“Oh God…” I don’t know where this is going, but it can’t be anywhere good. “What happened?”
“She left town to stay with an aunt. Lost the baby. And killed herself.”
I stumble backward, his words a physical blow. I sit back on the kitchen table, my legs weak. “I’m so sorry.”
“I think…” His hands clench on the edge of the counter, white-knuckled. “I think her brother is after me. For revenge, I’m guessing. Although I didn’t fucking know any of this. And now my kids and you are in danger.”
This is crazy. And it means Ross is off the hook for good?
“I’m okay,” I whisper. “Your kids, too. Maybe he isn’t really trying to harm us.”
He finally pushes off the counter and turns to face me. The pain in his gaze has shifted to anger. “He won’t touch you, or my kids. I’ll feed him his balls if he ever comes near you again.”
My whole body prickles at this declaration. God, is it wrong that I’m throbbing between my legs when he goes all caveman on me? I want to wrap my legs around his slim hips and kiss him, I want him to spread me on the table and fill me up.
His eyes narrow, his muscular chest rising and falling faster. “Tay…”
“I don’t care,” I inform him. “It’s not your fault. And it changes nothing for me.”
He takes two steps closer, hands fisted at his sides, his gaze moving over my body, and my nipples tighten until they ache under his scrutiny. “You could get hurt for real.”
“I won’t stop living. I won’t let the bullies win. Ever.”
“I could hurt you.”
“I can take it, if it means I can be with you.” I lick my lips, needing his hands on me, on my bare skin, needing him to cover me and overwhelm me. Make me feel I’m his. “What am I to you?”
“Tay.” He’s so close I can see the emotions rolling through his eyes like clouds over a night sky. So close I could put my hand over the hard bulge in his sweats where his stiff cock is clearly outlined. I could wrap my arms around him and not let go. “I can’t…”
“Nothing has changed for me,” I say again, giving in and putting my hands on his chest, over warm skin. “I love you.”
I let my words hang between us. Watch him as he blinks ridiculously lon
g lashes, a spark lighting up in his dark eyes.
Then he grabs me in his arms, lifting me up and spinning me around, making me gasp and squeal. He slows down, lets me slide down his body and buries his face in my neck, still holding me, keeping me close. His big frame is shaking, his breathing is harsh.
“Matt?” What have I done? “Just…”
“Me too,” he breathes against my neck, then against my lips. “God, Tay, me too.”
And he kisses me.
We kiss and kiss, and I can’t stop. Don’t want to. He presses me into the wall, his tongue invading my mouth, tangling with mine. He tastes delicious, like burnt caramel and spicy cake and sexy man, and his body crushes me, a solid wall of muscle.
It’s so good. His muscled arms bracket my face as he eats up my mouth, his muscular chest mashes my boobs, and a thick thigh is pressed between my legs, lighting sparks deep inside me.
A thrill passes through me wherever his naked skin touches mine.
And it’s not close enough.
I squirm, running my hands over his ribs, down to the small of his back, and God, his body strains under my palms. He growls deep in his throat, removes his thigh from between my legs—then grabs both my wrists in one large hand and holds them over my head.
I gasp when he slams them lightly on the wall, gasp again when he shoves his other hand under my dress and goes back to fucking my mouth with his tongue. His fingers slip under my panties, between my folds, into my pussy.
Oh dear God. I’m going to come just like this. I’m going to…
The world splinters, a blinding explosion, a clench and release, a detonation of pleasure.