Luck of the Devil (The Forge Trilogy #2)(13)

“I know you want me,” Indy says, her words coming out on a purr as she destroys more of my self-control. “And right now, maybe for the last time ever, I want you too.”

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

I can’t touch her. Not now. Not like this.

But she’s right, this might be the last chance I ever have.

Maybe that’s my punishment for doing what I’ve done. Getting one shot at the thing I didn’t know I’d want most, and then having it ripped away from me forever.

Still, it wouldn’t be right. I might have gotten to where I am by being an opportunistic asshole, but something about taking advantage of her in this state doesn’t feel right . . . no matter how much I don’t want to care about morals or ethics at this moment.

I shake my head. “You can’t handle me, little girl.”

Her eyes roll as she tilts her head from side to side, arching her spine. Her fingers continue lower, skimming over her curved stomach and then to the shaved section right above her pussy.

“Bullshit. You’re the one who can’t handle me. I know exactly what I’m asking for. I want you to touch me and fuck me and make me come until I can forget every goddamned thing while I ride this out.” Her eyes snap open and she stares me down. “But you can tell yourself you’re being a martyr by not taking advantage. I’ll touch myself. Fuck myself. And pretend it’s you instead.”

Well, fuck.

As soon as her fingertips slide over her clit, my self-control jumps its chain, demanding I strip and follow her into the water for one last taste of the promised land. Indy moans my name as she thrusts her finger between her pink folds, and the battle is over before it even started.

I rip off my tie, kick off my shoes, strip out of my jacket, shirt, and pants, and follow her in—just in time for her to spin around on her toes and lose her balance. My heart in my throat, I lurch forward with my arms outstretched, and catch her slippery, naked body against mine as the water streams down over us both.

Indy’s lashes, darkened from the water, flutter as she looks up at me. “You caught me. I guess that means you get to keep me—for tonight.”

Her blue eyes are still largely black, but there’s something in her gaze that brings out every protective instinct I’ve ever had. I want to shield her from the harsh reality of the world outside these walls, from me, from Bastien, from her father, from herself.

I want to slay fucking dragons for this woman—even though I’m one of them.

But right now, with the slick skin of her naked body sliding against mine and the puckered beads of her nipples pressing against my chest, I push it all aside. She’s right . . . tomorrow will be here soon enough, and in the sober light of morning, this sweet and naked Indy will be gone for good.

What kind of man would I be if I pushed away what might be my last chance at paradise?

A stupid one. And no one has accused me of being stupid in a long time.

I slide my hands down her body to cup the cheeks of her ass and pull her against me.

“You’re so hard,” she whispers, her eyes closed again as she tips her head back and the water sheets off her thick mane of hair. Her fingers wrap around my biceps and squeeze, as if testing their strength. “And so strong. Strong enough to tear me apart with your bare hands.”

It’s on the tip of my tongue to promise that I’ll never hurt her, but that would be a lie. The omissions I’ve already made will shred any trust she could ever place in me, destroy any feelings for me I can’t help but wish she had.

“I’ll protect you with them instead,” I tell her, lifting her. “Wrap your legs around my waist. I want to hold you.”

I don’t know where the order comes from, because I’ve never told a woman I want to hold her before. Actually, I’ve never wanted to hold a woman like this before.

Indy complies, and her calves cross over my ass, putting her pussy directly against my dick. It’s fucking torture of the most perfect kind.

More than anything, I want to pick her up and slide her down on my cock, but this isn’t about what I want. This is about giving her what she needs. Maybe in some hidden recess of my mind, I’m hoping that if I make tonight good enough for her, she won’t demand a divorce and walk right out the door tomorrow.

Unlikely.

But still, the optimist in me decides it’s worth a shot.

“Hold me under the water. It feels so good.”

“Whatever you want, baby,” I say, letting the endearment slip out.

Indy’s eyes snap open and she shakes her head. “Don’t use that throwaway shit on me. Ever.” She rocks her hips, rubbing her clit against my dick, and it feels like the most incredible punishment she could ever devise.

“I can’t call you Indy because we’re not friends.”

“True.” With her eyes drifting closed again, Indy drops her head back and allows it to loll back and forth, dragging her hair through the spray of the showerhead. “I guess your options are wife, prize, the pawn, ace in the hole . . . Does it really matter? Pretty soon, I won’t be anything to you.”

She cuts to the heart of the matter so effectively that I have to wonder what the hell de Vere told her. Then again, de Vere shouldn’t have any information to give her . . . unless he’s involved with the Russians. Which means Federov’s playing me—or he has a leak in his organization.