Malice's Possession(29)

He was still holding her hand, and now ran his thumb along the back of hers. He didn’t answer, but looked up at her.

“Thank you for helping a total stranger.” She might be saying “Thank you” a lot, but she would keep saying it. She really was grateful. She felt the heat in the van increase and felt perspiration start to dot the area between her breasts.

“You don’t have to keep thanking me, Adrianna.”

“I know, and I’m sure you’re getting sick of hearing it, but I’ve never had anyone do the things you’ve done for me.” Whatever was happening right now was intense and potent. She felt the hairs on her arms stand on end, felt everything inside of her race to the surface and heat her skin. They continued to stare at each other, and even with the shadows of darkness moving through the interior of the vehicle, Adrianna could clearly see the way his pupils dilated. This need to open up to Malice moved through her and filled her in a comforting, real way. As strange as it sounded, it really did feel like there was this magnet pulling her toward him in the literal and figurative sense. Adrianna had never believed in happily-ever-afters, never thought soul mates or true love were real. And although she still didn’t know if she believed in those things, she did have faith in what was real and right in front of her. Malice was those two things, and she knew she wasn’t the only one that felt this connection either.

Slowly, they both started to move closer, and it was like this cord was being tightened. Her breathing increased, and Malice’s chest rose up and down, hard and fast. God, she had never met a man that was so ruggedly masculine, and so intoxicating that she felt this growth of life spring up inside of her just from being in his presence.

When there was only an inch between them she had to force herself to keep her eyes open as arousal pounded through her veins like an angry drum. She was wet between her legs, and there was no doubt that her nipples were pressing against the material of her shirt. “Malice, do you feel this, too?” She could have kicked herself for saying out loud what was supposed to be an inner thought. But he didn’t respond and instead groaned deeply, took his other hand and gripped her chin between his thumb and forefinger, and held her in an unmovable hold. And then his lips were on hers, and he stroked his tongue along the seam of her mouth. A gasp left Adrianna on its own, and Malice took that time to delve his tongue inside of her mouth, and fuck her like she wanted him to do between her thighs. That thought and filthy image slammed into her head and made it spin with desire.

It was clear he was being gentle with her as he held her chin between his fingers. But the sting from her tender lip speared through her, and a gasp of pain left her. Malice pulled away instantly, and lowered his gaze so he was looking at her lip.

“Fuck, I’m sorry.” He still hadn’t moved away from her, and his minty breath from the gum he had been chewing moved along her face.

“Why?” She breathed that word out.

“You’re hurt, and I shouldn’t have been so forceful. I shouldn’t have even kissed you.” He went to pull away, but as if on instinct she reached out and placed her hand over his that was still holding onto her chin. He stilled, glanced into her eyes with his gaze, and she swore he stopped breathing.

“I don’t want you to stop.” Licking her lips and feeling the tender spot on her mouth, she wanted him kissing her again so that discomfort could be erased with how good he made her feel. Malice leaned in close and pressed his mouth to the corner of hers. The kiss was gentle, comforting, and not at all how it had been just seconds before—how she actually wanted it. He pulled away far too quickly, but she knew it was for the best. This was not the time or place for any of this, and although she didn’t want to let go of these feelings moving through her, or away from Malice for that matter, things were moving so fast.

He let go of her chin and shifted in his seat so he was facing out the front windshield. “I’m sorry about that again.” When he ran his hand over his hair and breathed out, she felt very uncomfortable. Of course she didn’t want him to be sorry for what they had done, because she wasn’t.

He looked at her then, and she saw the way his throat worked as he swallowed. “But I’m not sorry you did it, or that I really enjoyed it.” They stared at each other for several seconds, and then he breathed out and climbed out of the van. She sat there alone and in silence, watching him through the front windshield as he walked around the front of the vehicle and stopped at the passenger side. Grabbing the handle and twisting it, she pushed it open before he could, because she knew that was what he had been going to do. Malice wrapped his hands around her waist when she went to climb down, and easily lifted her off the seat and set her on the ground. For a second he kept his hands on her, and stared down at her with this half-lidded, barely restrained look on his face.