The Gender Lie (The Gender Game #3) by Bella Forrest (ebook reader for laptop TXT) 📗

her forehead. As soon as my lips tasted her skin, something in me shifted slightly, and I felt a sudden need to taste her more deeply.

I pushed her insistently, sliding her down the wall while simultaneously stretching myself halfway onto her. Rolling over on my side with my leg thrown over hers, a growl escaped my throat as my desire for her overpowered me. For anyone else, I was a man of deep control, but with Violet, my hold over myself was tenuous at best. With everything that had happened the last few days… I was fighting off a desperate and primal need to have her. And I was losing.

I stared down at her. Her face was tilted toward mine, angled for the kiss she seemed to sense coming. Her hands were on my shoulders, and I could feel the insistent press of them through my clothes. Bending down, I slid my hands over her hips and jerked her up slightly against me, savoring the feeling of her weight in my hands.

She gave a little sound of surprise as I did this, and then relaxed her legs slightly, allowing my knee to fall between them. I took her invitation, sliding my hips over hers as I settled more deeply into the cradle of her thighs, and she moaned. She lifted both of her legs and wrapped them around my waist, drawing our most intimate parts together until only a barrier of fabric separated us. I groaned, resting my forehead against hers. Our lips still hadn’t touched, and I kept my mouth millimeters from hers, our breaths mingling. Wrapping her legs around me was an entirely innocent move on her part, but it was like throwing gasoline on a raging fire that was barely being controlled.

She shifted her hips, unaware of the effect her squirming was having on me. It took every ounce of self-control for me to not give her an intimate lesson on the ways of men and women right then and there. I knew she wouldn’t protest—if anything, she was hungry for it too, given the erratic and enthusiastic movements of her body.

But she also looked vulnerable beneath the haze of her own desire, and that was enough for me to beat back the ravenous hunger I had for her. For now. I was going to have to marry the girl, and soon, before I would allow myself a taste of what she had to offer.

Because even though Violet would laugh at me for saying it, I was still respectful enough to want to do things in the proper fashion. I wanted us married, and I wanted our wedding night. It was what we both deserved.

Still, it didn’t stop me from pressing myself down onto her, pinning her hips with my own. I savored the look on her face at the small press of pleasure, and took advantage of her parted lips. It was a kiss of wildfire, spreading a slick and insistent heat that threatened to consume both of us. Violet trembled under my hands as I kissed her, my tongue teasing her own.

She gave an insistent moan, her tongue rising to the challenge, and I growled approvingly in my throat, pulling her tighter against me. I was not gentle, but neither was she, as our two tongues battled each other. Violet tried to roll her hips against mine in an ancient rhythm that was timeless, and I felt sweat forming on my brow at her insistent little cries.

I was pushing her too far too quickly. With the exception of her fiery, passionate kiss in my cabin months ago, I had never felt so close to giving in to my desires for her. My fingers pressed deep into the soft curve of her rear, and she moaned in response, shredding my already fraying self-control.

With another frustrated growl, I pulled my head away from her and rolled off of her, not stopping until my back was against the wall, hoping the distance would help me regain control and focus.

I watched her warily, sucking in deep breaths of air. Her gaze was unfocused as she stared up at the ceiling, as if she didn’t trust her own ability to move to a seated position. Her breathing was coming in fast pants, just like mine.

After several long moments, she turned her head toward me and gave a laugh. “We should fight more often,” she suggested wryly.

I pushed a hand through my hair, still struggling with my own control. “Later,” I announced, giving her a small smile. “After we decide what to do about this situation.”

She nodded, her mouth returning to a flat line. She smoothed her hands over her clothes and then sat up, turning to face me. “Right,” she murmured.

“So…” I drew a deep breath and swallowed. “Talk with Desmond about her plan?”

“Right. Probably better to do it in the morning,” she said.

I nodded. “Right,” I drawled, and she narrowed her eyes at me.

“Sorry. A little distracted. I think… I’m going to take a walk,” she announced, rising to her feet.

I gave her a cocky smile. “Afraid to be alone with me?”

“No. Just, uh, cautious,” she retorted, her hand on the door.

I smiled, inordinately happy that we had made up. “Oh yeah? Prove it,” I said, knowing I was potentially starting up the flame again. She froze, her back to me and then twisted round.

“Arrogant Patrian,” she spat.

“Impetuous Matrian,” I replied.

She came back in and folded over at the waist to press a swift and—thankfully—chaste kiss to my lips. “I’ll be back in a little while,” she said.

“And I’ll be waiting,” I replied huskily, watching her disappear into the hall.

30

VioletTwo weeks later

I was becoming more and more frustrated with Desmond, and was beginning to think that she was purposefully pushing us aside. I had requested to have a meeting with her twelve days ago, and since then, it had been scheduled, rescheduled, and then pushed back six times.

I had taken the