Chapter 961
He pressed in so close that his scorching breath brushed the nape of her neck, setting her skin on fire.
Noreen’s face flushed crimson, her heart hammering against her ribs. Yet she forced her tone to remain steady. “I was just putting the medical kit away. I wasn’t running.”
Seth stared at her reddened earlobes and let out a low, dark chuckle.
“What’s so funny?” she asked, a wave of embarrassment washing over her. She felt completely seen and immediately wanted to bolt again.
But the moment she tried to stand, his solid, burning body enveloped her from behind. His hands settled firmly on her waist, and he ducked his head to press a lingering kiss against that adorable earlobe. His hot breath ghosted over the sensitive shell of her ear.
She instinctively flinched away.
Seth simply chased her movement, his lips capturing her soft pink mouth. The more she dodged, the deeper he kissed her. He gave no quarter, reigniting the dangerous, ambiguous fire between them in an instant. His kiss was fierce and urgent, a predatory siege that offered no room for retreat.
He didn’t ease his grip until she finally closed her eyes with a soft sigh, surrendering to the sensation instead of pulling away. Only then did the pressure soften, melting into something devastatingly tender.
He held her tight, his chest pressed flush against hers, letting her feel the chaotic thundering of his heart. It beat wildly against her own.
It felt like an eternity before Seth finally pulled back.
As they parted, Noreen’s cheeks were dusted with a vibrant flush. Seth stared at her, a tidal wave of emotion crashing through him. A kiss like this wasn’t nearly enough to satisfy his hunger; it only stoked the roaring fire in his blood. Five years of absolute celibacy meant that a single look from her could easily push him over the edge.
His hands, still gripping her narrow waist, began to stroke her skin subconsciously, the touch carrying a heavy, seductive weight. He knew exactly where she was most sensitive. Even after five years, he knew every inch of her body-where she was soft, where she was resilient, and where a single touch would make her melt.
When he tilted his head to trail kisses down the curve of her neck, Noreen’s body gave an involuntary
tremble. She bit her lip fight, but soft, breathless gasp slipped out anyway, scraping right across Seth’s
already fraying nerves.
A suffocating wave of desire rolled through him. His voice was completely wrecked
with need when he asked, “Is this okay?”
He knew he was no saint. Years ago,
when Noreen had taken him to a
hotel to thank him for a bone
dback
marrow donation, he had held back terrified she would regret it. It had taken every ounce of his self-control not to ruin her then. But the second time, heavily drugged, he had completely lost his mind.
Right now, he was hanging onto the last shred of his sanity to ask for her consent. If
she said no, he would stop instantly.
Noreen’s mind was a war zone. It all
felt like a dream. She was terrified of waking up to find that this
intoxicating moment was just another cruel illusion, just like the seven years they had spent apart. The unspoken resentments still lingered like ghosts between them.
Sensing her hesitation, Seth rested his forehead against the crook of her shoulder and let out a heavy sigh. “It’s okay. If you aren’t ready, just tell me. I’ll never force you. I’m willing to wait until you truly want this.”
“Noreen, we can take our time. Okay?”
Noreen didn’t answer, but she didn’t try to pull away either.
The thick sexual tension slowly ebbed into a quiet, comforting peace. Seth didn’t kiss her again. He simply held her, making no further moves.
But Noreen could feel the hard, unmistakable proof of his arousal pressed against her. She knew how fiercely he was fighting to control himself. Yet, even in his agony, he refused to let her go.
She bit her lip and whispered, “Is it really uncomfortable?”
“Do you even have to ask?” Seth replied, a helpless edge to his voice. “Five years without a woman. The last two times I was too scared of making you mad to even try crossing the line. I just gritted my teeth and endured it.”
“I’m a man. If I had absolutely no desire for you, that would be the real problem.”