Page 27 of Crimson Heart

“I reserve the right to utter a few important words,” he murmured as his lips hovered over hers.

“What words?” she echoed.

His breath ghosted over her face. “Words like yes, oh God, and others that you might remember from last night.”

“I can handle that.”

She put her hand on his nape and pressed her lips to his, kissing him before either of them could change their mind. The fact that their families wouldn’t be pleased about what was happening between them didn’t matter right now. All she wanted was to feel him again, to be in his arms, to surrender to him and forget all her problems.

Byron’s kiss was all-consuming, his lips demanding, his tongue beguiling as he explored her mouth, while he pressed her against his pelvis, making her aware of how hard he was. She loved that about him. It didn’t take much to arouse him, just like the mere thought of what they were about to do aroused her. She’d never felt so in tune with a man. Byron awakened feelings in her that she’d never thought she was capable of. Emotions she’d never experienced with any other man or wolf.

She felt weightless all of a sudden, as if she were floating on a cloud. For a moment, she wasn’t sure what was happening to her. Then she felt the wall behind her, and Byron pressing her against it, her feet not touching the floor.

He ripped his lips from hers. “I have to have you.”

His breath was ragged, and she could feel his heart pounding just as feverishly as her own. Their eyes met, their gazes fusing. Everything around them blurred. All she could see was Byron and the desire and passion that was blazing from his eyes. She loved that look on him, the golden-yellow sheen that spread in his irises signaling that his wolf ruled him now. His wolf was calling to hers, demanding she let go of the leash with which she shackled her she-wolf. She knew there was no use in trying to resist the call of the wild, because she wanted the same as Byron: unleashing her passion on him and his wolf.

“You’ve got me,” she murmured.

Charlotte reached for the hem of his T-shirt and shoved it up. Byron helped and pulled it over his head, then dropped it on the floor. Before she could do anything else, he untied the belt of her bathrobe and opened it. She wore nothing beneath it.

Byron gasped. “Damn it, Charlie, did you plan this? Did you know that we would have sex tonight?”

She reached into her pocket and pulled out a condom, lifting it up so he could see it.

“I didn’t know, but hoped…”

He gave a slow shake of his head. “I don’t know whether to feel manipulated or relieved that you were thinking ahead.”

“I’d go with relieved,” she said and gripped the waistband of his jogging pants. She shoved them down over his hips until they fell to the ground, pooling around his feet.

She dropped her gaze to his groin, where his cock stood fully erect. She licked her lips at the tantalizing sight. Her womb clenched instinctively, and her insides were bathed in desire when she ran her eyes over him and finally looked into his face. The way Byron looked at her, his eyes pinning her against the wall at her back, the aroma of aroused male wrapping around her, awakened everything female inside her.

Even though she was the one who—once more—initiated sex, it was he who had power over her body, heart, and soul. To her surprise, she loved that feeling, loved being under his spell.

Byron ran his eyes over Charlotte’s half-naked body. She still wore the bathrobe, and he decided that she would keep it, because it would cushion her back. Her breasts were full and firm, her nipples hard, inviting him to touch them. When he’d decided to meet with her in the basement, he’d done so because down here nobody would hear them. He hadn’t expected that the confrontation between them would turn in the direction where sex was not just a possibility, but a certainty. Last night they’d had the comfort of a soft bed; tonight, they didn’t have that luxury, because if they went upstairs to either his room or hers in the state they were in, anybody could hear them. They couldn’t risk that.

“Sorry, I can’t offer you a soft bed right now,” he said, running his hands up and down her torso.

“Beds are overrated,” she assured him. “At least we have a condom.”

“Remind me to have a condom in every pocket of my pants and jackets from now on.”

He smirked and took it from her hand. He opened the foil packet, then sheathed his erection with it. He wished they didn’t need it, but with Charlotte still in heat, it was the smart thing to do. At that thought, the wolf inside him protested. The wolf didn’t want to make the smart choice. He knew why, but didn’t go down that road. It was too impulsive to follow that particular train of thought. They barely knew each other; they were from two families that were still at odds with each other. A relationship between them would only complicate things.

“Changed your mind?”

Charlotte’s question made him realize that he’d stood there frozen for longer than a second.

He met her eyes and smiled. “Impatient for the big bad wolf to get his claws into you?”

“What are you waiting for?”

She pulled her lower lip between her teeth and gave him a seductive look that would have made any pinup girl proud. Damn, she was sexy. Absolutely irresistible. There was no way he would ever be able to free himself from the net she was casting. Even realizing this, didn’t stop him. He wanted her. And he would be hers for as long as she wanted him.

Byron dipped his head to hers and kissed her passionately while he swept his hands underneath the soft fabric of her robe. Her skin was warm and smooth, and he couldn’t get enough of touching her, exploring her once more. She was just as welcoming as the night before, if not more so. Her hands on him felt electrifying. She was bolder tonight, more demanding, but he didn’t mind. He loved the way she offered herself to him by lifting one leg to wrap around his thigh, drawing him closer. He knew what she wanted, what they both needed: for their bodies to be joined.

He followed her unspoken command, and without severing the kiss, he lifted her up, her back still against the wall for support. She spread her legs and tilted her pelvis up. A second later, he felt her hand on his cock as she guided him to her pussy. He thrust inside, seating himself in her warm and wet cave, her interior muscles squeezing him. Had she been that deliciously tight the previous night?