Page 171 of Prickly Romance

Any other person and I would be annoyed at their stubbornness.

On her, I am utterly charmed.

She is a pop of color in my world.

An explosion of energy.

My gaze lingers on her honey-tinged curls, the thick black lashes, and the sunlight glittering against her dark cheeks like threads of gold.

She glances up. “What?”

“Thank you for joining me today. It was an important moment in the foundation’s history and it would not have been the same without you.”

Her annoyance melts away. She tucks her head into my chest. “You’re welcome.”

I nuzzle my cheek against her hair and marvel at my own irrationality. I cannot allow too many people to see the soft side that Dejonae brings out in me. My reputation is at stake.

Dejonae yawns. “I think the food and the escape room knocked me out. I’m feeling sleepy.”

“Take a rest,” I whisper. “I will be here when you wake up.”

I work on my tablet while Dejonae curls up against me. Her body is warm and her hair smells like a sweet dream.

It takes an immense amount of concentration to absorb the words in front of me when all I want to do is mark her face with kisses until I know every curve and line by heart.

The temptation is too great to ignore. As the plane descends and the ‘Fasten Seat Belt’light pops on with a chime, I lean over Dejonae.

Her mouth is parted.

Her eyelashes are still.

With her head balanced on my shoulder, her lips are as close to mine as my next breath. I can feel every sigh she makes against my skin, the gentlest caress.

My heart picks up speed.

I could very gently shake her awake.

But I do not want to be a gentleman about it.

I glance around to make sure that Nova and Adam are not looking this way. They are engrossed in their own world, both of their heads tucked in front of a laptop. They have been whispering since Dejonae fell asleep so as not to disturb her.

Satisfied that we are not being watched, I cradle Dejonae’s face in my palm. The first kiss is soft, a simple press of my lips to hers, a quiet mixture of oxygen and life.

But it is too tender.

She settles right back against me, unbothered.

I capture her mouth again, sucking on her bottom lip with a sultry, impatient rhythm. She responds to me in her dreams before she opens her eyes.

Our gazes meet.

Dejonae pulls herself closer to me. I shower her soft, perfect lips with nips and caresses until all the lipstick has transferred from her mouth to mine. I tease her with agonizingly slow advances of my tongue until she moans and—

“Sir,” the flight attendant clears her throat, “you need to put on your seatbelt.”

Dejonae and I break apart. She covers her face with her hands and sinks into her chair while I secure my seatbelt.

Despite fearing that the kiss set the whole plane on fire, we manage to land safely.

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