Your Fierce Love (The Bennett Family 7)

“I met with Sebastian and Logan last week to give them heads-up about Shepperd, and Sebastian said he’d caught wind that this would come out.” He points to his phone. “I pulled all the strings to keep it from being published, but I couldn’t stop it, damn it.”

“I’m so sorry. How is Sebastian taking this?”

“He doesn’t care at all what is being written about him. Says as long as the people he cares about know the truth, nothing else matters.”

“That’s a great approach.”

I inspect Blake, trying to gauge exactly what’s upsetting him, especially since Sebastian himself isn’t bothered.

My people-reading skills aren’t worth jack shit, but he has something on his mind. Since I can’t guess, I’m gonna need words. Tucking my feet underneath me, I inch closer to him, then stand higher on my knees, facing him.

“Talk to me, Blake. What is eating away at you? Don’t keep me out.” The five-o’clock shadow grazes my lips as I kiss down his jaw, then back up on his cheek. I want to be helpful to him, but I can’t do it if he doesn’t open up. I want him to know that it’s safe to show me his vulnerable side too, that he doesn’t have to always be in his fun or strong or seductive mode for me. I nibble at his earlobe, then trace a straight line down his neck. A low grunt reverberates in his throat. I pull away, looking him straight in the eyes.

“Tell me, Blake,” I beckon.

“I don’t like letting my family down.”

Ah, so this is the crux of the issue.

“You didn’t,” I say gently. “You gave your best, but sometimes even our best can’t change the course of things.” And then the real crux of the issue hits me. “You let yourself down, am I right?”

Surprise flickers in his eyes, but he nods. I place one hand on his chest without saying anything. I need to choose my words carefully.

“You’re a good man, Blake. You’re a great man. But some failure is inevitable, even when you have the best intentions.”

His jaw tightens almost imperceptibly. It might not be noticeable to anyone else, but I’ve learned him intimately enough to pick up subtle changes. I hit a nerve with my failure comment. I think back on the day he introduced me to Charlie, how terrified I was of failure too. Blake’s reassurance that he’ll be next to me no matter what was exactly what I needed. It strikes me that on some level everyone needs this, reassurance that even if we fail and we’re stripped bare of our successes, the person at our side will still respect us, love us.

“And I want you to know that you don’t have to always be in a fun, strong, or seductive mode for me. It’s safe to show me your vulnerable side too.” I drop my voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “I promise I won’t tell. You’re my knight even when your armor’s pierced.”

“Yeah?”

He peppers kisses up and down my neck, nipping at my skin. Lowering his hands to my ass, he pulls me closer to him until our groins touch.

“I need you, Clara.”

“I’m yours. Whatever you need.”

My pulse skitters as Blake kisses me. He does nothing else except kiss me, and yet desire pools between my legs. Then he leads me to the bedroom, pushes me on my back on the bed, lying next to me. In the light streaming from above, I have a clear view of the desire etched on his features. He pushes down my skirt, and I make quick work of undoing the buttons of my blouse. Thong and bra go next, and then I’m naked in front of him.

Discarding his clothes, he pulls out a condom, gloving up. I am turned on just from watching him. Won’t volunteer the fact out loud, but the man would make an excellent stripper.

I’m reminded of a feline on the prowl, shoulders moving in a rippling pattern as he moves on the bed. His eyes lock on my center.

“Beautiful, you’re so ready for me, and I haven’t even touched you.”

Licking my lips, I part my legs wider. He moves between them.

“Put your hands under your knees. Lift your legs.”

Heat trickles down my inner thighs at his command. Oh my. Lying on my back, I place my fingers behind my knees, lifting one leg, then the other.

He settles between my open legs, my calves rubbing against his granite forearms. A shudder courses through me when he slides his crown up and down my folds, coating himself in my arousal. He pushes in, just an inch, and it’s like he lights a fire inside me.

“Pull your legs closer up.”

He slides in at the same time I move my legs, and—

OhGod OhGod OhGod...The angle changes the closer I bring my thighs to my torso, and the deeper I take him in.