Breaking Beast (Pounding Hearts 4)

I’d take Brianna over Dale any day.

Alex walks right up to me and then carefully takes my face in his hands. Tipping my head up, his thumbs stroke across my cheeks, exploring the puffiness.

“Yeah, you’re pretty swollen. Do you want some more ice?”

“No,” I say, staring up at him. “That’s not what I want.”

His eyes lock on mine and his thumbs still. A tension that’s been resting just below the surface awakens between us.

“What do you want?” he asks, his eyes darkening.

I take a deep breath and brace myself for the truth. “I want to know if you meant it.”

He blinks at me, confused. “Meant what?”

Looking away, I feel my face warming. I’ve been dying to ask him this question for more than an hour, but now that the time has finally come I can’t seem to get it out of my mouth.

What if he didn’t mean it? What if bringing this up ruins what we already have? If he doesn’t want to be serious but knows I do, will he still want to be with me? Or will he think we’re better off parting ways?

Honestly, I don’t know what the hell I would do without him.

“Christy,” he says, his voice incredibly soft and husky. “Meant what?”

I just battled it out in the cage in a match that was broadcast live on television but somehow this feels like the real fight I’ve been training for.

Forcing my eyes back to him, I stare into his eyes, searching for a sign.

But his eyes are just as mysterious as always, giving me no clues.

His thumbs stroke against my jaw and I close my eyes for a moment, gathering up my courage.

This man, he empowers me. He strengthens me, and builds me up, yet he also weakens me. And all these little touches, these little signs of his affection break me down in a way that makes me feel so vulnerable.

“Did you mean it when you said you love me?” I ask, opening my eyes.

“Yes,” he answers without any hesitation.

I don’t know if it’s the answer or the surge of emotion that hits me but I suddenly feel like crying. My eyes blur and my nose burns. A sob builds in my throat.

I throw myself at him and he catches me.

Before I can burst into tears his mouth presses against my mouth, swallowing the sob I let out.

His hands grab me, firmly yet gently, holding me up. I grab at his shirt, clinging to him as I experience an overwhelming need to feel my skin pressed against his skin.

“I love you,” he growls, between pulls from my mouth. “I fucking love you.”

Suddenly his hands are all over me, I feel them everywhere at once. On my face, on my breasts, on my hips. My arms are moved.

Our kiss breaks as my shirt is pulled up.

Panting, my breasts feel so heavy as I stare up at him. It takes no work at all to get these words past my mouth.

Staring into his eyes, I say, “I love you too,” and feel it with every beat of my heart.

A deep growl rumbles in the base of his throat and then he’s pulling me up, stripping my shorts off. The cool air hits me and I shiver, both hot and cold beneath his smoldering look.

Letting out my own growl, I grab his shirt and yank it up. He has to bend down though to help me get it off.

Tossing his shirt away, he pulls me into him and my breasts smash against his chest. With nothing between us, I swear I can feel every thundering beat of his heart.

“You know I can never let you go now,” he says, staring me down.

Staring up into his eyes, I have to swallow down the lump in my throat before saying, “I know.”

“You’re mine,” he says and hauls me up, ravenously kissing my mouth. “Mine,” he growls and spins, pushing me up against the wall.

My legs wrap around his waist but I want to cry in frustration because he’s still wearing his damn pants.

I want to be joined with him, I need him inside me so much it hurts.

With one hand on my ass, holding me up, he reaches between us and shoves his pants down. “I’ve been fantasizing about doing this all night…” he admits and then thrusts forward.

He fills me up in one powerful stroke.

Spine arching, my head falls back and my nails dig into his shoulders as a rush of pleasure flows through my core.

His breath puffs against my ear as he slowly pulls out. “I’ve been wanting to fill you up with my cock ever since that first night I caught you showering in the gym.”

My eyes flash open in surprise but then all thoughts of him seeing me in the shower that night fly out of my head as he thrusts back in.