Hooked (Viking Bastards MC #1)(27)

“You can try.” I slide my hand beneath her short dress, along her naked thigh to cup her ass. “Bet I can make you scream first.”

“You’re on.” Before I realize her intention she cradles my junk, and even through my jeans her touch is electrifying. “What do I get when I win?”

I rip her thong down her legs and she wiggles out of it. “When you lose…” I tease her wet slit and she groans, tipping her head back against the wall. “You’ll spend the rest of the night naked.”

Her eyes drift open and her grip around my cock increases until I grit my teeth. “I’m not going to lose. I win, you go naked.”

I need to be naked right now. Within seconds I have a condom between my teeth and my jeans are around my ankles. I need her too damn much for any finesse.

She hooks her leg around my thigh as I roll on the rubber. “Up against the wall?” She sounds as though she’s never done it that way before.

“Get your other leg around me.” I brace her weight against the wall and support her thighs on my forearms as she wraps those gorgeous legs around my hips. She’s gripping my shoulders as though she’s afraid of falling, but that’s not going to happen. My kiss is savage, but she pushes back, all teeth and tongue, and her nails rake my neck like she wants to eat me alive.

I shift position and shove into her. Slick heat grasps me tight, sucking me deep inside, and it’s even better than I remember. She plunges her fingers through my hair, holding me right where she wants me, and her wild kisses drive me out of my mind.

I can’t reach her clit, so I stroke her swollen * lips, stretched wide by my dick. She writhes, and moans deep in her throat, and I pound into her, only one thought in my head.

To make her mine.

With a choked gasp, she shudders around me but doesn’t break our frenzied kiss. But I can’t hold on.

I rip my mouth from hers, and my roar of release echoes through the apartment, and when she gives me a sweet, exhausted smile of triumph, I’m happy to concede.

…

We spread the boxes across the coffee table and I pour the wine into a couple of short tumblers. I don’t drink wine, but I take a long mouthful and it’s okay. Grace takes a dainty sip and licks her lips. I guess she’s used to drinking everything from the right glass.

“Next time I’ll nick a couple of wineglasses from Odin’s.” Because there’s going to be a next time. Why not?

“I like this.” She clinks my glass. “It’s different.”

It is, and I’m not thinking about the wine. I’ve never sat in the living room eating takeout with a girl I’ve just had. It’s weird, but not in a bad way. What makes it even better is I’m naked, and she’s not wearing anything under her dress.

“Have you resigned from work yet?” That’s another thing—I don’t make small talk, but I want to know what she’s doing, and I don’t even feel the need to justify it.

“No.” She plays with a prawn cracker. “I’ve decided to stay where I am for now.”

I shovel a forkful of sweet and sour chicken in my mouth. Something’s bugging me about this, and it’s not just because she’s still in the same place as her jerk of an ex.

“Changed your mind about opening your own shop?”

She gives a little shrug and tucks a few strands of hair behind her ear. “I’m still thinking about it.”

I take another slug of wine. Last week she seemed so determined to leave her job, and now it’s like she doesn’t care. I might not know office politics first hand, but I get the feeling she’s being pressured. “Did your boss give you a hard time for ending it with the jerk?”

“Not really. I mean, it wasn’t the best afternoon I’ve ever had, but I knew my parents wouldn’t be happy I ended the engagement. That’s why I couldn’t tell them I wanted to resign as well. I think they would’ve totally freaked out.”

It’s like a giant lightbulb flashes inside my head. “You work for your family?”

“Yes. It was always expected that I would. That’s why I can’t help feeling guilty that I’m going to let them down.”

I can understand that. My dad expected me to follow him in the family business, but that was never a problem because I always enjoyed fixing bikes and the occasional car.

“What do they do? Your family?”

“Oh.” Inexplicably, she drops her gaze to my chest, and her cheeks go pink. “They own Mulholland Hotels.”

It takes a couple of seconds before it fully hits me. For f*ck’s sake, the Mulholland Hotels are in every major city and only cater to the obscenely rich and famous.

I always knew Grace came from money. But this takes it to a whole new level. Hell, they could buy her a shop from their small change.

“They’ll manage without you.”

“I know. It’s just I’m a typical eldest child. Always trying to please everyone.”

That’s the craziest thing I’ve ever heard. “I’m the eldest child, and that’s never bothered me.”

“You took over your dad’s business when you were a teen so you could keep your family together. That’s classic eldest child behavior.”

I give a snort of laughter because what the hell? “I’m not into this psychobabble shit. Don’t let them guilt trip you into staying.”