bed. Carefully releasing my legs down his body, I stood less than an arm length away. I peered up at Kova, breath tight in my throat as my eyes took in his muscular chest.
I loved this man's brutal strength.
With his eyes locked on mine, he reached out and loosened my towel, gently tugging it off. The cloth slid down my breasts and fell to the floor, his darkened gaze following. I stood naked before him without a worry in the world, innocent and young doe eyes looking up at him. His nostrils flared, his blazing eyes sashayed across my nude body. Tentatively, he reached out and glided the back of his fingers over the side of my plump breast. His thumb ran over my hard nipple, and then down the soft curve of my waist. I swallowed hard, trying with effort not to shiver.
"So beautiful it hurts," he whispered. I raised my arms for him to dress me. He put the shirt over my head then slowly pulled it down, the back of his knuckles purposely grazed my raised breasts and pointed nipples. I leaned into his touch and drew in a silent breath.
Dropping to his knees, he nodded to my foot and ordered me to lift. Both feet in, he pulled the elastic waistband up my slender legs. As he slid the material higher up my thighs, his fingers lingered to a standstill when he reached the center of my body. I held my breath as the sinewy muscle coiled around his shoulders flexed. He was a heartbeat away. The beautiful golden honey color of his skin blushed with raw, unabated emotion. My hands formed into fists. I dug my nails into my palms so I wouldn't reach out and touch him.
Carefully, and ever so slowly, I steadied my breathing as his palms slid around the thickest parts of my thighs. Kova grasped my small waist once the pants were securely in place. His head hung sluggishly bowed between us. It tugged at my heart. Yet, I remained still and didn't touch him, even though my fingers itched to.
Kova struggled to stay in control. He trembled, his fingers dug into me. Not hurtful, but more like a man who was on the brink of losing it. I felt his veiled emotion, his vulnerability through his touch. It was how I knew what he was feeling without speaking a word. It was why I hadn’t wanted him here, why I had wanted him to leave. Why I knew this was a terrible idea from the beginning, because I knew without a shadow of a doubt what it would lead to. Us being alone had always been a bad idea because no matter what, we always, always, surrendered to our darkest, most forbidden desires.
I relaxed my fist and reached for him with timid fingers.
"Please," he whispered in a strangled voice. "Do not touch me. I am trying to give you what you need and nothing else."
My icy heart splintered. Placing my hand on the nape of his neck, I caressed him. My fingers threaded in his inky black hair in a passionate swoop. Kova trembled below me, his head falling against my hand.
"Ria, please, take your hands off me." His jaw rubbed into my palm.
Ria. I loved when he called me Ria, a nickname only he used. A fire stirred within me as I ignored his plea. The jagged sound of his voice woke the devil on my shoulder. The temperature between us escalated as I continued to play with his hair while he kneeled before me.
"I said, take your hands off me."
I wanted him to make a move. To snap.
I wound my other hand into his hair and began tugging near his scalp. My hips rolled in a gentle wave. I wanted to kneel onto him.
"Ria… You are doing this on purpose and testing my self-control. Stop."
I blinked. I was…and I hadn't even meant to.
My heart pounded viciously against my ribs. I secretly loved pushing his buttons for the sole purpose of his reaction and how passionate he became. A predator with one motive—to attack and devour.
God. What the hell was wrong with me to provoke a man of Kova's stature? And even worse, to want this.
I was disgusting. I was literally the reason why he acted the way he did.
Kova lifted his head and blew out a hot, tortured breath. His hands trembled.
"Why is it so hard for me to be faithful when it comes to you?" His lips