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The anger in his voice sends a thrill through me. It shouldn’t. I’m a strong, independent woman.
At least I try to be as independent as possible. As independent as the royal household will allow me to be.
But the protectiveness in his words, in his need to make sure Jameson hasn’t harmed me, makes my pulse increase even more, a need I didn’t even realize I had being satisfied.
“Jameson hasn’t done anything wrong. While it’s obvious he wants to sleep together, and I know I’ll eventually have to, that’s not at issue. What is at issue is that I want you to sleep with me because you want to. Not because you feel bad for me. So if that’s the only reason you’re here, you—”
He loops an arm around my waist, yanking my body flush with his, my protest lost in his touch, especially when he pulses his hard erection against me.
“Does this feel like someone who doesn’t want you? Like someone who only wants to sleep with you because they feel bad for you?” He lowers his mouth toward mine, but changes direction at the last minute, lips skimming against my neck. “Because I’ve wanted you for years, Esme. Thought of that kiss for years.”
His teeth nip at my skin, the combination of pleasure and pain causing my core to clench, moisture pooling between my legs.
“Do you have any idea how many times I’ve jerked off thinking of it? Of you.”
I moan, the sensual tone of his words making me feel things I’ve never experienced before, everything new and electrifying. One thing is certain. Creed Lawson has a great bedroom voice.
But is that reason enough to take this leap when the sting of his rejection is still a fresh wound?
“Yes, I initially turned you down because of our circumstances.” He holds my face in his hands, forcing me to see the truth in his words. “But also because I knew I had no chance with you. That if I had you one time, I’d want you all the time. That I wouldn’t be able to walk away.”
“You’ll have to, Creed. If that’s a deal-breaker, I apologize, but nothing more can ever come of this. You know that. So if we do this, I need you to understand this can only happen once. Tonight. And when tonight's over, you need to walk away and go on with your life. Pretend it never happened. Just like I will.”
He stares at me for a beat, chewing on his bottom lip, brows pulled in. Finally, he nods his agreement. “I understand.”
“Are you sure about that? You just said—”
He grabs my cheeks, mouth hovering over mine. “Having you for one night is better than not having you at all.” His lips curve into a playful smirk as he waggles his brows. “I just need to make it sure it’s a night you never forget.”
Chapter Twelve
Creed
I slam my lips against Esme’s, tongue tangling with hers, sealing my agreement with a kiss. I didn’t come over here with any misplaced expectations of Esme promising me anything more than tonight. Granted, it’ll be torture to watch Jameson touch her, kiss her…marry her.
But I’ll have something Jameson never will. The privilege of being her first. Of showing her what intimacy should be like. What pleasure should feel like.
And that’s exactly what I plan to do. Tonight, I’ll show her how incredible sex can be. Give her all the pleasure she deserves but has been sheltered from experiencing.
Desperate to catch my breath, I tear away, gaze fixated on her kiss-swollen lips.
Swollen from my kiss.
It shouldn’t turn me on this much, but god, I love seeing the evidence of my touch on her.
Want to see more of it on her body.
Neither one of us makes a move for several protracted moments, our heavy breathing the only sound. We’re at the proverbial point of no return, a fact I’m confident Esme is fully aware of. She can turn me away, especially now that this is no longer a hypothetical proposition but something that’s going to happen.
But when she lunges for me, fusing her lips back to mine, I have my answer. That despite knowing this is a horrible idea, she still wants this. Maybe as much as I’ve wanted this for years.
I loop an arm around her waist, pulling her as close to me as possible, needing to feel her everywhere I can. But even with her frame molded perfectly to mine, it’s not close enough. Does nothing to satisfy the hunger that’s increasing with every addictive swipe of her tongue.
I thought about kissing Esme again for years, that tease of a kiss permanently etched in my mind. But this isn’t the kiss of a shy seventeen-year-old girl. This is the kiss of a woman who knows what she’s doing. Jealousy bubbles at the idea I’m not the first person she’s kissed like this. That after tonight, she most likely won’t kiss me like this ever again. I can’t think about that right now. Not if we only have one night.
Sliding a hand under her tank top, I graze the skin near her hipbone in a tease of a touch.
“Creed,” she mewls, shuddering from the innocent brushing of my fingers along her waist.
