Where Lightning Strikes (Bleeding Stars #3)(40)

It was so familiar to where we’d been two nights ago.

But everything…everything was different.

An age gone in the understanding of his touch.

And he was soft and gentle and rough.

Careful yet challenging.

And he was suddenly back on his knees.

My back pressed against the wall for support as I panted for breath.

Unzipping my boots, he pulled them off, then his adept fingers were flicking free the buttons of my jeans.

Those palms were suddenly on my bare thighs, gliding down to rid me of my jeans. He placed kisses at my belly as he did.

I gasped and bucked.

His mouth turned gentle and soft as he breathed at the front of my lacy underwear.

Oh. God.

He hooked his fingers in the edges. “All you have to say is no.”

But I had no breath or words, and if I did, I would have been begging him for more. Instead, I wove my fingers through the softness of his hair.

Drawing him closer in a silent plea.

He groaned. “Blue.”

Cool air hit me as he dragged my panties free. His hands slid all the way down to twist them from my ankles, then slid all the way back up until he was gripping me at both thighs, staring up at me with all that darkness. Pulling me deeper. Taking me further.

Leaning in, he licked deep in my folds and dragged his tongue all the way to my clit. Never once did he break the fierce gaze.

A shudder and a moan and a whimpered, “Yes.”

That was all the approval he needed. He hooked my leg over his shoulder and pulled my ass away from the wall, his hands gripping it as he hauled me closer and devoured every last sensibility.

Barreled through every wall and shattered every defense.

He licked and sucked and f*cked me with his mouth until I was a quivering mess in his capable hands.

Until I could feel the current running through my chest. Until I could feel the trembles of warning that rippled through the dense air. Energy crackled. Bristled across my skin and shook me to my bones.

As if nitrogen and oxygen had come alive.

As if every element in the air was combustible.

Explosive.

The buzz before the strike.

I was aware that in the mere flash of a second and without warning I could be consumed by the force. By nature and blinding light.

Incinerated.

He pushed two fingers into my sex.

I exploded beneath the intensity. Carried into the storm. Into heat and fire and blinding light.

Flash after flash after flash.

Powerless.

Burned.

Branded.

I slumped back and slid down the wall. Right into his arms.

He held me, kissed me, and ran his fingers through my hair. “Blue…brave, beautiful Blue.”

My world rocked, I kissed him back. I rose onto my knees as I steadied myself on his shoulders.

A frenzy hit me.

Need. Need. Need.

I yanked at his shirt. He lifted his arms so I could tear it over his head, our kiss broken for the flash of a second before I was back on him. Our chests mashed together. Desperate for the connection.

I rocked my body against his, every big, beautiful inch of him hard and begging.

“Slow,” he murmured at my mouth, and I smiled against him. It was a wistful smile that sent emotion billowing through my insides.

In that moment, I fell for him a little more.

This cruel, dangerous boy with the softest heart.

I urged him to lie back on the thick, plush rug that took up most of his living room floor.

It was my turn to see what he had hidden on his side.

Kneeling over him, I slowly peeled back the bandage. Through the double French doors, light filtered down in a dusky haze, illuminating his body.

But what I couldn’t seem to look away from was his face. It was screwed up as if he were in physical pain, his eyes pinched closed and his back arched from the floor.

As if he were bracing for war.

Ready to defend himself.

Agony.

It was written there, in the rigid set of his muscles, in the shield that I knew all too well.

I stifled my gasp when I saw what he had imprinted on his side. It was in an area that was already heavily tattooed. It seemed impossible another would fit or stand out.

But it did.

Come winter she’ll be gone.

The intense flare of jealousy that slammed into me was something I most definitely could not afford.

Because I knew this confession was not intended for me.

And I was nothing but a fool for even contemplating the fact.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

This was bad.

What if it hurts when you’re gone?

Baby, I’m not worth the pain.

Those words came crashing down.

Because it already hurt.

I made to crawl back. To get away. To find a wall or a shield or more importantly a door.

I could already feel myself ripping apart.

Lyrik’s arm flew out and he gripped me by the back of the neck, stopping my escape.

“Don’t.” A plea was wrapped up in the hard demand. Lines pulled between his brow, and he struggled for words. “Two months, Blue…we’ve got two months…and two months can’t take you as deep as that goes.”

And I ached and I hurt and I wanted to make it better. To offer him what he was offering me.

Refuge. Asylum. A sanctuary until I was strong enough to find a new path. To find myself. Whoever she was supposed to be.