Maybe I had assumed wrong when I assumed he wanted me too. I’d thought he was making it pretty clear, but I guess I’d read things wrong.
My throat was tight, but I spoke anyway. “Never mind. It was a ridiculous idea. Forget I said anything.” I turned and strode toward the couch, trying to look a hell of a lot calmer than I felt.
His hand caught my wrist two seconds later, and then he was stepping up in front of me, his chest meeting mine. His knuckle was beneath my chin, those gorgeous silver eyes of his staring into my faded blues.
“Don’t ever fucking think that I don’t want you,” he growled at me, his chest rising and falling a bit faster than it probably should’ve been. “I was trying to figure out how to accept your proposition without being an insensitive dick, Akari. Your comfort and happiness come first for me, always. I don’t want to make love to you if you only want a distraction.”
Ohhh.
That made me feel better.
A lot better, honestly.
“We’re already friends,” I reminded him. “This would just be… the next step in our friendship.”
His eyes narrowed at me. “There’s not a fucking chance I’ll have sex with you as a friend.”
He always had to call me on my shit.
I put a hand on my hip. “Having sex will ignite the mating bond, and I want that. The connection will bring me peace. I trust you, and I think a bond would make me feel more comfortable with everything in my life. And—”
His lips crashed into mine before I could finish speaking, his big, hot hands landing on my hips as our chests collided.
My fingers wrapped around the back of his neck as I went up on my tiptoes, trying to lift myself higher so our bodies lined up better.
When he realized what I was doing, his lips and tongue still making love to mine, he grabbed me by the thighs and hauled me up off the ground
My legs locked around his hips, my core pressed tightly to his erection. The friction was intense—more intense than I would’ve expected, even with the fabric between us.
And I fucking loved it.
I’d never felt that way before. The… passion. The excitement. The toe-curling thrill.
Everything was overwhelming in the most incredible way.
His tongue on mine, the way he held me, the way his fingers rested against my skin without digging in, so he wouldn’t leave any bruises.
The way his body felt against mine.
His hands slid up my bare thighs, and we groaned together as they moved up further, stroking, squeezing lightly, andfeeling.
“Holy shit,” I panted, leaning my head back as he rocked me against his erection. His pants separated us, but I didn’t give a damn.
The sleeve of my robe slid off my shoulder and down my arm, and Espen gave a savage snarl.
I didn’t think it was the sexy kind of snarl, though.
His hand smoothed over my shoulder, the rocking stopped as he glared at my upper chest. My nipple hadn’t popped out, but it was close.
That wasn’t what he was staring at, though.
The bruise that had started forming was.
“Who the fuck touched you?” He snarled those words too.
“The guard I killed.” My throat closed at the reminder.
My body suddenly felt dead and cold and very much not attractive.