Guarding Temptation - Talia Hibbert Page 0,32

her pussy spasmed and her breath was forced from her lungs through sheer pleasure, he thrust into her again and again, so deep she felt it in her chest, so perfect she could die right then and have no regrets. And when he choked out her name a moment later, and held her to him, and found his release, she felt happier and deliciously filthier than she ever had in her life.

After that, time passed in a gentle haze of blurred vision and loose limbs. She felt the mattress shift as he got up, smiled dreamily when he kissed her forehead and murmured that he wouldn’t be a second. And then she might have fallen asleep a little bit.

At some point she came back down to earth and found herself lying on her back, her sweat-damp skin cooling… until James slung one heavy thigh over her hips and wrapped his arms around her. Just like that, she was dragged under by his intoxicating scent and surrounded by his warmth, safer than she’d ever felt before. But even though she loved the position, she couldn’t pass up the opportunity to take the piss.

“So you’re a snuggler,” she said. “Interesting.”

“If you intend to complain,” he replied, his voice muffled against her hair, “just know that I’m not above kissing you to keep you quiet.”

She laughed, until an anxiety-inducing thought popped into her head, drowning out the amusement. “So, that was… And now, we… Which means.” She cleared her throat and thought wistfully of a time, less than twenty-four hours ago, when she’d been considered generally articulate. Jesus, how did people do this romantic shit when they cared so much about it?

Then again, Nina supposed, she was no stranger to caring about things. So she should pull herself together and continue being brave. “So,” she said firmly. “I realised we talked about feels and stuff, but, erm, what is this?”

He laughed gently, and held her tighter, which she hadn’t thought was possible. “You and me, you mean?”

“Yeah.”

“I’d like to think we’re in a relationship. What do you think about that?”

Peace fell like spring rain, dragging a goofy smile over Nina’s face. “I think I agree,” she said, trying not to sound too delighted. “A relationship. Yeah.” And then she added wryly, “Can’t wait to tell my brother.”

“Bedroom rule,” James said. “We don’t talk about your brother.”

She snorted. “Fair enough. But we do have to tell—”

James’s hand covered her mouth, not hard enough to really shut her up, but she got the message. Got it, and ignored it. With wicked amusement, she said against his palm, “You were supposed to be watching me.”

“I did watch you,” he said. “I watched you bend over in those jeans with the rip underneath your right arsecheek.”

“James!”

“You know what? I don’t really care what Mark thinks, because you’re an adult. And I know you don’t care either, so stop breaking the bedroom rule.” He moved his hand away from her mouth, setting the sound of her laughter free. Then, without warning, he shifted until he was on top of her, his sinful smile bright and beautiful. “Your official punishment,” he said seriously, “is one kiss.”

“Just one?”

“I’ll thank you not to diminish my excellent kisses. One is definitely enough.”

She snorted and stole her kiss. James’s mouth was surprisingly sweet and achingly gentle against hers, transforming the glitter of her amusement into something slower, hotter, more needy. As his tongue traced her lower lip, Nina’s arousal flared—but that was nothing compared to the other currents flooding her mind, the fond affection and the deep possessiveness and…

Suddenly, she was so full of feeling she couldn’t possibly keep it in. Breaking the kiss, she blurted out, “I love you.”

Of course, once she’d said it, she really wished that she hadn’t.

For a moment of perfect, shining mortification, Nina might’ve sacrificed a sheep—a small goat, at least—for the chance to cram those words back into her mouth. And since she’d been a vegetarian since she was fourteen, that was a pretty major concession.

But once that moment passed, she realised that actually, she’d rather not sacrifice any goats. It was better this way. She was better brave. And she’d already started, so she might as well go all in. Gnawing on her lower lip, avoiding James’s gaze—his chest was a lot easier to stare at right now than his eyes—she kept talking.

“I’ve been in love with you for, like, three years. I don’t know. It kind of snuck up on me. But I thought you’d