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The words hung heavy in the air between us and for a moment, everything else seemed to fade away. The way she felt like a burden…I hated it. She thought I had to marry. She thought I had to protect her.
But I wanted to marry her. I wanted to protect her.
Everything about her…I wanted.
“That’s not your decision to make,” I responded after a beat, my voice softer than I planned and my hand unconsciously reaching out to gently brush a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “I’m going to protect you. I like protecting you. It makes me feel…”
I trailed off, not sure what else to say. Because the bottom line was that she made me feel all kinds of things: rage, terror, and that warm, overwhelming sensation that burned right in the center of my chest.
I loved her.
She held my gaze, and I felt another wave of that scary sensation–like I was jumping off a cliff, and there was something totally novel waiting at the bottom. I thought she would tell me off, pull away…but she didn’t.
Instead, she moved her face closer to mine, her eyelashes fluttering shut…
…and we kissed.
Chapter Twenty-Two: Tristan
Her lips were soft and warm, an inviting contrast to the tension that had hung between us for the past several days. I kissed her gently, taking great care not to startle her, to give her the chance to pull away. She didn’t. Instead, she returned my kiss with a surprising intensity that sent a jolt of excitement coursing through my veins before I wrenched myself away.
I swallowed. “Maybe I shouldn’t have done that,” I said.
She shook her head, her gaze glued to my eyes. “Tristan, I’ve been so fucking horny since I got pregnant,” she said.
My cock throbbed, my whole body burning all of a sudden. “Is that so?” I muttered, my voice barely a whisper.
Adriana nodded; her cheeks glowing crimson in the semi-darkness of the room. The curtains were drawn, the door locked. We were in the Honeymoon Suite with a big bed and only our own company. Nothing was stopping it. “I know it’s crazy,” she stammered out, nervously picking at the hem of her loose white shirt. “But I can’t help how I feel. They say it’s all the hormones.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle at her candid confession. “Baby, there’s nothing wrong with wanting me,” I assured her, trailing my fingers up and down her arm, causing goosebumps to erupt on her skin. “You’re beautiful, Adriana—any man would want you.”
“But I don’t want any man. I want you,” she said, meeting my gaze head-on. Then she added in a low voice, “Just this once.”
“Just this once?” I repeated, my voice hoarse. I wondered if it was the fear of putting herself out there or the fear of succumbing to me, the man who’d shown her the depths of my violent nature. My heart pounded in my chest as I looked at her, my emotions spiraling between desire and dread.
“Yeah,” she said. “Just this once.”
I nodded. “Then I better make it count.”
I pressed my lips against hers again, this time a little harder and with more urgency. She responded in kind, her arms winding around my neck and pulling me closer. Our bodies pressed together, the fire between us burning hotter with every passing second. I could feel the beating of her heart against my chest, fast and frantic.
We kissed until we were both breathless, our bodies tangled up together on the mussed white sheets. Her arms snaked their way around my neck, her fingers threading through my hair as the kiss deepened.
Adriana’s tongue traced the seam of my lips, teasing and gently prodding, as our kiss deepened. I groaned softly, my hands exploring every inch of her warm skin as she leaned into me even more, her body pressed against mine. She smelled like vanilla and sunshine, making me want to taste her all over. Her small moans vibrated against my lips as I nipped at them gently before diving back in for more.
I felt her fingers trail down my neck and across my chest, sending shivers through my entire body. Her hands lingered on the nape of my neck before sliding down to the hem of my shirt, pulling it up slowly. My heart raced with anticipation as she finally grazed her fingers against the bare skin of my stomach, sending a jolt of pleasure through me.
I cupped her face with one hand as we broke apart for air, looking into her eyes. God, I could’ve just looked at her forever.
“You’re so beautiful,” I whispered against her lips before diving in again, our tongues twisting together in a slow dance. I knew she could feel my erection against her, but I was trying hard to keep our pace slow and gentle. It wasn’t about me; it was about her, her comfort, her pleasure.
I dragged my lips away from hers, trailing kisses down her neck and along the collarbone, stopping to nibble at the sensitive skin there. The small gasp that left her lips sent a shot of arousal straight through me.
“Tristan,” she whispered, her hands clutching onto my shoulders, “please.”
The desperation in her voice was enough to snap my restraint. I brought my lips back to hers in a rough kiss, my hands gripping her hips as I flipped us over. Now I was above her, looking down into her eyes that were dark with desire.
“Are you sure about this?” I asked, my voice rough with need.
