Page 62 of Ruthless Enforcer

He takes a step forward, then stops himself. "This isn't a game."

"I know."

"You don't know what you're asking for."

"I know exactly what I'm asking for." I move my hand deliberately. His gaze drops, just for a second, before snapping back to my face. "I'm asking for you."

"Clara—"

"I'm not confused," I interrupt, my voice steady. "I'm not scared. I'm not being swept along by adrenaline or proximity or some misguided sense of gratitude. I want you. I've wanted you for a long time."

His hands curl into fists at his sides. "You're a virgin."

"Not for long, I hope." I tilt my head, studying him the way I would a subject I'm about to paint. "I want you to be my first. I know what that means. I'm not helpless, Gabriel. I'm not fragile. And I'm not asking you to be gentle. Gentle is not what I want from you."

His breath comes out in a sharp exhale. "Fuck, Clara."

"Is that a yes?" Please let it be a yes.

"It's a warning." He takes another step forward, his eyes dark and feral. "If I touch you, I'm not letting you go, not until I have to. You’ll be mine, and only mine."

My heart leaps. "Yes."

"Say it again."

"Yes." I say it with my entire soul.

He stops at the edge of the bed. The towel is still on his hips, but I can see the hard line of his arousal beneath the terrycloth. My mouth goes dry. I absently touch myself, gasping at the electric feel.

“Fuck.” His jaw clenches and his hands flex like he's physically restraining himself from reaching for me. "Last chance, Duchess."

I slide my hand from under the sheet and push it away completely, baring myself to him without hesitation. "I'm not going anywhere."

52

GABRIEL

Iknow I shouldn't touch her, because if I do, I'll never let anyone else touch her again. Her first? I will be her first and last.

That kind of possessive insanity is exactly what I've spent my entire adult life avoiding—but I'm already bending over her, and it's too fucking late to stop now.

I kneel on my bed and move toward her.

53

CLARA

Iexpect him to touch me or to kiss me. I’m shocked when he takes my hand—the one I was touching myself with—and sucks on my fingers.

My breath catches, and I blush dark, knowing he’s tasting me.

And he likes it. He growls low, his gaze never leaving mine. He draws my fingers out of his mouth and puts a kiss right over my wedding ring before his mouth crashes onto mine.

There's nothing gentle about it, nothing careful. His hand slides into my hair, gripping hard enough to tilt my head back, and his tongue sweeps into my mouth like he's claiming territory he's decided belongs to him.

I kiss him back just as hard, my hands fisting in the damp fabric of the towel still clinging to his hips. I can taste my arousal between us and I’m surprised by how it turns me on.

He pulls back just enough to look at me, his blue eyes dark and feral. "Duchess, I'm about to ruin you for anyone else."