Beneath These Chains (Page 29)

“If your lips aren’t on mine in less than two seconds, I’m going to be taking the reins here.” His hands settled on my hips and squeezed. The movement rocked me back and forth on his thigh, and my clit lit up with the sensation. My floaty skirt was completely inappropriate for swamp-boating, but it meant that there wasn’t much between us. I glanced down to see the huge bulge in his pants.

Lord followed the direction of my gaze. He gripped my hips tighter and began to lift me.

“Spread for me. I want you straddling my lap.”

I lowered my head and whispered into his ear as I complied, “You’re lucky that’s exactly where I want to be.”

My lips hit Lord’s as his eyes lit with something that looked a whole lot like satisfaction. I closed mine and threw myself into the kiss, opening my mouth and tasting him.

This could become addictive.

His hands curved around my ass, and he pulled me closer. I might have been on top, but I was no longer in control—and I was totally fine with that.

I wanted him. Under me. Over me. Behind me. Whichever way I could have him. I put every bit of my longing into the kiss as I rocked against him.

Lord pulled back first. “Fuck, woman. You can’t kiss me like that here—not unless you want me to lay you out and take you on the seat of this goddamn boat.”

“I—I’m not saying no to that.” My body clenched with need.

“Not the first time.”

“Even if I ask nicely and say ‘pretty please’?”

One moment I was straddling him, and in the next I was on my back on the seat, and his mouth was on mine again. My lips. My jaw. My neck.

Thought disintegrated when his teeth dragged down my earlobe and nipped.

“Please,” I whispered.

My nipples, which were already hard and aching, puckered further at the rumble of Lord’s deep voice in my ear. “I love the word please on your lips. I can’t wait to hear it while I’m deep inside you, and you’re moaning my name.”

Moaning his name? I was about to do that right now.

“Is that a yes?” I asked, my words breathy, and if I’d cared at all, I might have been embarrassed to hear myself sound so desperate.

“When I get you under me again, we’re going to need a helluva lot more space and helluva lot more time.”

It took everything I had to pull back and smooth Elle’s skirt down her legs. She stared up at me, the need in her eyes clear and sexy as hell. But I didn’t bring her here to fuck her in the middle of a swamp. I might not be a classy kind of guy, but she deserved better. That didn’t mean I wouldn’t fuck her in the middle of the swamp eventually, but not this time. I wasn’t lying when I said I wanted more time and more space. I ran my palms up her sides and dragged my thumbs over the nipples taunting me beneath her shirt.

She shivered at the contact, and my dick jumped again. I didn’t think I could get any harder without busting through my jeans.

“This right here is a rain check. This is happening, Elle. You and me.”

She opened her mouth to protest, but I continued, “We’ll stick with the no expectations and no bullshit, but that doesn’t change the fact that this is happening. We won’t put a label on it if that’s gonna scare you off, but you need to know I’m staking my claim. You’re mine.”

“I—I didn’t agree to—” She cut off her own words, and I swore I heard her brain kick into overdrive. If she overthought this, I could lose my shot. That wasn’t fucking happening.

“Elle, stop.”

Her forehead creased as she met my eyes. “Stop what?”

“Overthinking this.”

“But—”

“But nothing. It’s happening. And you’re going to enjoy the hell out of it, and me.” I flicked her nipples again, and her eyes clouded.

I don’t know what tipped the scales in my favor, and right now, I didn’t care. The only thing that mattered to me was the shape of her mouth as she said, “Okay.”

After I dropped off Elle, I was too keyed up to head home. It’d taken every ounce of my control to watch her walk up the stairs alone. But this—what we were starting—was worth taking slow.

I headed to the gym instead. It was late, so I was surprised to see Reggie’s old truck still in the parking lot when I pulled in.

I let myself in the back door, and was greeted by the quick, rhythmic smack and bounce of someone hitting the speed bag. Reggie’s smooth movements hadn’t lost any impact over the years. He paused and stretched his shoulders, and I crossed the floor toward him.

“Still looking good, old man.”

He swung his head around.

“Hey, Lord. Whatcha doing here so late?”

“Thought I’d hit a bag for a while. Haven’t gotten a workout in today.”

“Why don’t you go get changed, and I’ll get in the ring with some mitts so you can get a good one in.”

“You sure?”

“I ain’t got anything better to do tonight.”

I headed for the locker room and changed into shorts. Reggie was waiting for me in the ring, and I ducked between the ropes and bounced on the balls of my feet and stretched.

I started to punch, and he started to talk.

“Surprised you ain’t out living it up. You’re here with an old man instead.”

“I had a date tonight. So don’t worry about my social calendar.”

“A date,” he said, tilting his right hand for my uppercut. “Thought that was ancient history.”