Page 123 of Beyond the Temptation: Vol 2

Miles's brow furrowed, and he tilted his head to the side. "I can tell you're lying."

How could he? We barely knew each other. Yeah, we'd had some intense conversations over Messenger and video chatted occasionally, but I didn't think he knew me that well.

It didn't matter if I knew him and his tells. The way his jaw clenched when he was deep in thought. The way he smoothed down his hair when he needed a moment. Rubbed his hand along his jaw when he was frustrated. Then there was his language. When he was frustrated, the more he cursed.

I loved getting him on certain topics and watching the fire within as he dropped tons of F-bombs. I was the exact same way.

"You don't think I know your quirks?" His dark eyes blazed as the hand on my cheek moved to brush my hair from my face.

A shiver raced down my spine as he splayed his long fingers over my neck. He licked his lips, and my heart stuttered inside my chest as he leaned forward. Warm breath fanned over my skin, peppermint filling my nostrils. "You think I don't see you, Jess, but I do."

His husky words couldn't prepare me for the sensation of his lips against mine.

A moan caught in my throat as I laid my arms on his shoulders and curled them to tunnel my fingers into his hair. It was just as thick and soft as I thought it would be.

Our tongues danced together, and the hand on my throat squeezed just slightly.

We panted as he drew back, our lips still just inches apart. "I do know you, baby girl. I see you. I've just been waiting for the right time to make you mine."

Oh, holy swooniest of all swoons.

Was this real life?

Or was the universe playing a massive prank on me?

CHAPTER THREE

MILES

Jess trembled in my arms, her eyes going wide as I told her I wanted to make her mine.

Fucking hell this woman had been driving me mad for months. We talked almost daily. She challenged me in a way no woman had ever done. She brought a smile to my face and laughter into my life since we first met.

When I saw her walking around that hotel lobby, her head tilted toward the ceiling and taking in the glass sculptures, I fell for her instantly. There was an innocence about her that drew me into her orbit.

Finding out she was an author I admired was the icing on the cake.

After that day, I made it my mission to get to know her, and bide my time until I could call her mine.

"You had to know I wanted you," I whispered, loving how she shivered at the sound of my voice.

I made my living bringing stories to life in audiobooks, but nothing brought me more pleasure than how Jess reacted to my voice.

"I had no idea." She shook her head, and her fingers clenched in my hair. "I watched you flirt with women, and each time, it broke my heart."

Fuck.

I never saw the women I flirted with. They were nice to me and complimented my narration skills. But they never got through the facade I presented to the world. How did I tell her the women meant nothing to me without sounding like a total douchebag?

I lifted her hand and pressed a kiss to her knuckles. "Part of me was hoping you were jealous and would say something." I paused, watching a myriad of emotions flicker across her face. "But it was mostly just the mask I put on when I have to talk to listeners. It can be exhausting."

Jess let out a heavy sigh. "It really is. Energizing but draining all in one." She paused, her head tilting to the side. "You really wanted to make me jealous?"

My lips twitched with the beginnings of a smile. "Does that make me a horrible person?"

"No." She laughed briefly. I joined in, and the room around us fell strangely silent.

I held her head to my chest and stroked my fingers through her hair. "Come up to my room with me," I murmured after several minutes of enjoying her body against mine. "I have an extra bed, but I crave to hold you and kiss you more. Nothing more."

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