North’s POVThat single, unexpected compliment, that quiet observation in the middle of a power play, was the spark that lit the fuse. The fragile control I'd been clinging to, the careful performance, shattered into a million pieces.I crushed my lips against his, taking his mouth with a savagery that was born of desperation. It wasn't a kiss; it was a frantic, messy claim. I felt the rough scrape of his stubble against my chin, a raw, grounding sensation that only fueled the fire. His mouth opened under mine, and the world narrowed to this, his taste, a clean, masculine flavor with a hint of the red wine he'd been sipping, and the shocking slide of his tongue meeting mine.My fingers tightened on his jaw, holding him in place as if he might try to escape. He didn't. Instead, one of his hands, which had been resting on the table, came up to grip the back of my neck, his fingers tangling in my hair.He held me with an unyielding strength, pulling me closer, angling my head to deepen
Read more