The Darkest Touch

She rubbed them, color heating her cheeks. “Someone didn’t hit me, but someone sure did hit on me.”

Hit on her. As in kissed her.

Already on edge, Torin. Utterly. Erupted.

He forgot everything he’d planned to do and say and got in Keeley’s face, snarling, “Who was it?”

Her eyes widened. “Hades. Why?”

“You dare ask why? You belong to me! We agreed. You do not kiss other men, Keeley. Ever. Have you forgotten my rules?”

Her jaw dropped, and she gasped out a few unintelligible words as if she couldn’t quite figure out what to say to him.

He stood in place, breathing too quickly, too heavily, his throat and lungs burning. He reached for her, but as so many times before, fisted his hands and dropped them just before contact. This is crazy. I’m crazy. I have to leave.

“Are you...thinking about touching me?” she asked, her eyes widening again.

No, she had to leave. He could not be in public right now. “Go shopping. Buy yourself something pretty. My treat.” He basically tossed his credit card at her. He should be calm by the time she finished. “Come back in an hour. Maybe two. Actually, we’ll reconvene tomorrow.”

“You are,” she said. “You’re thinking... Even craving me. You don’t like the thought of another man’s hands on me, and you want to replace the memory with your hands.”

That. Yes. Hades would die, and Torin...Torin would touch this woman and never stop.

He gnashed his molars. “Last chance, Keeley. I suggest you take it and leave.” Soon. His control was almost completely shredded.

“No way. You’re the big bad warrior, yet I’ve had to come on to you time and time again. I’ve had to battle within myself—worth the price or not worth it. Well, it’s your turn.”

“There is no damn way you just suggested I haven’t done the same. I’ve battled.”

“When have you ever caved without prompting from me? You’ve resisted me so easily, always walking away. Sure, you’ve snarled while you’ve done the walking, but still you left me behind. So, tell me. When did you ever—”

“So easily?” he roared. Had she just said so easily? She had no clue about the intensity of his need—but he would teach her better.

Torin cupped her by the nape, yanked her close and smashed his mouth against hers. The kiss was a brutal assault meant to silence her, to dominate and possess. He held her still, making her take it, take everything. But the moment she softened against him, welcomed him inside her mouth, the darkness churning inside him switched gears. From the need to punish and master to the need to seduce and please.

This was Keeley. His princess. She deserved his best.

He gentled the pressure, rolling his tongue inside her mouth, learning her all over again, tasting her. Summer berries and melted honey. So sweet. And mine. All mine. He framed her cheeks, angled her head and rolled his tongue just a little deeper. This time, she met him with a roll of her own.

That was his undoing.

He deepened the kiss. He sucked and he bit. She did the same, her fingers tangling in his hair, tugging as she angled him the way she wanted him. Heady, knowing she craved him as fiercely as he craved her. Sultry. Perfect, and oh, damn, he was becoming drunk on her, the need to strip her and take everything escalating.

Strung as taut as a bow.

He anchored his hands on her hips and lifted her. She wound her legs around him, clinging to him. Blood on fire, he walked toward the bed, put a knee on the mattress and leaned, pressing her down—pinning her on her back.

“Yes,” she gasped, arching up, rubbing against him. Feminine softness against all of his throbbing hardness.

“Tell me if I hurt you.”

“Can’t hurt me. You know I like it hard.”

My woman is everything I’ve ever dreamed. Torin ripped off his gloves, then ripped off her shirt. No bra. Good. He kneaded her breasts, then ran his thumbs over the distended crests. His bare thumbs. As before, her flesh reminded him of silk. Her heat teased him. He’d had this only once before, but it had been enough to addict him. Forever.

Have to taste. He licked his way down, flicked his tongue over a stiffened peak, then did the same to the other. Until both were red, swollen and moist. Her moans came one after the other, the sounds music to his ears.

Her head thrashed from side to side, the sight of her uncontrolled passion nearly pushing him over the edge. “Torin.”

He twined locks of her hair around his hand until he reached her scalp. Then he fisted, pulling slightly, forcing her to still, his will to overcome hers; her moans became groans of the sweetest surrender. With his other hand, he traced a burning path between her legs. He was trembling as he slid his fingers under her panties.

He thrust deep...and grunted his approval. The heat and the honey, the tight clasp, without any kind of barrier. He closed his eyes as ecstasy swept him away.

“Princess is wet.” He surged up to feed her another kiss—and another finger.

She undulated her hips, sending him even deeper inside. “Torin. I need...” She was breathless, panting. “Mmm, harder. Give me harder.”

He would give her anything she desired, everything she needed. He pressed the heel of his palm against her swollen little bud, and she shattered, arching up, raking her nails down his back, crying out, spasms overtaking her. It was a beautiful sight, raw and carnal, one that almost sent him over the edge. Almost. He was stubborn, wanted her to finish him.