Page 75 of Power Play

“If we start this… if you let me in, I’ll fall for you.” I know it in my bones, as certain as the stars in the sky. “If you don’t want that, I need to know now, before I let myself fall.”

She stares at me for a moment, and my heart races. I’m laying it all on the line. If she doesn’t want this, I can’t have her in my bed. It’s hard enough as it is.

Riley’s hand snakes around my neck, pulling me down. I let her manhandle me until I’m half lying on top of her, bracing my weight on my forearm so I don’t crush her. Her body feels incredible pressed to mine, all tempting curves and soft sweetness.

Before I know what’s happening, her lips are on mine and the world blurs. She tastes like heat and promise, her mouth opening under mine. I sink deeper, desperate, greedy, lost in the rush of her. My cock throbs, hardening in my boxer briefs.

Awareness hits me like a truck, and I pull back. “What are we doing?”

“I’m tired of fighting this,” Riley says. “You have the power to destroy me, and I have to trust that you won’t.”

“You could destroy me too,” I murmur. “It’s not only you putting your heart on the line.”

“I finally understand that.” She lays her hand on my bearded cheek, scratching her nails through the coarse hair. “I’m ready to try.”

This time, when our lips meet in a hungry kiss, I’m ready for it. Her mouth is soft fire against mine, every brush of her lips unraveling me. I cradle her jaw, angling closer, tasting her sighs. The kiss builds, fierce and unrelenting, until I’m dizzy with wanting nothing but more of her. My cock pulses, and it takes everything in me not to grind against her. That’s not what this is about. It’s more than sex and getting off; she means more to me than that.

The kiss gentles, and I force myself to pull away.

“If you’re going to stay in here, there will be no funny business,” I say with mock sternness.

“Never?” She wraps her legs around my waist, thrusting her pelvis against me. My eyes roll back in my head, and I take a deep breath. Do I really want to put a stop to this?

She deserves more than a quick, hard fuck. Not for our first time. Not with all the things I want to do to her—with her.

“Not tonight,” I amend, rolling off her. “Not when we’re still figuring all this out, and definitely not with my sister downstairs.”

“I can live with that.” She squirms closer to me, burrowing her head onto my shoulder and slinging her arm around my waist. “I’m glad we’re doing this,” she whispers.

“Me too.” Drawing my arm around her, I drop a kiss on the top of her head. “Get some rest. Morning will come before we’re ready for it.”