Caged (Mastered, #4)(47)
“No. We both wanted to be with someone we trusted. We did the deed. What stuck in my mind afterward was hearing Molly question whether passion was real.”
That broke his f*cking heart.
“Like I said, I couldn’t give her that. I blamed her unrealistic expectations on the romance novels she devoured. She argued that Pride and Prejudice, and Outlander, and The Thorn Birds gave her hope for an epic love story of her own someday.”
As much as Deacon wanted to be the guy who could give that to her . . . what if he couldn’t?
Footfalls falling fast on gravel echoed to them.
Tim stood and stepped over the wall. “You don’t need to run interference, Molly. We’re fine.”
Deacon rolled to his feet. “You get some rest?”
“Barely.” Molly stepped into Tim’s arms and hugged him. “I wish we could’ve spent more time together.”
Even when Deacon knew there wasn’t anything but history and friendship between them, he couldn’t watch their casual affection. He stepped over the wall and headed back to the room.
As soon as Molly returned, Deacon pressed her against the door, pinning her arms above her head.
“Again?” she murmured.
“Can’t get enough of you, babe.” He lowered his mouth, teasing her lips with little bites and nibbles. Slowly sweeping his tongue across the fleshy inside of her bottom lip.
She heaved an impatient sigh, which he swallowed in a deep, wet kiss. He wouldn’t speed up even when she made a soft whimper.
When he’d had a thorough taste of her, he sighed. “We have to go back tomorrow.”
“I know.”
“Things have changed between us.”
“I know that too.” She wiggled, forcing him to release her arms. “What’s going on?”
“I need to know that you can handle it,” he said softly.
“Handle what?”
“Me being completely obsessive when it comes to you.” Since he’d never felt this way, he knew he was about to tell it to her all wrong, but he couldn’t keep his mouth shut and just let it ride. “Maddox told me I have two speeds. Full throttle and dead stop. Which do you think applies to you now that we’re f*cking?”
“Hearing the word obsessive is an automatic freak-out for me.”
Deacon wasn’t sure if anger or fear flared in her eyes.
“By obsessive do you mean you’ll need to know where I am at all times?” she continued. “You’ll get irrationally pissed off if I don’t answer my cell phone within a few minutes of you calling? You’ll expect me to spend every second of my free time with you? You won’t let me make a decision about anything without your input? Will you dictate my clothing styles? If we’re out at a bar, you’ll blame me if guys hit on me? You’ll keep me away from my friends?”
“Not that kind of obsessive, Molly.” He stepped away from her, hating how bad he sucked at this stuff. “Fuck. Never mind.” Then he turned around.
Wrapping her arms around his waist, she pulled him to a stop. Then she ducked under his arms and got right in his face. “Remember when you told me I had to stay and fight with you? I’m telling you, mister”—she drilled her index finger into his chest—“the same rule applies. You’ve pushed me not to hide my body from you. You don’t get to hide your emotions.”
“This isn’t about my f*cking emotions.” He crowded her until her back hit the wall again. Then he flattened his palm at the hollow of her throat and curled his hand around her neck, not surprised to feel how fast her pulse leapt. “This is about the beast you bring out in me.”
That startled her. “Wait. We’re talking about sex?”
“Yes, we’re talking about sex, goddammit. I’ve already had you three times today. And all I can think about is shoving you to the floor and f*cking you until you scream my name. As soon as I finish, I want to bury myself inside you again. I’m that obsessed with f*cking you.”
“Deacon. Honey—”
“Don’t try to placate me. You saw how crazy I got when I thought Tim wanted what was mine. Turned me into a beast.”
She rolled her eyes.
His big goddamn confession and she rolled her motherf*cking eyes at him.
“You’re a fighter. Of course you’re a beast.”
“That’s not what I—”
“Let. Me. Finish. You’re a beast in the ring. Did you really think I expected you to be any different in bed? You are powerful, skilled, and focused in every single aspect of your life. A force unlike anything I’ve experienced. I like that about you, Deacon. Why wouldn’t you think I’d be just as sexually obsessed with you as you are with me? Have I said no when you’ve touched me?”
“Not yet.”
“Oh. So you think I’ll get tired of having the hottest man I’ve ever met touching me and getting to touch him back whenever I want? I’ll get bored with multiple orgasms?”
“Smart-ass.”
“Only because you, Deacon McConnell, are a dumb-ass.” She scraped her fingers over the scruff on his cheek. “If it gets to be too much, I’ll tell you. I don’t want you to keep that beast side of you leashed. I’m not breakable.”