Chapter 306 - Claimed By My Stepbrother (Cadell Security Series)
Hallick’s POV
‘I just don’t know if you feel the same way’ her soft, nerve filled words destroy everything in me. With a growl of unbridled desire, I crash my lips to Seona’s pushing into the kiss all the feelings that I have never been able to put into words.
She meets me eagerly, opening her mouth to give me access that I willingly take. My hands slide down her body, under her hips lifting her up as I pin her against the wall.
The blonde wraps her legs tightly around my waist, her centre resting over my aching c.ock as a groan crawls up my throat and is swallowed by her sweet mouth.
She wants me, She. Wants. Me! That’s all that rolls around my head, not that asshole, not Benny, not anyone else, Me!
Seona’s arms wrap around my neck, holding me against her body as her tongue duels with my own. Wrenching my lips away from hers, I rest our foreheads together as I suck down much needed oxygen. Seona’s lips are swollen, her chest rising and falling quickly as she breathes deeply.
‘Love’ I mutter hoarsely, ‘are you sure about this?’
Seona peeks up at me, biting down on her lip as she nods quickly.
I shake my head, needing the words, ‘I need you to understand, I’m an all or nothing kinda guy’ I murmur. ‘You telling me that you have feelings, that’s . . ‘ I huff out a breath, ‘I don’t take that lightly. I need you to tell me exactly what you want from me, be specific, I don’t think I could deal with getting crossed wires right now.’
The blonde blinks up at me for a second before she whispers, ‘I want you Mark, all of you. Not for a night or a week . . . I want you to call me Love and not just when we are here alone. I want to cuddle up on the couch with you and watch movies, sharing a bowl of popcorn . . I want . . ‘ her cheeks flush but she keeps staring up at me. ‘I want you to make love to me . . every night . . .’ she finally drops her gaze, her embarrassment becoming too much but I press a finger to her chin, forcing her gaze back to me.
‘Are you sure?’ I ask again, ‘I’m a broken man Love, I have sides, dark ones that I can’t always control, they won’t go away. I’ll always look like this . .’ I jerk my chin down toward my hidden scars, my voice coming out as a growl as I swallow down the flare of vulnerablilty that flashes through me, a feeling that only the woman in my arms seems able to pull out of me.
‘I’m never going to be whole, not like other men out there, my demons run too deep, you need to understand what you are asking for here.’
I swallow, keeping my gaze pinned on her, every fibre of my body screaming at me to shut up, to take what I’m being offered but I can’t do that. I love this woman, I know I do, dammit I started falling for her the first time I saw her and despite her bruises, she still tried to stand up to me! I saw her strength underneath the shell she had become, the spark of who she once was and it damn well called to me, two broken souls drawn together.
I know who and what I am, and I won’t pretend that I’m someone I’m not, that isn’t fair to Seona or me, she needs to know what she’s getting if she is thinking about taking me on.
Seona’s face softens, her hand moving to my cheek, and I lean into it automatically, soaking in the smoothness of her skin, the scent of sugar that still resides on her hands from handling the treats in the bakery.
‘I know who you are Mark’ she murmurs, gazing up at me, ‘I’ve seen you, all of you, and I’m not scared. You are a good man, you will not hurt me, I know that.’
I open my mouth to argue, point out I did hurt her not so long ago but she silences me with a sweet kiss.
‘That was an accident, you had a nightmare, and I didn’t know how to wake you’ she says gently. ‘You didn’t want to hurt me Mark, if you had, you wouldn’t have reacted the way you did.’
She shakes her head sadly, her eyes darkening, ‘I’ve seen into the eyes of a man that enjoys my pain’ she whispers, ‘it’s awful, but that is not what I see when I look into yours. Every time you look into my eyes I see warmth, protection, respect . .’ her lip twitches, ‘desire’ she adds as my chest rumbles, damn right you do. Seona giggles, ‘I like how you look at me’ she admits shyly, ‘I like how I feel when you are near me . . how my stomach flutters every time I look at you. I like you making my tea in the morning and me making your lunch. I like that we cook dinner together sometimes and that when I’m falling asleep on the couch, you tug a blanket over me, so I don’t get cold.’
I feel my cheeks heat as I stare down at her, ‘you knew I did that?’ I ask, suddenly flustered.
Seona nods, smiling brighter, ‘sometimes I pretend to fall asleep beside you, just so you’ll do it’ she admits sheepishly, ‘it makes me feel good when you look after me . . no-one really looked after me before, not since I was a little girl.’
The blonde looks up at me, pure vulnerability in her eyes that takes my breath away.
‘I’ll always look after you Love’ I tell her sincerely, ‘you’d never have to worry about that.’
Seona nods, ‘I know’ she replies quietly, ‘I’d never have to worry about anything with you, and you’d never have to worry about anything with me either. We’re both dented, but somehow, our dented parts fit together, you make me whole.’
I press my lips to hers, unable to hold myself back any longer, ‘you make me whole Love’ I rumble against her mouth, ‘no-one has ever seen me the way you do.’
‘Like a hero?’ Seona asks smiling, ‘I doubt that very much.’
‘No’ I mumble, ‘like I’m not broken . . ‘
‘You are not broken’ my woman huffs, a frown line creasing her forehead as she glares up at me, ‘you never were.’
I smirk as I step back from the wall, taking the woman in my arms with me, ‘I know, I know, ‘I’m just dented’ I parrot earning myself a giggle.
Turning, I head through the door to the kitchen, up the stairs, and to our apartment door, supporting her weight easily as I fish in my pocket for the key to our home, unlocking it and stepping inside.
Relocking up after us, my gaze darkens as I look down at Seona, the sexy blonde biting her lip as she watches me.
‘I’m pretty sure you said that you wanted a man that would make love to you every night’ I growl, making her cheeks heat as she nods slowly. ‘Well never say I’m not a man of my word’ I tease, striding down the hallway and kicking open Seona’s bedroom door, depositing my little temptation into the middle of her bed before grabbing the back of my shirt and tugging it over my head.