Iron & Bone (Lock & Key #3)

Snap.

I groaned loudly as the pressure on my breasts finally gave way. My arms eased as the bra popped open, and I tore it off me. “Finally.”

The door flew open. “You okay?”

Boner stared at me, those tourmaline eyes taking me in.

All of me.

We stared at each other.

His gaze fell to my bare breasts, and my skin flared with heat.

That now familiar pained expression passed over his dark features. “Jill—”

My insides pulsed at the sound of his rough, raspy voice.

I covered myself with my hands, still holding the bra.

“Fuck, you’re beautiful,” he breathed. He stood there in the bright pink dressing room, perfectly still, his lips parted.

I could change everything now. Right here, I could veer us off the safe track we’d been on all this time. Sidestepping, smiling politely, laughing at each other’s jokes, the lingering glances, heavy looks, and then drifting away, always the drifting away.

I could do this.

My pulse raced as I reached out, taking one of his large hands in mine and putting it over my breast. His heat soaked right through my flesh. His calloused fingers and the coolness of his silver rings on my enflamed skin made my breath audibly snag.

“What are you doing?” His voice was a rough whisper.

“I like you.”

“I like you, too, Jill.”

My heartbeat stumbled over itself, and I pressed my hand over his. “Good.”

“Don’t make this harder than it is, sweetheart.”

“It doesn’t have to be hard, does it?” I took a step closer to him. “Not when it feels this good.”

My other hand latched on to his black T-shirt, and I pulled him in to me, the door closing behind him. “Do you like how it feels?”

His answer was a groan, his hand flexing over my breast, his thumb moving, stroking.

“We’ve been dancing around each other for a while now,” I said.

“I like looking out for you.” His jaw stiffened as his fingers whispered over my delicate skin, his thumb brushing over my nipple. “For the baby.”

My fingers traced over his hand. “Is this about the baby?”

A muscle pulsed along his jaw, his head tilted. “You’re carrying my little niece or nephew in there. Gotta keep you both safe.”

His hand gently kneaded my breast, and liquid heat flooded my chest as my knees weakened.

“I like that about you.” My hands clung to his taut sides.

He moved, his lips hovering over mine.

Yes.

My breath stalled as a brush of warmth fell against my lips, skin against skin, a light and gentle press. He paused to look at me, and I reached up and kissed him back, opening my mouth to him, my tongue slowly stroking his, beckoning.

I shamelessly arched my back, begging for more, offering him more.

He pulled away from me. “Christ.” He cupped both my breasts and took a nipple in his mouth, gently licking, nuzzling. My head sank back against the wall.

“Yes, yes, yes,” I chanted, my skin on fire.

He sucked on the other nipple, his teeth grazing the pebbled point. My pelvis pressed against his. His tongue lashed lazily in between my breasts.

Such a long tongue.

He licked me to a slow death, sending me to his own private underworld.

My knees quivered. “Boner!”

He leaned lower, and a squeak escaped my throat as his tongue found my navel and flicked at my piercing. My nipples hardened even more, if that were possible, and one of his hands palmed me again, roughly this time. He planted kisses all along my belly, and my breath stuttered at the sight. My hips involuntarily twisted toward him, my insides pulsing. Wild need coursed through me.

Use me, take me, drag me to your secret lair.

He rose up, and his teeth grazed the underside of a curve.

I let out a loud gasp.

“We okay in there?” rang out the loud voice of the salesgirl.

My body jolted in his hold, my breath throttled in my lungs. Boner’s eyes shot to mine.

My hand flew against the door. “I’m good. Thanks! Be out in a bit!”

“You sure you don’t need anything?” she asked beyond the door.

Boner’s eyes pierced mine.

Fuck yes, I need, and I’m being taken care of.

“No, no, I’m fine. I’ll let you know.”

“All righty!” Her footfalls faded over the carpet of the small aisle.

I lunged at Boner, kissing him, smashing my aching bare breasts against his hard chest. He dug his fingers into my hair and deepened the kiss, once more pushing me back against the thin wall, which shuddered.

“Jill…Jill…” he groaned.

I buried my face in his throat and laid kisses against his warm skin. That musky, earthy scent overtook me, a hint of mellow spice and pepper and something else, something almost sweet. I moaned like an untamed creature in his arms. My fingers finally made contact with his smooth skin under his T-shirt. I let out a sigh at the muscles moving at my touch. My fingertips skidded over a long grooved scar indented along his torso. He let out a deep growl and stilled.

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