Page 78 of Untamed Beast
“I thought you needed to stay in practice… for survival.”
How do I explain that her touch is more important to me right now than survival? Than anything?
“Maybe it’s something I need to stop, anyway. Or do you like watching me too much?”
Natalia blushes.
“I do like watching you. I just hate that you get hurt.”
“Your brothers wouldn’t have been fighting like this. Your father has definitely never been in a fight in his life.”
She smiles sadly. “No, they wouldn’t. But I don’t think they would win. My family’s not built for fighting.”
“You’re artists.”
“Well, art dealers. We’re not warriors.”
“They do say opposites attract.” I stroke my hands over her delicate frame. Natalia is not anyone I ever saw myself being with.
The fact that I feel like maybe I am what she wants, that I could be good enough for her, makes my heart pound in my chest. She’s as tiny and delicate as I am huge and scary.
She twists around on my lap to press a kiss to my jaw and my cock stirs.
And that.
I don’t think I’ve been this turned on from kissing someone since I was a teenager, but Natalia drives me insane with desire.
Some days I cut work short to come back and see her. And we’re not even fucking.
“I like this,” she sighs happily, leaning back against my chest. We’re getting too comfortable with each other, given what I’m still planning to destroy her father. I’m not strong enough to put an end to it, though I know it’s ill-advised. When I’m with Natalia, nothing else matters.
I wrap my arms around her tight, pulling her against me.
“You’re not falling in love with me, are you?”
I’m teasing, but Natalia misses the joke. Her green eyes widen at me earnestly and I start to feel nervous. My pulse races as I wait for her answer.
She thinks for a long time, straddling my lap and still tracing my tattoos and scars with her delicate hands.
Her nails are shimmering pastels today, kinda like the swirling colors you see in a cloud of petrol. I take her hand and lace my fingers through hers.
If this is about to be the end of whatever is going on between us, I want as much of her touch as I can get before then.
“Well, I don’t know…”
It’s not a good start. I press a kiss to the back of her hand, trying to calm my breathing, and she blushes.
“I don’t even think I know what love is. So how would I know?”
Why do I want to continue this conversation?
I should be shutting down this line of talk right now and crushing the idea Natalia could be in love with me.
The problem is, it’s getting harder to push her away. Harder to keep separation between us when every time we’re together I’m consumed by her presence.
I kiss my way up her delicate arm until I reach her cheek.
“How do you feel when you’re with me?”
