Free Breaching the Billionaire: Alethea's Redemption (Book 6) (Legacy Collection) by Ruth Cardello Page B

fell apart for one reason or another. But none had ever gotten under his skin the way Alethea had. None sent his blood pounding at the mere thought of touching her.
    But it was more than that.
    He respected her.
    Wanted to hold her to him and comfort her.
    Or shake some sense into her.
    The temptation to crawl into bed beside her, hold her in his arms, and kiss away the pain he’d seen in her eyes was strong, but, however much he wanted to protect her, it was his job to outsmart her. He hoped to God she had nothing to do with the trouble at Corisi Enterprises.
    Tomorrow. He’d figure out what to do tomorrow. For now, all he could do was watch over her.
    A few hours later, she stirred in her sleep and moaned. Her eyes flew open and she asked into the darkness, “Marc?”
    He fought and won against the urge to go to her. Instead he answered quietly, “Yes?”
    “What are you still doing here?” she asked, sounding surprised and confused.
    “Making sure you’re okay.”
    She laid her head back on her pillow and closed her eyes, falling back asleep even as she spoke, “I told you I don’t need you.”
    I know, he thought. But you’re wrong.

Chapter Eight
     
    His lips closed over hers and Alethea moaned with pleasure, opening her mouth for him, inviting his invasion. He claimed her mouth with an abandon that spoke of his intense need for her. A need that also rocked her.
    His hot lips moved across her cheek as he whispered, “You’re mine, Alethea.” One of his hands slid beneath the short hem of her nightgown and settled on one of her buttocks, squeezing it possessively. He rolled onto his back, taking her with him so she lay on top of him. With a strong, bold move, he whisked her nightgown over her head, settling her back against him, bare chest to bare chest. “That’s better,” he said huskily, then slid a finger beneath the hem of her silk underwear. “But why are you still wearing these?”
    Alethea rubbed the soaked crotch of her panties back and forth against his arousal. “Because you’re slow tonight?”
    “I’ll show you slow,” he growled, and lifted her so she was straddling him. Then he started a hot, torturously slow worshipping of her breasts. He traced them first with the back of his hand, then circled her excited nipples with his calloused thumbs. He flicked their hardened tips until she was gasping from the pleasure of it. Then he pulled her forward and took one of her small breasts into his mouth, suckling gently. She felt the intensity of that caress shoot through her stomach as she rubbed herself helplessly against him.
    He rolled onto his side and brought her with him. Taking both of her hands in one of his, he held them above her head and plundered her mouth while his tip teased her wet lower lips by sliding back and forth against them. With one strong move, he shifted so he was above her and spread her legs wide.
    “You’re mine,” he said roughly. “Say it.”
    When she refused, he inserted just the tip of his shaft inside her, rolling his hips in a teasing move that had her thrashing wildly beneath him. “Mine to take as often and any way I want. Submit to me, Alethea. You know you want to.”
    She shook her head in denial , until he plunged so deeply inside her she cried out, a sound that he muffled with his mouth on hers. Then he withdrew and began the tortuous tease of rubbing himself against her swollen clit and folds. His tongue claimed hers. Her hands were held immobile above her while his free hand explored and claimed her.
    She was defenseless to stop his possession of her, and so wet and ready for him that she couldn’t deny how much she wanted to give in to him.
    He plunged his shaft deep within her again, taking advantage of how her mouth opened wider when she gasped by claiming it even more deeply. Her senses were full of him and she was losing the battle with herself. He withdrew from her and began to lick his way down her chest, between her breasts, past her