Page 117 of Sands of Atonement

I closed my eyes and felt the entirety of his mouth on me, moving down my neck.

His lips brushed up the length of my neck and reached my jaw, leaving aching tingles in their wake, a riveting effect through my body.

“Tell me to stop, Eshe—” he whispered in a low, raspy voice.

I arched my back to press my body against his, not knowing I wanted friction. But now I needed more. His lips reached the back of my ear, and I nearly collapsed.

“Tell me to stop,” he nearly begged, the pain in his voice exasperated.

“Don’t stop, Ezra,” I breathed. My words were softer than I had ever spoken to Ezra before.

I’d never felt this way before, nor had my body.

I moved my head to face his, and our eyes locked.

Everything that we’d both been doing sang in the air between us. What happened just now?

There were no words. His eyes were so dark and beautiful.

I wanted him.

I always had.

Because I thought he didn’t want me, I turned my desire into hate at a young age. I fueled my body with hate for him. My heart cracked for a moment as I finally admitted to myself the lies I told myself.

“Eshe,” my name on his lips melted something deep inside of me. I rarely heard it from his mouth, but now it was starting to sound like his prayer.

I parted my lips. His head leaned forward, a piece of his hair hanging below his forehead as his lips beckoned mine.

“Ezra,” I whispered, answering his call. His body was still crushing mine, and I didn’t want him off me.

“This needs to stop,” Ezra said, but his eyes said something different.

“I never listen to you,” I panted, staring at him. “Why would I start now?”

His lips curved into a slow, sinful smile.

“You will learn to listen to me.” His eyes locked with mine, his thumb grazing down my wrist.

His lips were calling and calling, a sinful temptation.

Ezra’s hand squeezed my wrists to the point of pain. Something went off in my brain, and it wasn’t saying to get away. The pain released something in my veins that I had never experienced before.

His lips neared mine.

My world stopped spinning.

Time stilled.

They were so close.

Suddenly, Ezra let my wrists go and slammed his fist onto the sand. He was trembling. His nose flared as he breathed heavily.

With my hands free, I brought my trembling fingers to his neck, his jaw, his hair. I sensed he was slipping away from me, but I allowed myself this moment to feel him before the tension broke. He reveled in my touch like a panther, but I could feel his body straining more and more.

“I think I know your weakness now,” I whispered.

“Is that so?” A low chuckle escaped his lips, and it sent a fluttering sensation between my legs.