Page 42 of Branded By Shadow

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But I don’t rush her.

Not now.

Not with that truth between us.

I lay her back on the blanket like the floor deserves to be a damn altar. My hand goes beneath her head again, shielding her from the thin pillow and cheaper carpet. Her body trembles under mine, but her eyes stay on me.

I lower my mouth to her throat. “Then I’m going to make damn sure you remember me.”

Chapter 6

Shadow

Idon’trush.

Not because I’m patient.

Because she’s a virgin, and because if I let the animal in me off the chain too fast, I’ll hate myself for it.

She’s naked under me, warm and soft and watching me like she trusts me with every bad idea in her head. Her thighs are parted around my hips. Her hands are on my shoulders. Her mouth is swollen. Her eyes are wide.

Mine.

Fuck.

I lower my mouth to her throat and kiss the pulse jumping there.

“Jayce,” she whispers.

“I’ve got you, love.”

“I know.”

That nearly wrecks me.

I move down her body, dragging my mouth over her skin, tasting the soft curve of her breast, the trembling line of her ribs, the sweet dip of her stomach. She smells like soap, sugar, warm woman, and want.

The room is ugly.

She isn’t.

She’s gorgeous spread out, hair dark around her face, freckles scattered over skin that flushes everywhere I touch.

I take one nipple into my mouth and suck.

Her back comes off the floor.

“God.”

I scrape my teeth lightly, and her fingers dive into my hair.

“That’s it,” I mutter against her. “Let me hear you.”

“I can’t.”

“Yes, you can, my little hellcat.”

A laugh breaks out of her, breathless and nervous.

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