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“Oh, hi.” She tilts her head, sizing me up. “You’re here for Elle?”
Even though the words are arranged in the format of a question, we both know it’s more of a statement. I jerk my head in response. “Is she here?”
For a moment, her forehead furrows and I wonder if she’ll allow me inside or tell me to get fucked before slamming the door in my face.
My muscles tighten, ready to spring forward and plead my case if that’s what it takes to gain entrance.
A moment of silent debate plays out across her face before she huffs out a resigned sigh and moves aside. “Come in.”
My shoulders loosen as I step into the cramped entryway. “Thanks.”
The girl with the pixie cut points toward the back of the suite. “She’s in her room.”
“Thanks.” I don’t get more than two steps when her hesitant voice halts me in my tracks.
“Carson?”
I swing around and meet her gaze in silent question.
“Don’t hurt her. Elle doesn’t deserve that.”
Her words hit me like a punch to the gut, knocking the air from my lungs, making it impossible to suck in a full breath. Even if I could respond, I have no idea what to say. The last thing I want is to cause her pain, but part of me wonders if it can end any other way.
With my lips pressed together, I jerk my head into a nod and turn back around. Not wanting to get ambushed by any of her other roommates, I keep my gaze focused straight ahead. Once I reach the door to her bedroom, I don’t bother knocking. After the way our conversation ended, I’m not going to give her an opportunity to turn me away. I twist the handle and slip inside before closing it softly and leaning against the wood.
A gasp escapes from Elle as she swings around and meets my gaze. “What are you doing here?”
Surprise flashes across her face as she stands motionless in nothing more than a pale pink bra and matching panties. The clothing she’d been wearing earlier has been shed, piled loosely on the chair near the window.
“This.”
I shove away from the door before eating up the distance between us. It only takes two long-legged strides until I’m within striking distance and able to nab her wrist before tugging her into my arms. Her eyes flare as the soft curves of her breasts are crushed against my chest and my mouth crashes onto hers. Unlike the previous times we’ve kissed, she doesn’t immediately grant me access. Instead, she keeps her lips pressed firmly together.
Does she really think that will keep me from taking what I want?
What I know she wants to give?
What’s mine?
Or has she already changed her mind in the time it took for her to leave my truck and arrive at her room?
The knowledge that I might have actually let her slip through my fingers sends my heart into freefall. That’s not something I’m willing to contemplate.
A growl rumbles up from deep within my throat as I pull away just a fraction. “Open for me.” A stubborn light enters her eyes as she presses them together. Unwilling to let this end here, I nip at her lower lip. It’s not enough to inflict damage, only to get her attention. I’ve already spent way too much time denying myself the feel and taste of her.
I’m over that.
She pushed and prodded, tempting me to lose control. Now Elle has what she’s been asking for all along. She’d better figure out fast what she’s going to do with my undivided attention.
When she sucks in a sharp breath, my tongue slips inside her mouth to mingle with her velvety soft one. For a heartbeat, her muscles tense. Just when I think she’ll protest, her body turns pliant. Only then am I able to relax and slow things down. To tease her until she’s as needy for me as I am for her. For the first time in my life, all of the pretenses have fallen away. I’m no longer strong enough to hold them in place.
I want to devour her one breath at a time until I’ve consumed every single part of her, and even then, it could never satiate the deep well of need I have for this girl.
By the time I pull away, we’re both breathing hard.
“You’re mine now. I’ve spent years fighting against the attraction I felt for you, but I refuse to do it any longer. For better or worse, this is happening. Do you understand?”
“I do.”
With that, I take her mouth in a searing kiss.
In this moment, Brayden is the furthest thing from my mind, and that’s exactly the way it needs to stay.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Elle
Bright sunlight slants across my face as my eyelids flutter open. It takes more than one attempt to fully awaken. As I shift against the cottony sheets and stretch, my leg bumps into something hard.
