Free Let Me In by Callie Croix Page B

head drop back. When her body eventually went limp, she closed her eyes in silent acceptance of his victory, unable to bear his gaze.
His grip shifted around her wrists, gentling now, but she didn`t even bother to move her arms. Instead she turned her head away, quaking inside. With the brutal lash of emotion exorcised, all that remained was the aching vulnerability it had shielded. That tender, fragile part of her she’d never allowed anyone to see, because she was so afraid of being hurt again. Life had doled out more than a fair share of disappointment and hardship. If Liam turned her away after this it would destroy her.
“There,” he whispered, his tone soothing and full of an aching approval that triggered something in her that was desperate for more of it. His manacling fingers loosened around her wrists, stroking the skin there gently as he bent and pressed soft kisses across her flushed face.
Her throat tightened but she refused to look at him, afraid of what he’d see in her eyes. She wanted him to hold her like he had before. When he finally released her hands she slid her arms up around his neck and hid her face against him, hanging on tight. Shit, she was shaking from the emotional overload.
This time Liam slid his arms beneath her back, surrounding her instead of immobilizing her. A quiver sped through her muscles.
Grateful for the embrace, she breathed in his spicy cedar scent, basking in the warmth that blanketed her. The throb of arousal that had been doused by her anger unfurled more slowly now but just as powerfully as before. Every inch of her skin tingled, as though her futile struggle had awoken her body. Somehow Liam had understood her need to struggle even when she hadn’t, but now she needed something more. She needed to be claimed by him. To feel like she belonged completely to him, even if only for a little while.
“Kiss me,” she whispered.
Liam withdrew his arms from beneath her and lifted his head. The tenderness in his expression tightened her throat.
Talia rubbed her cheek against his hand when he cupped it, reveling in the way he slid his fingers into her hair to tip her head back and kiss her. She opened to him immediately, the fire burning hot in her veins. Her thighs parted, allowing him to move between them. She sighed at the pressure of the erection pressing through his jeans against her damp mound. He felt incredible even fully clothed, but she wanted to see him naked, touch him all over. She was starving for the skin-on-skin contact.
Reaching for the hem of his T-shirt, she tugged it up his torso, kissing him deep and slow, tasting the hint of coffee on his tongue. Liam rose to his knees and broke the kiss just long enough to peel the shirt over his head and toss it aside. Her anticipation heightened at the sight of his sculpted torso, the hard planes of his muscles exposed to her gaze, her touch.
Unable to resist, she laid her hands against his hot skin. His heart beat strong and fast beneath her palms. Liam gave a rumble of enjoyment and reached down to undo his jeans. With a muscular twist he shucked them off along with his underwear and she caught a glimpse of his straining cock before he covered her with his body again. The shock of his hot skin against hers dragged a moan out of her and she wrapped her arms and legs around him.
“Christ, you feel good,” he growled, burying his face into the side of her neck.
She shivered, her body going soft and pliant in his embrace. “You too.” Her palms smoothed over his wide shoulders and back, tracing the ridges of muscle. She’d fantasized about what he looked like naked for so long. Seeing him up close, being able to touch him and hold him this close and know what was coming… She could hardly take it all in. But now she wanted him to hurry up and take her .
His lips caressed hers, his velvet tongue licking sensually into her mouth. The kiss was possessive, hungry and erotic as hell. “What do you want?” he murmured against