CHAPTER <b>0023 </b>
ric’s POV:
+15 <b>BONUS </b>
A pulse of heat cracked down my spine and I felt my cock stir at the words Meadow had just uttered.
Not just the words–the sound of her voice, the low rasp in her tone, the way her lips curved up in that shy
smile? <b>It </b>all sent <b>a </b>current straight down to my cock, and I wanted nothing more than to give her what
she wanted.
“This is the second request you’ve made in two days, do you realize that?” I asked in a low tone as my gaze dropped to her hand on my shirt. I caught the way her fingers trembled slightly, and I felt my mouth
twitch.
Meadow was terrible at pretending that she was in charge. She tried to put on a brave face for whatever reason I didn’t understand, but I knew that deep down, she was terrified of what I could do to her.
What I ‘would‘ do to her.
Meadow had no idea what she’d signed up for by giving up her body and innocence to me. And I was
going to make sure she knew that.
She peered up at me, her longshes fluttering. Her eyes were a little unfocused. She was a bit drunk, <b>I </b>could tell that much. But how on earth was she inebriated only after one drink?
<b>“</b>Doesn’t matter, does it?” she tilted her head, leaning in closer to me. <b>“</b>You said you’d give me whatever I
wanted, ric, and this is what I want right now.”
My fingers curled at my sides, and it took everything inside of me not to throw her over my shoulder and take her to the Tether room so I could make it known to her that when I said I would give <b>her </b>what she
wanted on only my terms, I wasn’t joking.
“And that’s all you want?” I smirked. “To touch me<b>?</b><b>” </b>
“Everywhere<i>,</i><i>” </i>she added, and without waiting for a response, started to work on the buttons of my shirt, slowly opening them.
Her brows were slightly furrowed as she tried to concentrate on what she was doing. And when she was
done with the buttons, I took my shirt off, leaving me in only my pants.
She wanted <i>to </i>touch? I would let her touch.
I saw the exact moment Meadow hesitated. With my bare chest directly in front of her, it was as if she didn’t know what to do with it. And it looked like some of her bravery was already slowly slipping away.
The alcohol courage was disappearing, leaving her in her true, innocent form.
The fact that no man had ever touched her the way I nned to caused my cock to tighten even more,
fighting to get out of my pants.
Meadow let out a breath, avoiding my gaze.
She was yet to touch my bare skin. Instead, she ran her hand through her hair<b>, </b>probably <b>trying </b>to talk
herself out of this.
<b>“</b>There it is,” I drawled. “All of a sudden, <b>you </b>can’t do anything. You want to <b>know </b>why<b>, </b>Meadow<b>?</b><b>” </b>
I grabbed her waist, pulling her flush against my skin and eliciting a tiny squeak and a gasp from her
mouth.
My eyes darted to her mouth, and I leaned in, meeting her forehead with mine. <b>“</b>It’s because deep down in that innocent, virgin heart of yours, you know that <b>you </b>can’t take me. You <b>know </b>you’re not a match for
me.”
Meadow peered up at me through hooded eyes, and for a second, I thought I’d been able to get her to back off, but the opposite was the case.
“Who says I’m not?” Her voice was raspy, silky.
Fuck.
Her voice did a number on me.
Without any warning, Meadow ttened her palm on my chest, right over my heartbeat, and my jaw clenched in response. I didn’t think I’d ever be able to get over her touch. Her skin on mine, soft<b>, </b>small,
warm.
It’s all I ever wanted.
She slid her hand lower<b>, </b><b>over </b>my ribs, down to my stomach in a torturously slow manner.
“Meadow<b>…</b><b>” </b>I gritted out. <b>My </b>voice came out like a warning. One I didn’t even believe in.
<b>“</b><b>I </b>just want <b>to </b>feel you,” she whispered. “That’s it.”
I suppose her courage was back.
I could’ve easily pushed her away from me, but I didn’t. I let her touch me, kept my gaze on her as she moved her hands along the nes of my muscles. My arms. I let her look at me like <b>I </b>was something beautiful, instead of looking at me with pity.
My <b>arm </b>was still around her waist<b>, </b>and I jerked her forward slightly, so she could feel what she was doing to me. Meadow gasped when my hard cock pushed against her stomach, and her eyes flicked up to meet mine, wide and innocent.
God. I was going to break her.
“I <b>have </b>this burning desire to give you whatever you want<b>,</b><b>” </b>I murmured<b>, </b>my voice rough now.
And it was the fucking truth. If she’d asked for my <b>soul</b>, I would’veid it at her feet. I was bending all my
rules for her.
Her hands moved lower–hesitantly this time. And when they reached the waistband of <b>my </b>pants, that
was when I snapped. I grabbed her wrist.
<b>Not </b>hard. Just enough for her to freeze in ce.
“Why’d <b>you </b>stop me? I wasn’t done.” Her pupils dted a fraction when I leaned in.
“<b>I </b>gave you just one ss of alcohol and you think you can take me?”
Meadow’s lips parted as if she wanted to say something, then shrugged, probably thinking better of it.” Oh well. I suppose I’m a pathetic lightweight.”
I stared at her. At the lips that I hadn’t yet kissed. The mouth I hadn’t imed. And fuck, I wanted to,
more than I’d ever wanted anything.
But I wouldn’t.
Because once I started–I wouldn’t stop.
<b>“</b>You’re still healing,” I said tightly, dropping her wrist when my eyesnded on the bandage on her
forehead. I didn’t want to let myself get mad at her sister. Not yet.
<b>“</b><b>I’m </b>fine,” she replied.
<b>“</b><b>No</b><b>, </b>you’re not.” <b>I </b>reached for her hair, gently pushing it back and away from the bandage. “You’re
bruised, concussed. Sore<b>. </b><b>You </b>can’t take me, Meadow<b>. </b>Not yet.”
She flinched at my words and I instantly knew what she was thinking. That I didn’t want her<b>. </b>That I was
rejecting her. Meadow didn’t need to speak before I could understand what she was trying to <b>say</b>.
“I didn’t <b>say </b>no,” I rified quietly. “But you don’t understand what it means to let me have you. You’re
not <b>ready</b>. <b>Not </b>for all of me.”
A full minute passed before Meadow stepped back, a frown on her exquisite face. “Then what’s the point
of all this if <b>you </b>won’t-<b>” </b>
“Stop.”
She did.
And I pulled her back to me again. “How about I give you something else?” <b>I </b>watched her carefully as I spoke, noticing the way her throat bobbed as she swallowed nervously. “I’m not going to take your virginity tonight<b>, </b>Meadow.”
+15 <b>BONUS </b>
Her <b>face </b>fell again.
“But I will let you feel what it means to be mine.”
Meadow frowned slightly. “What does that mean<b>?</b><b>” </b>
I bent slightly, brushing my knuckles along her jaw. I didn’t kiss her mouth, and I wouldn’t. That was <b>sacred</b>. But I did press a kiss to her temple, to her cheek, the curve of her neck. <b>I </b>felt her shiver beneath
my touch.
“I’m going toy you on this counter,” I murmured, my mouth barely grazing the shell of her <b>ear</b>. <b>“</b><b>And </b>then I’m going to eat you out until your legs start shaking. And even then, I won’t stop. Would <b>you </b>like
that, baby<b>?</b><b>” </b>
Meadow’s breath hitched.
And that was all I needed.