Page 79 of Sinner's Sacrifice

He lifted his head, his gaze so hot it should have burned her. But it was also wary. “If I have learned one thing over the course of my life,” he said softly. “It’s that another person’s trust is a gift.” He waited.

“That sounds...wise,” she said after a few seconds.

“There is a lot you don’t know about me,” he said, even softer than before. “But I will keep no secrets from you, and I will not allow you to be convinced by anyone.”

Her eyebrows rose and a smile played at the corners of her lips. “Even your family and their business secrets?”

“Yes.”

She played with the hair at the nape of his neck. “Do you truly think I’m beautiful?”

He nodded slowly, as if he wanted to be sure she saw him do it. “And every time I look at you,” he said, his gaze incandescent. “You grow more beautiful.”

Heat infused her face and she picked at his tie. “I have a confession to make.”

“Oh?”

“You remember when we were in the elevator, and I stomped on your foot?”

A grin swept across his face. “Hard to forget you in that dress.”

“Well,” she said, wrapping her hand around his tie and pulling on it to bring his head down. “I take it back.”

He glanced at her hand, then back at her face. “Take what back?”

“The no I said to you then.”

Yvgeny swallowed hard, then said hoarsely, “Be sure, Sam. Be s—”

She kissed him again, and this time he didn’t hold back.

With a growl, his mouth took hers as his hands fought to bring her even closer to him than she already was.

She made a needy sound at the back of her throat, clutching at his shoulders and back.

He jerked, then turned her and pressed her back against the wall, holding her head in place for his kisses.

“Give yourself to me,” he muttered as he trailed his open mouth down her neck. “Let go of all your control, intensity, and fire. Give it to me.”

She wanted to. She wanted to release her hold on that part of her who took care of others and let herself be taken care of. But... “What will you do with it?” she asked.

“Pleasure,” he whispered as he licked at the sensitive skin behind her ear. “I will show you only the greatest pleasure. I will keep you safe.”

“Yes,” she whimpered. “Show me.” And relaxed completely into his hold.

He took her mouth again, then picked her up as if she were a bride and moved. It was only a few steps, and instead of setting her back on her feet, he laid her on the twin bed. He followed her down, covering her body with his own.

Somehow, he ended up between her legs, grinding his cock against her center.

She pulled her mouth away from his. “Clothes—”

He took her mouth again before she could finish, but it was enough, because he levered himself away from her far enough to work on her shirt. He pulled it out of her pants, but the buttons seemed to give him trouble.

“Fuck,” he said under his breath right before he tore her shirt open, her buttons flying helter-skelter across the room. When he tugged at her bra with frustrated hands, then tore it in half, she started laughing.

He stopped moving to stare at her, desire and delight lighting up his face. At that moment, he looked so young.

She smiled at him. “I never in a million years ever thought a man could want me enough to tear my clothes off.”