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We’d devolved into a standoff, neither of us willing to answer the other.
I would not allow a discussion of being tied up, tied down, or anything that could take us to a discussion of the event I never talked about. “Serena, do this. Serena, do that,” I complained. “Everybody’s always telling me what to do, and I’m fucking sick of it. You have no idea what it’s like.”
“You’re right. I have to work for a living, Princess.”
Tears pricked at my eyes. Now it was official, my family’s money had entered the discussion. I stomped my foot. “Don’t call me Princess.” Only too late did I realize that stomping my foot played right into his narrative. “It’s insulting. You wanted to know why I didn’t want my father involved. Because I’m trying to make my own way in the world, and he’s constantly?—”
His face changed. “Treating you like a helpless little girl?” he suggested.
His kind words deflated my anger. I nodded. “Yes.”
He approached. Taking my hand, he morphed from beast to gentle giant in that way only he could. “I can’t fix your issues with your father or anybody else, but I can promise that when I tell you to do something, it’s for your safety. That’s all. Which means it’s important that you follow my directions, for yoursake and for mine. You need to understand that I care, and I won’t boss you around unless it’s a matter of safety.”
I felt a little off balance. Looking up, instead of the eyes of the warrior, I saw the kind eyes that had first intrigued me. “I get it. I’ll try to be better.” But, his current insistence on bossing me around had clinched something else. I was going to make him come to the barbecue whether he wanted to or not. I would not lose that argument.
“Like Yoda said, ‘there is no try, only do.’” He rested his hand on my cheek. “Sorry I yelled. Are we good?”
I leaned into his touch and nodded. “We’re good.” Was it weird that the touch of a man I’d only met today could instantly put me at ease? Sure, I’d known the boy he used to be, but neither of us was a kid anymore.
He was a tempting badass, and I realized I was a woman longing for his touch and so much more. His mouth inched closer to mine as lust entered his eyes. Did he feel what I felt or was I imagining it?
I tilted my head up, rested a hand at his waist, and closed my eyes, waiting for the brush of his lips over mine. Or would they come crashing down? Need coursed through me, sending liquid heat to my core and a zing up my spine—a mixture of anticipation and fear. Was he merely comforting a scared little kitten, or did he want me?
If he did, could I handle a man like Duke Hawk?
My other arm wrapped around his neck, pressing my breasts to his chest and the hard length of him against me, hinting at the answer.
When his lips met mine, I knew. Duke Hawk hadn’t wanted teenage me, but he wanted the woman I’d become. He cupped the back of my head and deepened the kiss. He was demanding, but not rough—savoring and exploring the connection. Yes,Duke Hawk could kiss the panties right off a woman, and he wanted me.
I speared the hand on my good arm into his hair. The dance of his tongue with mine was intoxicating, unlike anything I’d experienced before.
His hand slid under my loose shirt. He inched me away from him and cupped my breast. Liquid heat filled me as his thumb circled my nipple, teasing the peak into a hard bud, and the sound of blood rushing in my ears overwhelmed the ticking of the grandfather clock.
Pleasant sensations overwhelmed the pains from the crash as the room melted away. I floated in his strong arms. I shoved aside my worry about Black Jacket Guy’s note and felt the warmth of Duke’s hard body against mine. Our tongues danced with passion, each learning the other.
He cupped my ass, and there was plenty to grasp. I wished for more contact, more skin, just more Duke. No, more Cobra. Sliding a hand between us, I cupped his erection through his pants.
With a tortured groan, he broke the kiss. “You’re playing with fire, Princess.”
“I’m old enough to decide for myself, and you agreed to not tell me what to do.”
He sighed. “If you’re going to be bold,” he said, quoting from my tattoo. “Be sure, absofuckinglutely sure.” He pinched my aching nipple, sending a zing of electricity through me. “Once we start this, I’m not going to stop.”
“Promise? I choose bold,” I answered, giving his cock a squeeze.
His mouth took mine again as he tugged at the belt on my pants and slid them off my hips before guiding his hand inside my panties. He blazed a hot trail over bare skin as his fingers traveled down to where I wanted them, craved them.
The sizzle of sensation when he parted my slit was heavenly. I was on a hair trigger, as it had been a long time since any fingers besides my own had explored my sex. I shifted to the side and grabbed for his belt to make us even. I could tell he was big, but how big?
He pulled my hand away. “Not yet,” he said firmly before re-engaging the kiss.
Going back to palming his length, I refused to stop working him through the fabric.
His finger circled and teased my entrance, pulling a begging moan out of me before sliding inside. “My God, you’re wet.”
“It’s what you do to me,” I breathed. I squeezed him again. “And you’re hard as steel.”
“That’s what you do to me.”
