Chapter 24 #2
I slide my arms around her waist, pulling her closer until there’s no space left between us. She comes willingly—of course she does—folding into me, legs tightening around me.
She fits perfectly.
“I was thinking,” I admit softly, resting my forehead against hers, “that I don’t want this to end.”
I feel her happy smile against my shoulder as she nuzzles my neck. “Then it won’t.”
My arms give her a little squeeze.
Hand runs over her spine, fingers spreading wide over her back, caressing her as if she was the one who needed comfort. As if she’s the one who battled it out under harsh arena lights in the cold air and came out with a bruised ribcage.
Maybe she’s not the fragile one here.
Maybe I am.
I press my lips to her smooth cheek, then to the soft skin at the base of her throat.
“You’re going make it hard to leave,” I confess to her quietly, the double meaning lost on only me.
Juliette hears the surface layer of it.
I feel all of it.
She tilts her head back slightly, looking at me with that open, luminous expression that keeps undoing me.
“Then don’t,” she whispers.
I don’t want this to end.
Not tonight.
Not…
Ever.
And if I stay very still, I can pretend the world outside this room doesn’t exist. That there aren’t consequences waiting.
“I could get used to this,” I murmur, brushing my nose lightly against hers.
She smiles softly. “I think you already have.”
She slides her hand up into my hair again, fingertips threading through it slowly, rubbing my scalp, soothing something she can’t even see or name.
And if I close my eyes for a second, letting myself lean into this moment, I can pretend it’ll last.
I can pretend this could work between us.
You sweet man…
Her words settle in my chest, warming their way through my insides—and if I were a betting man, I’d say I was already too far gone to dig myself out of this hole.
When I tilt my head back, she kisses me full on the mouth and I sink into it, eyes still closed. Right now, in this pocket of quiet and warmth, it feels like we could choose each other… so, I let my hand drift up, beneath her jersey.
Hand splayed, I sketch every curve of Juliette Kennedy into my brain; her smooth, satin skin. The curve of her waist.
Several strands of her hair get kissed between our mouths and I laugh, smiling as I brush them away. Brush my fingers through her hair, moving it aside to gaze into her eyes.
We regard one another quietly.
Her lips are parted; her cheeks are flushed.
Then…
As I’m about to peel the jersey up over her head, she moves back, breaking the spell and killing the moment.
She slides down my body, her palms gliding over my chest as she lowers herself between my legs, her gaze never leaving mine, hands going to my waistband. Fingers tug at the drawstring.
My thighs tremble a little as I lean against the cushions, letting her pull down my sweatpants, giving her space while still keeping that invisible thread between us taut.
Whatever this thing is—it’s not only physical.
Pants down around my hips, the heel of her palm drags slowly up the base of my erection, gently but firmly, drawing a low moan from my chest.
Oh fuck…
I move my arms so they rest above my head, fingers laced, and dip my head so I can watch her tug at my boxers.
Christ, watching Juliette Kennedy get ready to suck my cock has got to be the single most riveting thing I’ve ever seen in my entire fucking life…
One of my legs bounces.
My groan is embarrassing when her lips wrap themselves around the head of my dick, louder still when she takes it inch by inch. Her mouth is wet. Warm.
She sucks while her other hand squeezes my balls, one of her fingers teasing my—
“Jesus Christ,” I gasp.
The pleasure hits hard and sharp, stealing air from my lungs. My core tightens. My fingers flex uselessly above my head before I relent and drop one hand into her hair, trying not to tug.
Takes every goddamn ounce of self-control not to thrust into her mouth, the aching in my balls so intense I could weep.
She’s so sexy, and she’s not even naked.
Juliette takes another long pull of my cock, sucking harder, one hand wrapped around the base, head bopping up and down.
It’s hypnotizing…
My thighs tremble, a sign I’m losing control, that tingling sensation I know so well rushing to my ball sac at lightning pace.
“Oh god… oh fuck…” I moan, tipping my head back. Biting my lip. I’m breathing heavy, and my entire lower half convulses as I come, shocked when her mouth stays suctioned to my dick.
She swallows.
Holy Christ, she swallows.
Her hands rest on my thighs when she finally pulls away, shy eyes lifting to meet mine. She is the vision of a fucking angel, delicate hands dabbing at the corners of her mouth.
I stare at her in wonder.
“You okay?” she asks softly.
Okay?
I let out a disbelieving laugh, dragging a hand down my face.
“You are…” I shake my head, still trying to find oxygen. “Unreal.”
If I were a smart man, I would have been more careful.
If I were a smart man, I wouldn’t have been this reckless with my emotions.
But apparently, I’m a fucking moron, because for the first time since I caught Declan in bed with Bailey, I don’t feel like winning.
I feel like staying.
I feel like…
Shit.
I might have fucked up.