Chapter 287

Chapter 287:

My core clenches. My fingers twitch. I swear, if he doesn’t touch me soon, I’m going to combust.

“Oh, I hear you,” I mutter back, pacing the room, my fingers clenched at my sides. The air feels too thick, the walls too close. My whole body is wound so tight I feel like I’m going to snap. Two weeks without Ryder’s touch is pure hell, but now it’s unbearable. The craving in my veins is scorching, a constant thrum of desire that refuses to be ignored.

Layla, of course, isn’t helping.

“Did you see him this morning? Shirtless, glistening with sweat? That man is a sin wrapped in muscle p>

I groan, my cheeks burning as the memory flares in my mind.

I’ve had enough.

The second the door opens and Ryder steps inside, my whole body clenches with need. It’s been two fucking weeks—two weeks of pure torture—since the witch broke the blood tie and I got my life back. Two weeks of Ryder keeping his distance.

Distance. Respecting my so-called “space” like he thinks I’m made of glass. Screw that, I’m not fragile. I’m fucking starving. Starving for him.

He stops dead in the doorway, his eyes dragging over me, darkening as they take in the sheer black slip that barely covers anything. His jaw flexes, his fists clench, and I can see the war raging behind those perfect storm-gray eyes.

“Jasmine…” he rasps, his voice rough and jagged, like it’s taking everything in him not to close the distance and devour me on the spot.

I tilt my head, my lips curving into a wicked smile. “You’ve been avoiding me, Ryder p>

His eyes flash with guilt, and he runs a hand through his hair. “I thought you needed time p>

“To what? Think?” I step toward him, my fingers trailing over his chest, feeling the heat of his skin through his shirt. “Fuck thinking. I’m done thinking. I need you.” My voice drops, and I press my body against his. “I need you to fuck me like you’re going to lose your mind if you don’t p>

𝓒𝓱𝓮𝓬𝓮 𝓬𝓱𝓪𝓹𝓉𝓮𝓇𝓈 𝒊𝓷

A low growl rumbles from his chest, and his eyes flare with something dark and dangerous. His restraint is hanging by a fucking thread. Good. Because I’m done waiting.

“Two weeks,” I whisper, my fingers tracing the hard lines of his jaw. “Two weeks of this ache. Two weeks of you keeping your distance, while I’m here, burning for you.” I lean up, my lips brushing his ear. “I want you to break me, Ryder. I want you to ruin me p>

Layla practically purrs in my head, her voice dripping with dirty delight. “Fucking finally. Let’s get wrecked p>

His breath hitches, and for a split second, I think he’s going to pull away, but then something in him snaps. His hands clamp onto my waist, and he slams me back against the wall. His lips crush mine in a kiss that’s brutal and desperate, teeth and tongues clashing like we’re both drowning and this is the only way to breathe.

“Fuck,” he growls against my mouth. “You don’t know what you’re asking for p>

I meet his eyes, daring him. “Then show me p>

His control shatters. He grabs my thigh, hoisting me up so I wrap my legs around his waist. His fingers dig into my skin, and a gasp escapes me—half pleasure, half pain. And I fucking love it. I love the way he holds me like he’s afraid I’ll disappear if he lets go. Like he’s barely holding back from tearing me apart.

“You want me to fuck you?” he grits out, his eyes blazing with need. “You want me to mark you? Claim you so thoroughly you’ll feel me for days p>