convince him it wasn’t his fault. All I could do was show him that I was here now, and that I still loved him as much—if not more—than before.

My hand shook as I pulled away and scooted back on the bed. His eyes tracked me, thunder building in the distance as my fingers fumbled with the tie at the back of my top.

He stood—

“Let me.” The huskiness in his voice made my blood burn hot as I finally loosened the fabric.

I shook my head.

“You can watch.”

A deep rumble sounded from his chest, echoed by the thunder outside. The hair on my arms stood on end as the air electrified around us, awakening every nerve beneath my skin.

I pulled off the fabric, my nipples already achingly hard and breasts full.