East Bound by Nana Malone (best value ebook reader .txt) 📗

in. The tension of mistrust rolled off of his shoulders only to be replaced by worry and shame.

“I can’t imagine how much it took for you to choose to protect my friends. Have I cocked it all up? Are you capable of forgiving me for not seeing the truth?”

I shook my head, trying to back away from him so I could think, so I could breathe. “East, I don't know.”

For some reason he looked relieved. “I can work with that. I know I don't deserve a second chance. Not after what I did with my first one, but I swear before God, I will work to earn back your trust. God knows I don't deserve it, but I'm not going anywhere.”

“And if I don't ever forgive you?”

“Then I’ll pine for you for the rest of my life. But even if you don't take me back, there is no way I'm leaving without you.”

“That's going to make it awkward for my next boyfriend.”

The feral snarl that rose up from his chest was quick and decisive. “What fucking boyfriend?”

His expression told me he was deadly serious. “You have got to be kidding me.”

I watched him as he swallowed hard and tried to compose himself. “Sorry, darling. It's going to take some time. A lot of time. But if you don't want me, I'll have to respect that. Unfortunately, I will still always see you as mine, so I might make his life difficult.”

“You know that makes you a stalker, right?”

“I'm okay with that.” He closed the gap between us, taking my hands tentatively at first, and then more firmly as he pulled me flush against his body. “Now, I’m going to attempt to kiss my way into your good graces. I know it's not enough. And I have much groveling to do. But let me kiss you. Let me take you to bed and give you enough orgasms that you’ll forget the last two weeks. It’s a start. That's all I'm asking for, Nyla.”

No one had to tell me this could end badly. My brain had already run through all the infinite scenarios where I’d get screwed. And not in the fun, eyes-rolled-to--the-back-of-my-head kind of way.

But I could see the anguish in his eyes, and I believed him. Just like he should have believed me. And maybe that was going to take some time to get over, but I wanted him so badly. I didn't want some rushed, dirty, clandestine meeting in the lift or some desperate bumbling behind a barely closed door. I wanted it all. I wanted him. And that was my stupid heart willing to risk it all again… for him. For this man.

“Take me to bed.”

East

This was the shot I needed. The chance I probably didn't deserve.

Don't fuck it up.

I didn't even know where to start. I was bloody nervous.

Nervous. Imagine that. The relief flooded my veins and told me that everything was going to be okay. I just needed to not fuck this chance up.

I took a step toward her, and the smile she gave me was tremulous. My heart broken in two because I was the reason that she was unsure. It was my fault. I hadn't talked to her. I had assumed the betrayal. I hadn't trusted her at all. So why should she trust me now?

Get your head in the game. Make this up to her.

It was only when I reached for her that I realized I was shaking like a schoolboy about to get his dick wet for the first time.

With my arms wrapped around her waist, she tilted her head up, her gaze open, searching mine. And I knew in that moment that I would do anything, whatever she asked. It didn't matter. She was mine, and I was hers. I leaned forward, and our foreheads touched. Her question to me was soft. "East?"

I inhaled deeply. "I missed your scent."

"I'm right here."

"I know."

I picked her up. Right off her feet. Her shocked gasp came out as a squeak and then a giggle, and then I tossed her over my shoulder.

"Oh my God, East. Put me down."

"Nope."

I carried her over my shoulder to the master bedroom and marched over to the bed. With my back facing the bed and the backs of my knees hitting the mattress, I eased her down my body, her curves pressing into my muscles. And then her hitched gasp took on a different note. A throatier one. One that told me exactly what she wanted from me. "Not very caveman of you."

"I have it on good authority you might like a caveman."

She laughed and shook her head. "All right, caveman, show me what you got."

With my arms still wrapped around her, I took her with me as I fell back on the bed.

I wrapped one hand around the back of her neck and drew her down to me. Molding our lips together, reveling in her taste as her tongue tentatively met mine.

With a little pressure, I angled her head so that I could deepen the kiss, and then I went from gentle and exploring to desperate and needy.

I pulled her with me as I scooted even further back. I didn't stop until my head hit the pillow. I kicked my shoes off and then adjusted us until she straddled my hips. "God, you're so fucking beautiful. I really, really, really don't deserve you."

"Yeah, tell me some shit I don't know."

With both of us quite aroused, I levered myself up to reach her and kiss her again. She tasted so damn sweet. The flavor of fine wine that I couldn't describe but knew the taste of intimately. Like she was a vintage made just for me. With my hands in her hair, the silken tresses falling over my fingers, I kept kissing her. If nothing else happened, just the ability to freely kiss her without feeling that tightness in my chest was a gift. One I probably didn't deserve. She rocked against me, the heat beneath her