Captured (Devil's Blaze MC #1)(11)

“What does it mean, querida?”

“That I’ve moved on…? That I don’t want to see you again…?”

I tried to make my voice sound hard. I know I failed. It sounded weak and unsure because it’s not what I want. I should just tell him about Colin and Matthew. If I do that, then he’ll leave me alone. He’ll see why he must leave me alone. I can’t bring myself to do that. I don’t want to shut the door completely. Not yet. I have to work up the courage for that.

His hand goes around my throat. He’s the second guy in a week to do that. Skull’s hold is much different, though. It’s strong but gentle at the same time. His hold makes my heart beat faster, but not in fear. His thumb brushes back and forth on the pulse point there and he holds me so my gaze locks on his and I can’t look away.

“You’re young, querida, so I will explain this to you one time. I will tell you when we are through. I will tell you when it is done, not the other way around.”

“That’s crazy. You can’t just make those decisions about my life.”

“Aw, but that’s what you were doing to me, si?”

“No! I just decided I didn’t want to date you. You’re all wrong for me.”

“I’ve decided I don’t want to date you, either,” Skull says, and I feel like I’ve been sucker punched. All of the air lodges in my chest and I do my best to hide my reaction.

“You don’t?” I ask, confused and feeling like I want to cry. What I should be doing is celebrating, right?

“No, Beth, I don’t. I want to f*ck you. And I’m going to.”

His words leave me speechless… and aroused.

“Skull…” I trail off, because I can’t think of what to say. Not one word.

“I’m going to f*ck you hard,” he tells me, and my knees threaten to buckle. “I’m going to f*ck you slow.” My nipples harden and my body heats as he continues. “I’m going to f*ck you so many times and in so many ways, you won’t remember the name of any of the men who came before me. And woman, any that come after will pale in comparison.”

I should run away now, or call him out on being a conceited bastard… but I do neither of those.

“There hasn’t been anyone else,” I whisper mindlessly, hypnotized by the sweet mixture of his words and the look in his dark eyes. When I tell him I’m a virgin, his look changes. I can almost feel an electric current pass between us.

His hand moves up from my throat to my chin. He drags his thumb along the corner of my mouth and then sweeps under my bottom lip and back again. I try to concentrate on the movement because my heart is hammering like crazy and I feel like I might float away, all because I have somehow captured this man’s attention. I’ve made him… happy. That’s what I see in his face right now: happiness.

I’ve been alone most of my life. I’ve had a lot of reasons to be unhappy. So, I’m familiar with that look. And Skull from the coffee shop? Despite his teasing flirting, he had that look. To see the change in this moment and know that I was the cause, for whatever reason, hits me, and it hits me hard.

“Cristo! You are something else,” he finally says, and then he leans into the side of my neck and whispers softly in my ear. “You’ve stopped breathing, Beth.”

He’s right. But, as I feel the soft trace of his breath against my skin, I still can’t make my lungs drag in air. His hand slides to my side and holds it. His touch seems to brand me and heat me from the inside out. My pulse is hammering in my body, the sound of it echoing in my ears.

“My sweet, delectable Beth… I will f*ck you gentle the first time. Exciting you until you scream my name and come over my fingers, and then I will feed your hungry body my cock one slow inch at a time.”

“My house mother says making love out of wedlock is a sin,” I tell him, trying to ignore the dampness in my panties. I’m kind of amazed they haven’t melted yet.

“Are you Catholic, Beth?” he whispers again, and his lips touch the side of my neck placing soft, teasing kisses.

“My family is.” I gasp as I feel his teeth pinch the skin, then his tongue brushes away the sting.

“Were you raised by nuns?” he asks, sucking on the skin he’s been toying with. I go to the tips of my toes and lean into him, wanting more. My hands find his thick, muscled arms to cling to.

“What? No. Sister Puterbaugh is a teacher…”

His tongue slides to my ear, tasting my skin and sending pleasure through my system. He sucks the lobe of my ear into his mouth next, using his tongue to tease me further. My eyes close as my head falls back, giving him more access. My fingers bite desperately into his arms now because without that hold, I fear my legs will give out.

“Do you remember everything you are taught in school?”

I try to concentrate on his words, but his other hand has pulled on the fabric of my dress. Cool air hits my thighs and his fingers dance over the rim of my lace panties. Chills explode over my skin.

“What?” I ask again, losing myself in the feel of his fingers against my skin.

They slide under my panties. His fingers dive into my center and the wet heat that has pooled. He doesn’t do anything else. He just keeps his hand there, cupping me. It feels as if he’s claiming that part of me. Branding it as his… with just his solid touch. I never let anyone touch me there before. Right now, I think I might die if he stops. His fingers slide through my lips, separating them and gathering the moisture he finds there. I can feel my cheeks heat up in reaction and I finally release a breath, my nails biting into his skin. The sound is ragged and winded. My heart beats harder against my chest and my entire body feels flushed.