Total pages in book: 134
Estimated words: 135364 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 677(@200wpm)___ 541(@250wpm)___ 451(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 135364 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 677(@200wpm)___ 541(@250wpm)___ 451(@300wpm)
I should let this go.
I don’t.
Instead, I step in fully, caging her in with nothing but my presence, my body. Her back barely brushes against one of the benches, and I brace a hand beside her, making sure she knows she’s not going anywhere unless I let her.
“You know,” I murmur, my breath ghosting over her cheek, “if you wanted to touch me, all you had to do was ask.”
I expect her to shove me away, to laugh it off, to roll her eyes and pretend I don’t get under her skin.
But she doesn’t.
She just looks up at me, her green eyes wide, her chest rising and falling just a little too fast.
And then - merda - she actually does it.
Her fingers brush the fabric of my hoodie. Light. Barely there.
But fuck if it doesn’t feel like a spark shooting through me.
My stomach tightens, and I lift my hand, tracing my fingers along the sharp line of her jaw, tilting her chin up just enough to force her to look at me properly.
Her lashes flutter, her breath shaky, and I swallow.
She wants this.
She wants me.
The thought nearly undoes me.
My other hand finds her waist, my fingers pressing into the soft fabric of her blouse.
She doesn’t flinch. Doesn’t pull away.
No: she leans in.
Fuck.
I’m a dead man.
I dip my head lower, my mouth so close to hers that I can almost taste her.
“Still want to pretend you don’t want this?” I murmur.
I don’t think.
I just do.
And the moment my lips crash against hers, I know I’ve made the right fucking call.
Because dio, I’ve missed this. Missed her taste, missed the way she melts into me, missed the way my entire body reacts to hers like she’s the only thing I’ve ever craved.
I kiss her like I play: bold, confident, with no room for hesitation. I don’t hold back, don’t give her space to overthink.
I just take what I want, and she lets me.
At least, until she doesn’t.
Daphne pulls back just slightly, pressing a hand to my chest, her breath ragged.
"We shouldn't do this."
"Why not?" I murmur, my hands tightening at her waist, daring her to come up with a reason I’ll actually accept.
"Because I'm supposed to hate you."
I tilt my head, smirking.
"Are you?"
"Yes," she insists, but it sounds weak. Like even she doesn’t believe it.
I drag my fingers over her waist, teasing. I dip my head, pressing a slow, lingering kiss just below her jaw.
She inhales sharply.
"Why?" I murmur against her skin, trailing my lips lower.
She swallows hard.
"Because you're arrogant."
I hum, kissing the hollow of her throat.
"Mmhm."
"Because you drive me insane," she continues, her voice barely steady.
My lips brush over her collarbone.
"Do I?"
"You - you’re -"
Her words falter, swallowed up by a soft, desperate sound as I find the sensitive spot beneath her ear and bite down gently.
There it is.
I smirk against her neck, my tongue sweeping over the mark I just made.
"That doesn’t sound like hate to me, bella."
Before she can argue, before she can even think, I kiss her again.
This time, it’s different.
Deeper. Harder.
Possessive.
I fist my hands in her hips, gripping her like I might lose my mind if I let go. She makes a muffled noise against my mouth, her fingers curling into my hoodie as she finally gives in and pulls me closer.
My pulse roars in my ears as she moves against me, moving further into me like she can’t get enough.
I knew it. I knew she wanted this just as badly as I did.
One of my hands slips lower, gripping her hip as I back her up and press her against the row of lockers behind her. My thigh slides between hers, hard and deliberate, and the sound that leaves her lips -
Fuck. It’s enough to undo me.
"Say it," I murmur, my voice rough.
Her body goes tense, and I know that she knows exactly what I mean.
She shakes her head, her nails digging into the fabric of my hoodie.
"No."
I smirk, dragging my lips along her jaw.
"Say. It."
Her whole body is trembling now, every breath uneven, every muscle locked with restraint. But she still won’t give me the satisfaction.
So I make her.
I shift my leg slightly, pressing against her exactly where I know she needs it.
She exhales sharply, her head falling back against the lockers.
"I -"
I nudge her again, slow, torturous, and her body betrays her completely, rolling against me on instinct.
"Dio, you’re so stubborn," I murmur against her lips.
She squeezes her eyes shut, exhaling shakily.
"I hate you," she whispers.
The words barely leave her mouth before my patience snaps, and I fist a hand in her hair, tugging her head back, forcing her to look me in the eyes.
"Don’t fucking lie to me," I growl.
Then I kiss her again, punishing and deep, proving exactly how much of a liar she is.
My fingers thread into her hair, keeping her where I want her as I claim her mouth again and again, swallowing every sound she makes.