You know precisely what she does to you, exactly how much strength she exerts over you with just one look.
“I love you, Seth. I guess I’ve liked you from the moment I walked into your class.”
I closed my eyes, and this gruff sound left me, one that was more animal than man. She brought out the primordial side of me, the beast that I kept hidden deep within. Letting it out would only create harm, would let my flaws free. I needed to always be in control, especially with Grace.
But hearing her say she loved me had everything collapsing around me, inside me. It had pleasure and pain, hope and dread overwhelming me.
I couldn’t let her go. I wouldn’t. She was bonded to me irrevocably, mine for the taking. No one else would ever have her, and because of that she should be scared. She should be afraid of the extent I’d go to keep her close, to keep other guys who desired her away.
“I don’t want to ruin you,” I finally said. “I don’t want the love I have for you to twist and drive you away.” Because the power I felt when I was with her was unlike anything I’d ever experienced.
“You love me?”
I gazed into her eyes and roared. “I love you more than I’ve ever fucking loved anything in my life.”
“Then that’s all that matters.”
The air left me. “My sweet, innocent little Grace.” I shook my head slowly. “If life, the world, was so easy…”
She was the one to shake her head now. “Why can’t it be?” she asked softly. “You love me. I love you. Nothing else should matter.”
And it didn’t, to an extent. It was outside factors that had me worrying her being plucked from my life, like a blossom being ripped from the ground.
But my Grace was powerful, courageous. She stepped closer, rubbed her breasts more firmly against my chest.
I glanced into her eyes. “I meant it when I said I won’t let you go,” I murmured quietly, our lips still inches apart.
“I know,” she muttered.
I didn’t say anything else as I moved in and kissed her hard and deep, just wanting to stamp myself on her. All control had fucking gone at that instant. I hoped she was ready, for the constrained Seth she knew was gone.
I kissed Grace like stopping would be my death.
Delicious.
Addicting.
All mine.
Nothing else mattered save this one moment and making Grace feel good, making her realize that I desired her above all else. I couldn’t have gone away if my life had relied on it.
Hell, I’d gladly die in this very moment, with Grace’s lips glued to mine and the wonderful sounds of her groans filling my ears.
She interrupted the kiss and gasped. “I feel like if I don’t hold on to you, I won’t be steady. I won’t be here, like this is nothing but a dream.”
Before I could tell her to touch me, to hold on to me, to use me, she had her hands wrapped around my neck, her fingers playing with the short strands of hair at my nape. I kissed her again, and she made these little noises in the back of her throat. I swallowed the sounds, desiring more, wanting her to surrender every part of herself to me. This was what I’d wanted from the moment I met her, from the second I understood I couldn’t let her be with anyone else.
It had been so fucking hard staying back, keeping my distance for as long as I did. But no more. No matter the ramifications, no matter the rules I broke being with her… Grace was mine.
I couldn’t stop this. I wouldn’t. I pushed myself to take a step back, but grasped her hand in mine, holding her near, scared she’d go if she really saw my yearning for her.
“I don’t want you to let me go,” she whimpered.
“Never,” I answered promptly. I couldn’t help myself as I reached out and ran my thumb along her lower lip, tugged the soft, somewhat damp flesh down, and saw it glide back into place when I let go. She was so fucking lovely, so pliant and giving, and courageous, not allowing her inhibitions govern her. I’d show her how valuable she was to me.
Her breath hitched a bit, and I leaned down and grabbed her mouth in a kiss again, drawing her close because I was addicted to her. She felt good in my arms, like she was always intended to be here.
Take her.
