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Not just the thrill of the chase or the promise of a good, hard fuck.

Me.

There’s an ache in my chest—a warning that I’m in so much fucking trouble. Grappling for a little control, I skate my hands up her back and wind her long hair around my palm, tangling it in my fingers to give it a tug. Her smile is brighter than the sun. Warmth floods my system, melting my icy resolve.

Scenes come with intimacy and exposure, but they’re still just scenes. A chapter in a book. A fantasy set in reality. It’s a bubble that eventually pops. And I’m always the one in charge.

But this feels different. No safe word will save me from the feelings creeping up to darken my thoughts. No chase through the woods will expel this type of energy from my body.

Freaked out, I make my move. Smashing my lips to hers, I grab her ass and lift her so I can stand and free myself from her cage. Except instead of putting her down and stepping away like I plan, I groan into her mouth as she wraps her legs around me tighter.

She wants me.

Those three words sound unreal in my head.

She doesn’t want you. She wants the thrill. This is new and exciting and she’s using you to experiment with. Just like all the others. That’s it. This is just pretend. It’s only temporary.

My heart cracks.

Mak pulls away long enough to say, “You’re so damn sexy, Carson.”

I almost drop her. If it wasn’t for the scent of her arousal still stuck in my nose from earlier, I think I would have kicked her out of my house for saying that.

Instead, my hands grow hungry for her. I no longer have to hold on to her because Mak’s clinging to me like she’s part of my ribcage, keeping my heart locked inside. Her tiny noises and intoxicating scent makes my blood run hot. Scraping my short fingernails down her back, I growl at her. She’s so little compared to me. I’ve never been with someone her size before. It makes me even more aware of how big I am.

And how careful I need to be.

She’s beautiful and precious, and I want to devour her. I don’t care that she’s probably using me to explore her limits with. I don’t care that she’ll eventually leave me in the dust. I don’t care that I can’t seem to follow my own rules. I don’t care, I don’t care, I don’t fucking care.

I want this woman so badly I could scream.

“I want you.” We both say at the same time.

It’s like those three words create a frenzy between us. I start making our way to the staircase so I can bring her to my bedroom until she says, “Here. Right here on the steps.”

Is she for real?

“Now, Carson.”

“Yes, ma’am.” No one’s ever wanted me bad enough to not be willing to wait another second to have me. Christ, I think I’m blushing.

Kissing her hard, I remind myself that she’s still in a drop. She could very well be trying to climb out or mask it, but no one pulls out of a drop with a hug and a cookie. We’re new to each other, which means I’m in unchartered territory and better tread carefully.

Still, I don’t want to stop this, even though I know damn well it’s the right thing to do.

Which means I’ll take my cues from her and make sure I pay attention to every noise and move she makes. If I sense she’s struggling, I’ll stop everything. Her body language has been, so far, crystal clear. Pulling her shirt off, I manage to spin myself around and sit on the steps with her between my legs.

“You’re stunning, Mak.” All feral and keyed up, so ready to fuck, I palm her tits and bite her nipples through the fabric of her bra. She’s not top heavy, which I like. I’m an ass man.

“Take off your pants,” she orders as I scratch down her back again.

“Take them off yourself.” I bite her nipple a little harder this time, relishing how her breath catches.

Mak starts fumbling with my belt buckle and I look down to watch. The sight of my gut causes me to freeze. Shit. Squeezing my eyes shut, I hate that I can’t let go of my past long enough to enjoy this for more than a few seconds. It’s ridiculous.

She springs my button and zipper free, and I lift my hips to help her out. Mak yanks my jeans down and I toe off my boots so she can pull them all the way off if she wants to. She slips my jeans down, taking my boxers with them, and tosses both onto the floor.

“Holy Hell Hounds, Batman.” Her gaze drops to my cock and then back up to my face. “Lucifer sent you, didn’t he?”