Page 46
My brow furrows in confusion. “But you hate me. You’ve been making my life hell for years.”
He nods, a knowing glint in his eyes, and his lips curve into a smug smile. “I can still hate you and want to fuck you.”
My stomach flips, but not in a good way. The way he was looking at me before had me believing maybe he didn’t really hate me the way I thought he did, so to hear him say the words hurts more than I’m expecting.
I can’t believe I’m going to lose my virginity to someone who hates me. I mean, I’ve always known it wouldn’t be to someone I love, but I was still hoping he’d at least like me a little.
I have to bite the inside of my cheek so the pain fights against the tears beginning to well up. Lawson must be able to see them, as his eyes narrow on me, his penetrating gaze making me feel more exposed than I’d like.
I hate feeling vulnerable, so I try to hide it from him. “Well, get on and do it then,” I snap, hoping the challenge in my tone is enough to stop him looking too closely.
My mind doesn’t even register his intent before his hands are on my hips, and he lifts me, flinging me onto the bed beside him. I let out a startled yelp as my back hits the mattress, and Lawson leans over me, a hand on either side of my head, caging me in.
“Be careful what you wish for, sweetheart. I promised to go easy on you for your first time, but if you want me to really fuck you, I’ll happily break my promise,” he tells me, his smirk growing as he throws back his own challenge.
I let out a huff as I push at his chest, but he’s all muscle, and I can’t move him even a little. “I never had you down as someone who breaks their promises.”
“That’s because you don’t know me,” he retorts.
Even though he’s right, I don’t know him; I have a feeling he’s lying right now. I think he’s the sort of guy that promises mean a lot to—or at least that’s what I’m hoping.
“You don’t know me either,” I snap.
Lawson lets out a short, humourless laugh. “I know a lot more than you think.”
It almost feels like there’s something he’s not saying, that he’s deliberately leaving out, but I don’t get the feeling he’s lying. Lawson is a Crow for a reason, and they’re well-known for watching, waiting, assessing their prey, so I totally believe Lawson knows more about me than I’m aware of. I suspect he knows more about everyone, after watching from the shadows.
As he leans in, a soft sigh escapes me when he gently presses his lips against the sensitive skin of my neck. The frantic thrumming of my heart echoes in my ears, a rapid drumbeat against my ribs that’s so strong I imagine he must be able to feel the frantic rhythm against his own skin.
His touch is so soft, it can barely be called a kiss, as he trails his lips over my neck, my collarbone, down towards my breasts.
“I know that you’ve never had anyone touch your nipples, but despite that, you know they’re sensitive.” His breath flutters over my peaked nipple, and the feel of his warm air touching my cold nub makes me shudder.
“How did you—”
I’m cut off from finishing my sentence when he flicks his tongue over my nipple, making me gasp as I arch my back, chasing more of that feeling. His cocky smirk grows wider as his tongue circles my peaked bud, heating my core with each lick.
He pulls back just enough to look up at me with those enchanting eyes. “Your nipples get hard whenever it’s cold, and if something or someone accidentally brushes past them, your mouth opens slightly and your body tenses. You fight the reaction.”
Before I can say anything in return—not that I’d know what to say, as he’s right—he wraps his lips around my breast and pulls my nipple into his mouth, sucking and nibbling on it as I whimper beneath him.
Holy shit, that feels so good. It’s like my nipples have a direct line to my core, and I can feel myself growing wetter.
Lawson pulls free from my nipple, making sure to graze his teeth over it as he backs away, and before I’ve had the chance to catch my breath, he does the same to the other side. I arch my back, pressing my breasts into his face as he nips and sucks in the most maddening way.
With one hand fisted in the sheets, I lift the other to Lawson’s head, sliding my fingers through his silky dark hair before grabbing a handful. As he bites on my nipple, I pull on his hair, making him hiss around my sensitive bud.
As he withdraws, the glint of steel-grey in his eyes deepens, turning shadowed and heavy-lidded, as a raw hunger sparks within them. A tremor runs through me, and a frantic fluttering, like trapped wings, erupts in my stomach. He’s looking at me like he wants to devour me, and I want to let him.
“Normally, I’d tie you down so you can’t touch me, but I’ll make an exception just this once,” he tells me, his voice thick with emotion.
I slide my hand from his hair and move it to cup his cheek, rubbing my thumb over the rough stubble covering his face. “I don’t think I’d like not being able to touch you.”
There’s a flash of something unrecognisable in his eyes, but I’m not sure what it is. “You’ll get the chance to touch me when I tell you to. I like to be in charge, sweetheart. What I say goes, do you understand?”
I nod, as his tone leaves no room for argument. Besides, I don’t think I want to challenge him. There’s a part of me that really likes the idea of handing over all control to him, of letting him take what he wants from me. It’s one of my dark, intriguing fantasies—not that I tell Lawson that.
SLAP!
