Page 105 of Tattered (Lark Cove 1)

She’d never want for either again.

We reached the top of the stairs and I pulled her into my arms. “You look beautiful tonight.”

“Thank you.” She tugged at the lapels of my jacket. “You’re not so bad yourself.”

I kissed her nose, grazing my lips across her cheekbone to whisper in her ear. “I love this dress, but I think it would look nicer on the floor.”

Her breath hitched. “Yeah?”

I nuzzled into her hair, drawing in a long breath. Then I latched my mouth onto her throat, giving the skin underneath her ear a hard suck. “Yeah.”

There was a lot we needed to talk about. We had issues to hammer out and a future to plan. But right now, I didn’t want to think about any of it. All I wanted was for Thea to know how much I loved her.

If I couldn’t say it, I’d show her instead.

Without letting her go, I backed us into my room, dragging down the zipper on the back of her dress. With it free, I slipped it off her shoulders and let the front fall loose. The moment her perfect tits were free and under my palms, my cock was rock hard.

“What do you want?” I asked, kissing up and down her neck.

“You. Naked.” Her hands gripped my lapels again, this time yanking them over my shoulders. Her needy breaths blew against my throat. Her fingers fumbled with a button on my shirt, but I trapped her hands.

“No, Thea.” I held her gaze, letting her hands rest on my thundering heart. “What do you want?”

She stared at me for a long moment, letting the meaning of my words echo in the room. When they sunk in—when she realized I wasn’t talking about sex—a tear pooled in the corner of her eye. “The impossible.”

Nothing was impossible.

Not for her.

Not anymore.

I swiped the tear with my thumb, then took her mouth, swallowing a cry that was part pain, part lust. Another tear fell, hitting my cheek, and I tore away from her mouth to kiss it away.

“Don’t cry, baby,” I whispered. “It’s all going to be okay.”

Once I got her and Charlie moved here for good and we were all officially Kendricks, there would be no more tears. She wouldn’t have to dread the good-byes, because we’d never be apart again. Tomorrow, after we got through dinner with my parents, we’d talk and put all her fears to rest.

She nodded and sniffled, gripping my shirt by the collar. Then her sad eyes came to mine. “Make love to me, Logan. That’s what I want. Give me something to remember.”

She’d just slammed the door to her heart right in my face.

Why was she so quick to push me away? What about being here was so awful that she kept reminding me that she was leaving? Why wouldn’t she talk to me?

I ran my hands up her bare back, tangling my fingers in her soft hair. I gripped it in my fist, tugging a bit so her head fell back. And then I slammed my mouth down on hers, pouring all of my frustration with this remarkable, bright and infuriating woman into our kiss.

Thea met my ferocity full force, pulling so hard on my shirt that a couple of buttons popped off. Her tongue dove into my mouth, dueling with mine as her fingers pulled to free my shirt from my slacks.

I stepped forward, pushing her farther into the room. With every step toward the bed, her dress slid farther down her body until it was pooled at our feet. She stepped out of it, kicking it aside, as I toed off my shoes. Never once did I break contact with her mouth or let go of her hair.

The control I had over her body was just an illusion. We both knew exactly who was in charge tonight.

Beneath my open shirt, her fingertips skimmed up my abs. When they reached my pecs, she dug her nails in at the same time she slid her tongue from my mouth and nipped my bottom lip.

“Fuck,” I hissed, breaking free from her lips. “You drive me crazy.” Physically. Emotionally. She was the only person in the world who could wind me up this tight.

She smiled against my mouth. “What are you going to do about it?”

“This.” One minute she was standing, the next I’d gripped her by the hips and tossed her on the bed.