Page 28 of Flawed Revenge

“You like me like this, huh, Katie-Bear.”

“You know I do,” she said breathily, like all the oxygen in the air had been burned up by the sexual tension humming between them.

“I know everything you like, don’t I, baby?” he asked, but he hadn't taken a step toward her, even as his erection strained against the thin material of his pants, and she knew he wouldn't. Anything that happened between them would be on her terms.

“Leo,” she said, suddenly anxious. “I don’t know what I want. I know I'm still wildly attracted to you. I know that I now understand why you did what you did. I know I want you to be part of Ariella’s life. I know that I'm not really angry anymore. I know that I haven’t quite fully forgiven you for hurting me yet, but that I will. But I don’t know what happens next. Between us.”

“Whatever you want, Katie-Bear. I'm in your life in whatever ways you’ll have me. I'm yours. Always have been. Whatever happens next is totally up to you.”

Chapter

Nine

March 16th

12:17 A.M.

Lion could read the debate happening on Kate’s face as she stood before him, dressed in nothing but a T-shirt.

His T-shirt.

One he must have left at her apartment before he ended things with her. She’d kept it all these years, and from how faded and rumpled it was, it was clear that she used it. Frequently.

Even when she hated him, she’d still found comfort from him. Craved him in some way she probably didn't understand or like. More than that, she’d just told him that not only was she still attracted to him, but that she had accepted his place in Ariella’s life, and she wasn't angry with him anymore and would be able to forgive him.

That was a whole hell of a lot more than he’d ever considered.

Ever dared to hope for.

Taking a tentative step closer, Kate’s wide blue eyes were still hesitant, still uncertain, but it was like her body was being drawn to his by some pull of the universe neither of them could fight against. He sure as hell couldn’t.

He wanted this woman more than he wanted his next breath. Wanted to taste every inch of her, drive her wild, and hear her scream his name. Wanted to be buried so deep inside her she could never forget him, never doubt how deep his love for her ran.

“I think I want … you,” she whispered, her voice husky, and he would have sworn he’d just developed Dragon’s sense of smell because he was sure he could smell her arousal.

Grasping her chin between his thumb and forefinger, he pinched just hard enough to make her gasp, and her pupils widened. “Need you to be more specific than that, Katie-Bear.”

He was the one who had ruined their love, broken them up before they even really got a chance to get their relationship going. He’d been cruel, even if he’d thought he was doing what was best for both her and their then-unborn child. There was no way he was pushing her now into anything she didn't want.

Reaching between them, her fingers brushed against the bulge in his sweatpants, making his already achingly hard length jerk. “This,” she whispered.

Dragging his thumb along her bottom lip, tracing the same line her tongue had made earlier, he searched her gaze for certainty. The last thing he wanted was for her to regret this in the morning. “You sure?”

“I came looking for you, didn't I?”

“But you also said you didn't know what you wanted.”

“Maybe … I'm just scared to admit how badly I do want you.”

“Never want you to be scared of me again, Katie-Bear. I will never hurt you again. I'd rather cut out my own heart.”

Her brows arched, then her forehead furrowed, searching his gaze the same way he’d searched hers. “I think … I believe that.”

The way she said the words made it sound like a weight had just lifted off her shoulders, and he knew that she was sure about this, even if she wasn't sure she could ever take him back as a partner.

That, however, was a worry for the morning.

Now he trailed his hands down her shoulders, brushing across her breasts, which were bigger, fuller than he remembered. Pregnancy must have changed them. Kate moaned when he pressed his palms to her nipples, feeling them pebble beneath him. Although she thrust her chest forward, he didn't linger, letting his hands drop further until they gripped her hips. Bare skin met his touch, and he couldn’t resist dragging a single finger across her center where she was already wet for him.