“So that’s why you’ve been drinking …” I mutter.

“I drink to forget, and after yesterday, I need lots of forgetting.”

“I’m sorry I make you want to forget, Chris.”

“I don’t want to forget!” He slams his hands on the table. “But you want me to. I do it because you need me to.”

I smash my lips together, not knowing how to answer.

“It’s been so hard to keep from ravaging you, from taking what you don’t want to give to me. When I fucked other girls, I thought of you. And now that you’re here, I can’t even do it anymore. It’s like I’m betraying you.”

“You’re not betraying me, Chris,” I say.

“I don’t want anyone else but you,” he says, licking his lips in such a sexy way it makes my heart beat in my throat. My lips are already parted, desperate to let him kiss them. God, why do I find him so irresistible?

“I don’t want to scare you off, which is why I’m trying to take it slow. That’s working out well, as you can see.” He tries to laugh it off a little. “I’m fucking wasted.”

“I’ll take away all the bottles and keep you away from alcohol for a while. Until you’re okay again.”

He grabs my other arm too now. “No, I mean I’m fucking wasted on you.”

His lips are so close; I only need to lean in and I’d be kissing him. Sweet, deliciously sinful kisses teasing my senses.

“I can’t fight it, Em. I need you. I want you,” he murmurs, his hot breath warming my lips. “I can’t fight it any longer.”

I bite on my lip, which makes him groan. “When you bite your lip like that it makes me want to be the one biting your lip,” he growls. “I can’t fight the urge anymore. I have to have you.” His hand cups my face, tilting my head. “Yesterday wasn’t enough. I need more. So much more. I wanna taste you, kiss you, lick you, fuck you, god, how much I wanna fuck you.”

I should push him away, but my body lets him move closer instead, welcoming his seductive touch and greedy lips.

And then it happens. I don’t know who gave in to the desire first, but the moment our lips lock, we’re engaged in a furious battle of needs, which isn’t going to end before we’ve both come undone.

Chapter 22

Emily

Heated kisses awaken my senses, numbing the thoughts of pushing him away. Some part of my mind knows this shouldn’t be happening, but damn, he is so hard to fight. Especially when he says those words … god, those words. They’re like the heroine to my junkie soul.

I can’t say that I didn’t want it. Despite what I wanted and made him believe, my body very much yearns for him as much as he yearns for me. My brain is telling me this is wrong, but the urge to kiss him is too strong. Especially when he starts groaning into my mouth.

The guttural sounds he makes are so hot, and the way he touches me, rough, not at all gentle, gets me wet in no time. I admit that I’m not good at denying a man when he has strong needs, especially when that man’s name is Chris. I’ve known him for so long. His little growls remind me of what he can do to my body; they remind me of the night when we were young and inexperienced. We both know he plays me like a violin, and god only knows how good he plays me now that we’re both mature. But his wild streak never disappeared, and Jesus, am I glad it didn’t.

His fingers are delicate and demanding at the same time, grasping my waist, lifting me onto the table. He wastes no time in getting me ready for a good fuck, and I am so ready for it.

His kisses are erratic, laced with bitter alcohol and a hint of sweet coconut. He plants them all over my neck; he nibbles my earlobe and licks my lips until they part and allow him entry. He’s not playing around, straight-out tongue fucking my mouth. My pussy is getting as wet as my mouth, wanting every inch of him.

His hands are all over my body, clutching onto every inch of skin I have as if it’s the last time he’ll ever feel me. He grips my breast, making me moan into his mouth, and squeezes it.

“You like this, babe?” he says with a husky voice that creates goosebumps all over my body.

“Oh, fuck …” I moan when he tugs on my nipple.

He rolls it between his fingers, twisting slightly, and sucks up my gasps as if they’re his lifeline. He quickly rips open my shirt, buttons flying off, his hand disappearing underneath. I suck in a breath when he undoes the clasp of my bra with just two fingers, jerking it down my shoulders as if he’s in a rush. The moment my breasts spring free, I feel the need to cover up, as if I have something to hide.

He leans back, his lips red from kissing me, and dear fucking god, they look suckable.

“Fuck, you’re so beautiful,” he rasps, making me blush. “Don’t hide from me, Em. I wanna feel your skin. See you without anything between us.” With his index finger, he tips up my chin. “I want all of you.” He leans in and presses a deep, toe-curling kiss on my lips. “Give me all of you, Em. Everything.”

Oh god, why’d he have to say such a thing? I don’t know how to respond.

“I—”

He places a finger on my lips. “Don’t say a word. I’ll show you how good it can be.”

He plants another kiss on my lips, eliciting my lips to move up with him as we separate. Damn, why do I want this so much? I’m addicted to his taste, his touch.

I let him sweep me off my feet, I admit. I have no defense anymore, all my barriers are down, and I live at the moment, clinging to his lips like it’s my source of energy. This isn’t me. I don’t let guys get close so quickly, but this is Chris, and he’s gotten me deep … deep in trouble.

My hardened nipples rub against his shirt as he lowers me onto the table, kissing his way down my chest. My breath hitches in my throat as he licks my nipple, circling around the crown, teasing the peak. His delicious kisses burn me to my core, and when his fingers travel down my body to my panties, they’re completely soaked.

“Like this?” he groans, taking my nipple into his mouth, sucking hard.

My body arches to meet him, desperate for more. I dare not say the words that come to mind; fuck, yes. I feel ashamed to admit it, but I’m letting myself fall for his seduction. Hard.

“Don’t worry, babe. I’m going to give you everything you need.” He pops the button of my jeans, rips down my zipper, and takes it all off as if it comes easily to him. His mouth has my mind spinning, distracting me, but not enough for me not to notice his hand disappearing into my panties. When his fingers slide over my pussy, I gasp, my clit thumping with need.

“Did you ever fantasize about this, Em? Did you ever think about me taking you hard and fast on this table right here?”

I whimper as he rubs my clit, his fingers sliding down my wetness, coating me entirely.

He chuckles. “No need to answer … I already know.”

“What?” I mumble, lost in delirium.

“Your pussy is begging me to make it come,” he murmurs, and then he gently tugs my nipple with his teeth, causing me to moan out loud. “But maybe your pussy hasn’t deserved it after making me so jealous I almost punched a guy,” he growls, and then he rips down my panties in one go.

His smile is deviously sexy as I look down at him, and I’m still trying to decide whether to jab him in the face or let him fuck me until I’m drunk on love.

He grins, licking his upper lip agonizingly slow as if to show me how much he has my body under his control. “But I also know you and I want this too much.”

“You can get jealous all you want, but this pussy only belongs to one person and that’s me,” I retort.

“Oh … we’ll see about that.” His gruff voice drags, heating me up from the inside out.

Suddenly, his hands grip my waist and he lowers himself off the table, between my legs. My eyes widen as his nose dips close, sniffing my scent. After a second, he growls, “Mine.”