Caution evaporated away as she threw herself into kiss, tentatively nipping in return.
Zak made a hungry, greedy sound under his breath, muttered words in Montegovan she only half understood. Words that would’ve made her blush had she not craved it, yearned for satiation of the hunger growing inside her, demanding gratification.
She strained against him as Zak freed her mouth to explore the newly discovered erogenous zone beneath one ear. She shivered and gasped, clung tighter as he trailed his lips down her throat to her collarbone, then lower to one hard nipple.
His mouth surrounded the peak, taking flesh and cotton in one powerful pull. One hand slipped beneath the hem of her shorts to boldly cup her naked bottom.
Flames lit up her veins, pooling in a torrent between her legs. She gasped as, keeping their gazes locked, he moved his hand purposefully between her thighs, his fingers intent on one destination.
He absorbed her reaction, hungrily devoured her every shiver. With it came a speculative gleam in his eyes as he traced the heat suffusing her face.
‘No bra, and no panties. I’m not sure whether to spank your naughty little bottom for exhibiting yourself like this or accept this gift you seem intent on giving me,’ he growled against her lips.
Violet cried out as his fingers caressed her damp heat, breached her outer lips to rest against the soaked entrance of her womanhood. The hot brand of his own arousal jerked against her stomach as he absorbed her reaction, hungrily devoured her every shiver.
‘Is it my touch that excites you like this, Violet, or the thought of being spanked, I wonder?’ he rasped in a low, deep voice that strummed and deepened her need.
Frankly, Violet suspected it was both. And the more the thought seeped into her consciousness, the shorter her already compromised breathing grew.
Dear God, was she kinky on top of all her unwelcome woes?
Zak laughed beneath his breath, clearly witnessing her freaked-out expression. But slowly his laughter died, leaving a deeper carnal intent on his face. ‘Is there something you wish to tell me, Violet?’
‘I don’t know what you’re talking about,’ she gasped.
‘Don’t you? You react too strongly to such an ordinary pleasure.’ He squeezed her bottom again, kneading her flesh while boldly holding her gaze. ‘You’re all but hovering on the brink of orgasm from just this simple touch alone.’
He slanted his lips over hers once more, his tongue brazen, positively possessive as it slid against hers, determined to draw an even more potent reaction from her. Reaction she was helpless to deny as hunger clawed through her, wrenching her onto tiptoe again so she could taste more, drown more, feel more.
But that dim light of warning at the back of her head brightened, steadily but surely, slowing her reaction enough for her to pull back. A little too late she recalled what had happened the last time she’d allowed herself to give in to this sensation. He’d rejected her.
Nothing had changed.
Except this time she would reject him first. The last thing she wanted was to spend the next few weeks drowning in humiliation if he repeated the experience.
So, gathering the dregs of her composure, she bunched her fists against his shoulders. And pushed.
He growled beneath his breath for a second before he allowed her to break the kiss. ‘Violet—’
‘I don’t care what you think. I don’t want this.’
‘Define this,’ he insisted, narrowed gaze fixed on her wet lips for a tight moment before it rose to spear hers.
‘Any...all of it. I’m not interested in scratching whatever itch you may have. Now or ever.’
‘Such dire, sweeping pronouncements. Are you certain it won’t come back to bite you?’
She took a step back, then another since one wasn’t enough. His gaze dropped to her chest, landed precisely on one beaded nipple before switching to the other. And stayed.
Violet wished she could halt her agitated breathing. Wished she could stop her flesh from reacting to the ravenous hunger in his eyes. But he’d rejected her once and become entrenched in whatever dire opinions he had of her and her family ever since.
Falling into his bed would be as good as confirming everything he’d accused her of. And she wouldn’t be jeopardising just her body but the career she’d set her heart on.
‘Yes. I’m one hundred per cent certain I don’t want you to touch me.’
Dark rebellion glinted in his eyes but his words were smooth and immediate. ‘Very well. You have my word I will not touch you until you ask...no, until you beg me to.’
Alarm strangled her lungs.