Wicked Again (The Wickeds #7) - Kathleen Ayers Page 0,73

remove his boots. “So stubborn. But worth the trouble.”

“What are you doing?” she whispered.

“Taking off my boots.” He held up one hand. “I know what you’re thinking; wouldn’t we be far more comfortable in my room? The answer is yes. The bed is larger and the mattress softer. There aren’t any outdated swirls of paisley to give you fits. But I’d have to carry you down the hall. No telling who we’d run into. I think one scandal today is probably enough.”

“Haddon, you can’t possibly mean to . . .” She sputtered, eyes widening in appreciation as Haddon tossed off his shirt. A line of muscle flexed in the firelight. Oh, she’d forgotten how bloody amazing he looked without clothes. She shut her eyes. “Jordana is home. And I’m . . . injured.”

“If you keep your eyes shut, Marissa, you’ll miss all the best parts,” he said suggestively. “Parts you rather enjoy.”

Heat rose up Marissa’s chest to flood her cheeks. “Are you going to ravish me?” she whispered a bit too hopefully at the sound of his trousers dropping to the floor.

“Yes.” He flung the sheets aside and stretched out next to her, naked and beautiful, the heat of him bleeding through the thin silk of the robe. “If ever,” he paused, nuzzling one breast, “there was a woman in dire need of ravishing . . .” Haddon inhaled sharply, taking in her scent. “Adored.” His teeth grazed the side of her neck. “Savored.” The tip of his tongue slid along the crease of her lips. “It is you, Marissa.”

“Yes.” Her fingers caught in the thick silk of his hair, tugging his mouth to hers.

Haddon’s lips met hers, in a slow, lingering kiss as if he were memorizing the shape of her mouth. Tasting her. Savoring her as he’d promised. There was infinite patience at the press of his lips. A slow burn of exquisite longing like the warm embers of a fire that would burn for hours with very little stoking.

“You’ve led me on a merry chase,” he said as one hand found its way into the robe to cup her breast, rolling her nipple between his thumb and forefinger. “Are you ready to let me catch you?”

“I’m not a bloody fox or a rabbit, Haddon.” She was ready for him to catch her, Marissa just wasn’t sure what being caught would mean. All the posturing and excuses she’d made about their relationship had been nothing but a waste of time, time she could have spent with Haddon. Even if he left her—when he left her, she corrected herself—she still couldn’t bring herself to regret being with him.

“Answer the question,” he said roughly, pinching the tightening peak of her nipple.

A tear ran down Marissa’s cheek though she tried to stop it. “Yes.”

He kissed the tear from her cheek. “Don’t, Marissa.”

When his mouth fell on hers this time, there was little gentleness, only the sense that Haddon would feast on her. Devour her. His tongue traced the outline of her lips until Marissa’s mouth opened.

Haddon groaned, his tongue sinking between her lips to curl around hers.

Marissa arched against him, her fingers sliding up to cup his scalp, as she struggled to get closer to him. The heat from his mouth spread outward, over her chest and down across her stomach, slowly twisting into an irresistible hum of pleasure between her thighs. She rubbed herself against Haddon, begging him to ease the ache.

How in the world did I keep myself from him?

He flung back the covers, staring down at her. “No more fucking games, Marissa.”

“No,” she whimpered as his finger slid between her folds. “I promise.”

Two large fingers sunk into her, thrusting slowly as his thumb teased around the sensitive bud demanding his attention even as he nipped at the slope of her neck.

The sting sharpened the pleasure building within her to a point, hastening the rush of sensation. His thumb moved in a torturous circle, ignoring the flesh begging for his touch. His lips moved down to her breast, sucking at the taut peak of her nipple. The hard length of him burned into her thigh.

Marissa rocked her hips up into his hand.

“We are not a dalliance.” Haddon’s teeth grazed the tip of her breast. “Do not ever dismiss me, or us, again.”

“I won’t.” She was panting. “Please.” He had a way of stoking her desire until Marissa became mindless with need.

“Not yet, my love.”

Her heart swelled at the endearment, wanting to bask in his adoration for as long as