Witch Fury

ELEVEN

HER BREATH LEFT HER IN A RUSH OF SURPRISE AND a spike of fear. She had to quickly remind herself that she trusted Theo and he meant her no harm.

His arms pinned her on either side of her body and his head dipped, his warm breath teasing the fine hair at the edges of her face. Goose bumps erupted all over her body. “The last thing I want to do with you is talk, Sarafina.” Theo moved his hand from her waist slowly down to her lower stomach, splaying it there.

Her stomach muscles tightened and her breath caught. “I didn’t know you were attracted to me,” she whispered. “You gave me no reason to think so.” “I’m giving you reason now.” His voice was low and melodic in a raw, masculine way. He spoke right next to her ear, sending shivers through her body.

Her breathing hitched. Yes, yes, he was giving her a reason now, ample reason. So much it was making her head spin.

His hand dropped an inch, toyed with the button of her jeans. “And if I can’t make myself walk away right now, I’ll give you even more reason.” His voice came out a low, velvet purr.

Sarafina closed her eyes and fought not to reach up and touch him. Her sex responded to his words as surely as if they were foreplay, growing damp and tingling in anticipation of his touch. Her nipples grew tight and the slightest brush of the material of her shirt against them sent ripples of pleasure through her. She shuddered just a little, wanting more from him.

Theo did all this to her with only his voice.

She had wanted, yearned for, many men in her life, but she wasn’t sure she’d ever desired one as much as she desired Theo right now. By his own admission, he was restraining himself, but what would this man be like when all his self-control was unleashed?

His warm breath eased along the skin near her collarbone, his lips barely brushing the curve where her shoulder met her neck, making her shiver.

“Sometimes when I watch you,” he murmured, “I wonder just how you’d like to be touched. I wonder where you’re the most sensitive and which parts of your body make you sigh and moan when they’re stroked and kissed.” Images of his big hands running down her bare body assaulted her mind. She imagined his bare chest rubbing her breasts, his knee parting her thighs. .

Sarafina tried to reach up and touch him, but he grabbed her wrists and pinned them to the wall on either side of her head, his body pressing against her and keeping her still.

Theo’s voice lowered. “Then I wonder what it would be like to fuck you. If you like it fast and hard or slow and easy. I wonder what you sound like when you come.” Guh.

Sarafina made fists and pulled against his unyielding grip, unable to find an adequate reply. Theo had gone from frigid to scorching in a half second flat, and she wasn’t processing it all that fast.

He released her wrists and she raised her head, meeting his gaze. Confusion and desire warred for supremacy within her and she had no idea how to react to this turn of events.

Theo’s jaw locked. All he did was look down at her mouth, staring at her lips. After a long moment, he lowered his head and tasted them. It was so gentle, so at odds with the way Theo had acted up until now. Sarafina closed her eyes and melted a little, her knees going weak. Her fingers found the front of his shirt and twined in the material, holding on for dear life as his lips skated over hers, savoring her.

Sarafina parted her lips a little, urging him to take the bait. He did, parting her lips farther, slanting his mouth firmly over hers and sliding his tongue within her mouth. The brush of his tongue against hers was like fire and set her pulse racing.

His hands slipped to the small of her back and he pushed, drawing her flush up against his chest as he slanted his mouth across hers and deepened the kiss. Sarafina’s mind shut down for a moment as she was immersed in Theo — the feel, smell, and heat of him.

The softness of the initial kiss was gone, replaced by hot, brutal need. Now his lips were almost harsh against hers, his tongue seeking as much contact with her tongue as he could get. Like he wanted to consume her. Like all he wanted in the world was to kiss her and this would be his only chance.

Sarafina whimpered deep in her throat. In all her life she’d never been kissed this way. Hell, the way Theo did it made her feel like she’d never once been kissed at all. Her mind spun and she could do nothing but grip his shoulders, fingers finding anxious purchase in the material of his shirt. His muscles bunched and flexed as he moved, accentuating how large and imposing a man he was. Sarafina didn’t want the kiss to end.

But then he was gone.

Tottering unsteadily on her feet, she opened her eyes and saw him disappear down the hallway. Her lips were swollen and her body tingled with awareness of him. Unable to move, she just stared at his retreating form, feeling like she’d been a hit-and-run.

“Theo.” His name came out in a croak.

He didn’t stop.

She pushed off the wall and forced herself to go after him. She realized it was a bit like chasing a wild wolf. Theo was dangerous and unpredictable; he’d just proved that. Still, she couldn’t stop herself. “Wait a minute. You can’t just do that, say that. . kiss me and then run away.” He halted in the threshold of his bedroom doorway, back to her.

She stopped behind him. “Theo,” she repeated.

“I told you not to push me,” he said, his back to her.

“I just want to know what’s going on here. I’m confused. Turn around and talk to me.” He stood there for a long moment, then simply stepped into his bedroom and closed the door in her face.