Bridged by Love by Nancy Corrigan

he’d teased, and then eased back.
    The desire to possess her mouth nearly overpowered him. Once he kissed her, however, he’d end up buried deep inside her body. After the way he’d treated her, she had to agree to be with him, not get caught up in the lust they both still felt.
    He released the firm hold he had on her hair but didn’t let her escape. He slid his hands to her back: one between her shoulder blades, the other at the base of her spine. “I want to fuck you. Say that you want that.”
    She linked her arms around his neck and stared into his eyes. “I don’t know if that’s such a good idea.”
    “I think it’s a wonderful idea. I’ve missed you.”
    Silence stretched. The tension between them built. Passion or anger—he wasn’t sure how it’d end. He only knew it’d be explosive.
    Life-altering.
    She skimmed her fingertips along his jaw and finally to his lips. He parted them, inviting her inside. She didn’t take his offer. With her index finger, she traced the curve of his mouth. The soft caress affected him the same way the rough tugs on his dick had moments before. He turned his head slightly, captured her wandering finger and sucked. Her breath escaped in a rush. He allowed her to drag her finger partially from his mouth before biting down, stopping her from retreating.
    “Nic.” His name came on her soft exhale.
    He grinned, pleased with her response to him, and drew her finger back into the warmth of his mouth for another swirling lick until she arched into him, her lashes fluttering. He released her and flashed her a smile. “Yeah, angel?”
    “I’ve missed you too.”
    His heart pounded, and his muscles tensed. “Is that a yes?”
    A long moment passed. The look in her eyes held love and passion. It was the same expression she’d always worn for him when they were together.
    Finally, she dropped her gaze to his lips. “I should say no.”
    He wrapped his fingertips around her throat. Her rapid pulse beat against his palm. “But you don’t want to.”
    She flicked her gaze to his. Her steady stare entrapped him. He held his breath and waited on her answer. She gave it with a small shake of her head.
    “Riley, I can only give you toni—”
    She grabbed a section of his hair and tugged him close. His words morphed into a groan. She covered his mouth with hers, swallowing the sound, and feeding him her low moan. With a passion he remembered well, she thrust her tongue into his mouth and kissed him hard. Their tongues dueled, and teeth banged.
    Dominance laced the wild melding of their mouths. She demanded it. He fought her. It was in his nature to resist. Knocking him to his knees used to be her favorite bedroom game. Apparently, it still was. Or maybe her aggression came from her need to punish him. Either way, she wasn’t getting it, not yet. She had to moan his name first while she came around his tongue.
    He tore his mouth from hers, panting hard. The sight of her dilated eyes and swollen lips tempted him to continue kissing her. He would, but there were other needs riding him, including her acceptance of what tonight meant.
    He refused to hurt her, no matter how much he hungered for her.
    Hands on her hips, he lifted her and dropped her bottom on the counter. A small gasp escaped her lips, not in shock. Excitement fueled the sound. The look in her eyes held the same carnal hunger he felt.
    He gripped the front of her shirt. The material under his fingertips felt thinner than it had the last time he’d worn it. He couldn’t help but wonder how often she had. Yeah, he had to make sure she knew what they did was only a one-time thing, not the renewal of their relationship.
    Gaze on her face, he popped the buttons. At the last one, he paused. “Tonight I’m going to love you, Riley. Exactly like I used to. Give you all the things my mate will never get.” He parted the material and spread the faded fabric but didn’t cup her lush mounds or even glance at them, for that