His for Now (His #2) by Octavia Wildwood

gasped as he came to stand in front of me, his hands gripping my arms just above my elbows.  “Are you alright?”  The moonlight illuminated his handsome face, which was full of concern for me.  I couldn’t help but think he looked like a movie star who belonged on the silver screen instead of in some sleepy little college town.  But I was glad he was there.  Actually, glad didn’t even begin to describe it.
    Opening my mouth to answer him, no sound came out. 
    “Daniella?” he urged, his fingers gently brushing my long dark hair back from my face. 
    As though it was instinct, I wordlessly wrapped my arms around his neck.  That one simple gesture seemed to melt the last of Hayden’s defences and he lifted me up with ease.  His embrace felt like home, warm, loving and safe.  “You’re not mad at me for leaving?” I whispered, my lips almost grazing his earlobe.
    He shook his head.  “ At first I was,” he admitted.  “I was hurt and embarrassed.  But it pales in comparison to what I did to you.”
    It was clear he was still harboring guilt for the awful things he’d said to me.  A short while ago I would have said he deserved to feel guilty but now, knowing what I did, I wanted to absolve him of regret.  “You had your reasons,” I reminded him.  “I understand that now.”
    “And you had your reasons as well,” he agreed.  “I should have known you don’t take orders from anyone – at least not outside of the bedroom,” he added with a glimmer in his eye.  “You’ve worked hard for the life you have here.  I admire that you’re not willing to just walk away from it.  You’re a strong woman, Daniella.  Your independence is a pain in the ass sometimes, but it’s also pretty damn sexy.”
    Our lips brushed then and just like that, all bets were off. 
    We half-tumbled into the library foyer, our bodies pressed together in a tangle of limbs.  “The art gallery is over there,” I managed to breathe, pointing in the direction of the door.  But despite the urgency of our situation, we were suddenly in no hurry to get out of there.  Something else had become more urgent.
    The library had always been my sanctuary.  It was housed inside an impressive old building with a rich history.  The interior had that familiar, comforting musty smell of old books.  In this day and age of electronic readers and online research, there was something sac red about the scent of a well-worn book and the words patiently waiting between its pages.
    For Hayden and I to have that entire library to ourselves was something special.  But for once it wasn’t the books I was interested in; it was him.   He’d come back for me.  Even after I’d pushed him away, he’d put everything – including his life – on the line to see to it that I was safe.  That chivalrous attitude was one of the things that had initially drawn me to Hayden Slate.  There was something so hot about knowing the lengths to which he’d go to protect me.
    Hayden carried me over to one of the tables in the center of the library.  I’d sat there many times over the years as I’d studied for finals and researched papers.   But I’d certainly never been bent over the table and undressed by a tall, handsome heir before…until now.
    My hands were pinned beneath my body, effectively immobilizing me.  I wondered if Hayden had deliberately put me in that position and then inwardly scoffed at myself.  Nothing Hayden Slate did was accidental.  Trust him to bind me even without restraints.
    We didn’t have much time.  We both knew it, though neither of us said so aloud.  We had to make the most of what little time we had – even a few extra minutes was a risk.  We could be caught.  The night janitor could come along…or someone worse.  It was risky, what we were doing.  But in that moment we only had eyes for each other.
    I felt Hayden push my skirt up until it was bunched around my waist.  Then he yanked my panties