Heartthrob (The Bennett Brothers 3)

His holdout has driven me to the brink, and if the anger rolling off his body is any indication, I may have pushed him a teeny bit too far.

It’s the middle of the day, and luckily, the lobby is empty except for the security guard whose eyes widen as Mathis stalks us through. The tinge of embarrassment vanishes when the elevator doors close, and I get a glimpse of his expression.

His blue eyes are wild and fiery, gleaming with anger and promise. His jaw is clenched tight, and his chest heaves against mine in a savage way that sends a message. I’m in trouble.

A thrill of excitement and anticipation courses through my bloodstream. The air around us burns with sexual desire and tension. His mouth crashes down, his tongue clashing with mine in a rough and demanding way. Every thought flies out of my head as he devours my mouth furiously. My hips grind down, feeling every thick inch of him through his shorts.

I’m barely aware of us moving until the crashing of the door breaks into my haze. My back hits a wall, and he yanks our joined hands from my thigh to my hip and uses his thumb to shred the seam of my bikini bottoms, which fall loose. Goosebumps pop over my skin at the rush of cool air, but inside, I’m boiling.

“Mathis!” I moan down his throat when two fingers plunge inside me and begin to twirl.

My muscles clench, trying to slow his movements, but it’s no use. I’m helpless in this position, forced to buck against his hand as he teases me mercilessly.

I’m close, so close. My spine tingles and my brain shoots off electric sparks right as he tears his mouth away and stops his fingers.

“What are you doing?” I cry. “Why are you stopping?”

“Tell me you will never, fucking ever, pull a stunt like that again.” The glittery hunger in his eyes from earlier is now sharp and challenging.

“It was harmless,” I stupidly reply and watch a shade of fury fill his expression as a low growl erupts from his throat.

Wrong thing to say. My brain scrambles for another excuse, and I absently blurt out, “It was the only way to get your attention!”

The storm brewing in his eyes takes on a new level, and he fumbles between us. Before I know what’s is happening, he drives his cock inside, pressing my hips downward until he’s buried. The silkiness of his flesh is pulsing, and my body shivers with the invasion.

“This what you wanted?”

“Yes,” I moan, dropping my head back to enjoy the delicious feeling of him.

“Goddammit,” he bites out, completely confusing me.

My head jerks up, the delicious feeling dying at the pain slashed on his face. Understanding slams into me, and my brain kicks in. Even with everything out in the open, there is only one thing left unspoken.

“I love you, Mathis. I’ve loved you for as long as I can remember, and nothing is ever going to change that.”

The fury, the pain, the sharp challenge—all of it disappears as the air around us takes on a new mood. He kisses me lightly, skimming his lips along mine and smiling. “I’ve waited a lifetime to hear those words.”

He thrusts in slow, steady motions, pressing his forehead to mine. I hold his stare, memorizing everything in this moment. Realization slams into me with a colossal force so strong it’s overwhelming.

Our days of reuniting as a couple have been about much more than unleashing fears and my repressed insecurities. This goes beyond reconciliation.

Our situation is not a break-up and make-up scenario.

Not the boyfriend and girlfriend taking the next step to move in together and see how it goes.

I’ve been blind to what is truly happening.

For a split second, my mind flashes to my two best friends—Bizzy in Charlotte, Grace in Greece. Mathis didn’t chase me down to explain he loves me. He came to give me my forever. Everything he’s done since showing up has been about me.

“I’ve always loved you,” I repeat, my voice breaking.

He walks us to the bedroom and sits on the edge of the bed, keeping our connection. “You understand now?” There’s tenderness to his question as if he knows I’ve reached the conclusion.

“I do.”

He reaches to the side, gets the keys, and uncuffs our wrists.

“So you know, you’ve always had my attention. To emphasize my point from earlier, never again are you going to show your tits to anyone but me.”