him inside me. His kisses dip to my cleavage, the tops of my breasts. I close my eyes, letting my head tip back to give him better access. Each brush of his mouth on my skin erodes my common sense. I push away. “I can’t think straight when you’re doing that.”
Hurt fills his eyes. “You don’t want me.”
“It’s not that simple.” This rare moment of vulnerability stabs my heart. Another layer appears in his complicated persona. And I know. I know with all my heart that I want to spend the rest of my life unpeeling those layers.
He holds his temples like he’s got a terrible headache. “You think we’re too different, but you’re wrong. Chicago proved it. You loved the danger, the excitement, and the illicitness. I can give you all of those things, Jagger.”
“I know.” When I open my eyes, his emotions are on full display. The color of his irises has softened from black to a rich chestnut.
“Don’t make any decisions right now. Stay the night. Stay here. With me. I need you by my side, baby girl. Let’s pretend everything is okay for one more night.”
I’m tired. Tired of fighting my feelings for him. Tired of demanding normalcy from a man who is unique. Part of my attraction to him stems from his mystery and the many facets of his personality. He’s the sexiest, most intriguing man I’ve ever met. No one will ever compare. He’s ruined anyone else for me. “Okay.”
He takes me in his arms and kisses me like this is the last time he’ll ever see me. The gentleness in his touch breaks down the last of my defenses. I melt into his embrace. According to Mr. Mercer, feelings like this only come once in a lifetime. With Cash’s hands roaming over my breasts, I have to believe it’s true.
“So beautiful,” Cash murmurs against my sternum. Beneath his nimble fingers, my dress opens, slides over my shoulders, and drops to my hips. “You mean everything to me, baby girl.”
I fumble at the drawstring of his shorts. Together we fall to the mattress. He removes my panties, tugs my bra cups down so his mouth can suck on my nipples. Using my feet, I shove his shorts over his slim hips. With his weight balanced on his forearms, he lowers himself between my open legs. The weight of his heavy body on top of me removes my worries. When he’s inside me, everything feels right again.
“Oh.” A contented sigh escapes as he pushes into me, inch by inch, savoring the friction.
“The only peace in my life is when I’m with you.” The raw edges of his quiet voice grow rougher. Our hips move in a delicate dance of advance and retreat. His push meets my pull. “I’ll never love anyone but you. You’re my everything, Jagger.” He buries his face in my neck, continuing his slow thrusts.
“I love you, too.” The burn of tears accompanies my confession. I dig my fingers into his hair, releasing the clean scent of his shampoo.
A subtle shift of his weight drives him deeper. Our mutual groans of pleasure break the quiet. This isn’t our usual frenzied fucking. This is so much more. With his brown eyes locked on mine, I’m lost in their depths. Before this moment, I might have been able to walk away. Not now. He owns me—body and soul—and I want him to never let me go.
Twenty-One
Jagger
In the early hours of the morning, I awaken to the growl of my stomach. Cash sleeps next to me, curled on his side with one arm beneath the pillow and the other across my waist. After his meeting, we skipped supper and made love for hours. A warm glow envelops my body at the memory. I’m still teeming with dopamine. He worshipped every inch of me, from my head to my toes. The memory of this night will stay with me forever.
Moving slowly to keep from disturbing him, I slide from beneath his hand. One of his discarded T-shirts is draped across the footboard. I drag it over my head, loving the smell of Cash permeating the cotton fabric, and grab my phone. Hopefully, there are leftovers in the kitchen for a snack, and I can use the time to catch up on any missed texts or emails. My bare feet are silent on the marble floor as I tiptoe downstairs. I flip on the kitchen light to find Gage sitting at the breakfast bar, shirtless and munching