Page 11 of Rough & Ruthless

I set my book aside, standing up and stepping into his path slowly. I keep my movements incredibly soft, predictable, and calm, not wanting to trigger his defensive instincts.

"Stryker," I whisper.

I reach out gently, placing my small, warm hand flat against the center of his chest. His entire massive body locks up at the sudden contact, but I don’t pull away. Instead, I let him feel the steady rhythm of my pulse.

"Take a breath," I urge him, keeping my tone completely grounded and peaceful. "Whatever the F-word is going on out there, it can wait a minute."

The sheer contrast of my silly curse word breaks right through his hyper-vigilance. Stryker stares down at me, and the fight completely drains out of his broad shoulders, leaving him entirely exposed.

He lets out a broken, heavy exhale, then pulls me into his arms with a surprising amount of force. He wraps me up tight and buries his face deep in the crook of my neck and shoulder. I wrap my arms securely around his waist as he breathes me in with desperate, greedy gasps as if smelling me helps him stay grounded. I’ve never felt this powerful, this needed by another person. His large hands grip my full hips and plush thighs, holding onto my curves like I’m the only solid thing keeping him from drowning.

"You're too bright for a place like this, Soraya," he confesses. His voice is a low, gruff rumble that tickles my skin. "I don't deserve the light you bring into my life. But it's the only thing keeping me sane right now."

The absolute vulnerability in his voice shatters my heart. I stroke the back of his dark hair and hold his massive frame just as tightly as he holds me. I know what it feels like to carry the weight of the world alone. I refuse to let him do it anymore.

"Then don't worry about finding the light tonight, Stryker," I whisper fiercely against his shoulder. "If you're in the dark, I'll sit in the dark with you."

Stryker slowly lifts his head. He looks down at me, his eyes flashing with a primal hunger, one that tells me he wants me as much as I want him. He drags my bottom lip through his teeth and then plunges his tongue into my mouth, making me moan. His kiss is raw, rough, and ruthless. I kiss him back, matching every need of his with a need of my own.

I moan as his hands wander down the sides of my body, taking in every curve, every roll, every single inch of me. It’s like he loves that there’s more of me to touch, to feel, to caress. Stryker grips my hips, pulling me flush against him. My nipples scrape against his chest while his thick cock hardens even more, poking my stomach.

“Fuck,” he says, breaking our kiss. His hips buck, thrusting his erection up against my core, making me wet and needy.

“I want you, Stryker. I want all of you.”

He grows still at my words and leans back to look at me. “Are you sure? Because once we start, I don’t know if I’ll be able to hold back.”

I’m sure that was meant as a warning, but it only makes me hotter for him. “I’m sure. I ache for you. I feel so empty…”

“Jesus, Soraya. When you say shit like that to me it makes me want to rip off all your clothes and tear your little pussy apart.”

“Then why don’t you?”

His eyes darken and he devours my lips, growling into my mouth and kissing me savagely. Stryker breaks our kiss and presses his lips to my forehead, breathing in deep. It’s such a contrast to the way he just made my lips numb from his intensity.

“Not this first time, beautiful,” he whispers. “I can’t lose control with you.”

Stryker scoops me up in his arms and tosses me on the bed. I giggle and bounce twice before he pounces on me, nuzzling my neck. Stryker rolls on his side, facing me. He reaches out and tucks a few strands of hair behind my ear and pulls me in for a soft kiss.

“Are you sure?” he asks me again. “I never want you to regret anything between us, especially our first time together.”

“I’m sure,” I tell him. I wish there were stronger words, some way to convince him, but everything I can think of just sounds cliché. I’ve never felt this way before, I’ve never wanted anyone the way I want you, I need you… Instead, I opt for, “I trust you, Stryker.”

I kiss him this time, pouring out everything I can’t seem to say.

The next thing I know, Stryker has me on my back and he’s looming over me. In this moment, he looks absolutely possessed, like a wild animal. Underneath it though, I still see the way he cares for me. I know he’d never hurt me, which makes me want to unlock the beast I know he’s trying to suppress.

I lean up to kiss him again, but he pulls away. I strain my neck higher, but he pulls back farther, grinning as I pout. He gives me a chaste kiss and gets off the bed.

I follow him off of the bed, about to complain, but then I see him take his shirt off, revealing his chest to me for the very first time. Yeah, he’s as delicious and sexy and absolutely chiseled as I thought he was. More so, in fact. I can’t help but lick my lips as my eyes drift over the tattoos swirling over his chest and down both arms. Then my eyes drop lower to his six-pack, and lower still, to those two sculpted lines leading to his massive dick.

When I finally drag my eyes back up to meet his, he’s smirking at me. I’d roll my eyes at his cocky confidence, but right now, I’m distracted by how that thing is going to feel inside of me.

I start to take my shirt off too, but Stryker reaches out and stops my hands. “No way, that’s my job. Let me unwrap my precious woman. My perfect present.”

Stryker takes my hands in his, kissing one and then the other, before lifting them above my head. His hands slide down my arms, slowly, burning a path as they go. He cups my breasts and keeps moving his hands down over my ribcage and torso, then grasps the hem of my shirt and lifts it up over my head in one fluid motion.

My bra comes off next, and then he’s kneeling down in front of me, kissing a trail down my stomach. My giant mountain of a man bites the waistband of my pants and tugs, chuckling when I gasp. Stryker works the button with his deft fingers and slowly peels my pants off along with my panties, helping me step out of them one leg at a time.