Free In Your Arms by Rebecca Goings Page A

myself for? I… I’d much rather have my first time be with you than--”
    “Melissa, get the hell out of my room!”
    “But--”
    “Leave before I take you up on your insane offer!”
    “No.”
    “Damn it, woman--”
    “No!”
    Marcus let her go and took a step away. “You have ten seconds to leave, or I’m locking that door and you won’t be leaving until morning. I told you I’m not a nice man, sugar. I can only take so much. If you’re willing to give yourself to me, then I’ll take you gladly.”
    Biting her lower lip, Melissa looked from his golden eyes to the closed door, knowing that now was her last chance to flee from him--to flee her ridiculous plea.
    “You have five seconds now.”
    Turning to the door, she pressed her forehead to the cool wood. Lifting a trembling hand, she locked it herself.
    “I’m not leaving, Marcus.”
    “Time’s up, sugar,” he whispered into her hair.
    She felt the heat of him against her back. Grabbing her shoulders roughly, he spun her around to face him once again. He framed her face with his large hands and kissed her hard. His tongue invaded her mouth, and she moaned with pleasure. His hands were suddenly everywhere, roving up her hips and chest, circling her breasts with his searching fingers. Even beneath the fabric of her dress, her nipples puckered for him.
    “Do you care for this dress?” he asked against her lips.
    “What?” she said, her head swimming.
    “To hell with it!”
    Melissa heard the sound of ripping fabric and buttons falling to the floor, then Marcus was biting and sucking on her neck, making her gasp as she threw back her head. Circling his shoulders with her hands, she reveled in the feeling of his soft, bare skin.
    He pushed her ruined dress down her shoulders, forcing her arms off him as he peeled away her sleeves. The green dress fell in a heap on the floor. Standing before him in her corset and petticoats, Melissa decided to untie her own laces lest they join her dress, ruined on the floor.
    His eyes appeared on fire as he watched her, and Melissa’s mouth went dry just looking at him. He was definitely more man than she could ever hope to handle. How was she going to get through the night? Fear lit in her eyes, but excitement also shot through her at the same time. Nothing would stop Marcus now, and she didn’t want him to stop. The hungry look on his face made her disrobe faster than she usually did, and before long she stood in front of him trembling with uncertainty in nothing but her chemise.
    “Take that off too, Lissa,” he commanded.
    “I’m afraid.”
    “I won’t hurt you, sugar.” His voice was a little gentler as he caressed her arms with his large hands.
    “I know, but--”
    “It’s too late for second thoughts.”
    “It’s not that.”
    “Then what?”
    “I’m afraid that you’ll…”
    “That I’ll what?”
    “That you won’t like what you see.”
    “There’s no chance of that--no chance in hell, sugar. You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid my eyes on.”
    “Really?”
    Taking her hand in his, he brought it up to the crotch of his jeans, rubbing the hardened flesh underneath. “Do you feel that?”
    “Yes.” She gasped at the arc of electricity pulsing through her.
    “You do that to me. You make me so hard for you that I can’t stand it anymore, Lissa. Do you think that would happen to me if I didn’t think you were anything less than beautiful? Gorgeous? Stunning?” Pulling her into his arms again, he kissed her. “Take it off, baby. Let me see all of you.”
    With a shaking hand, Melissa lifted the chemise up and over her head, feeling her skin pebble under his scrutiny. Marcus looked her up and down before stepping close and ravaging her mouth once again. His hands palmed her bare breasts, making her cry out at the shock of it.
    His coarse chest hair against her sent a wave of heat spiraling through her body, settling between her legs. She could feel that familiar ache once