Page 60 of Guarded from Corruption

Ah, shit.

Glancing down, I realize Jade’s dress is around her hips and her bare legs are wrapped around my waist. Long and slender and dusted with those same freckles she has on her nose and cheeks. And there—a flash of lace, the same shade as her dress, covering the apex of her thighs.

Then she moves, wriggling around until I’m notched between her legs, hard and throbbing for her.

But the dinner. The movie. My resolve not to push Jade into anything too quickly. Especially nothing physical.

If only this didn’t feel so amazing.

We’ve kissed before, hugged, done some fooling around, but I’ve been careful to reel myself in before anything goes too far. Even though Jade seems completely comfortable with me, the last thing I want to do is trigger a flashback of some strange man touching her.

Dragging my mouth from hers, I groan, “Jade. Sweetheart.”

“What?” Her teeth bite into her kiss-swollen lip. “Don’t you like this?”

“I love it, hun.” The part of me that doesn’t want me to stop gives a little jolt of agreement. “But I have everything planned for you. Dinner. The wine. Dessert. And the movie. It’s that one you’ve been wanting to see for ages. Matt got it before it’s on streaming; don’t ask how, it’s better if we don’t know. But?—”

“Niall.” Jade frames my face with her small hands and gives me a serious look. “Do you want to stop? Or do you just think you’re doing the right thing by stopping?”

She wriggles on my lap again, and I sternly command the very excited lower part of me to settle. “I don’t want to rush things. I’m happy just kissing you and doing what we’ve been doing. This whole thing out here… I didn’t arrange it to try to get you to?—”

Jade narrows her eyes at me. Her chin gets that stubborn jut I love so much. “I know you didn’t. And I love that you’re so careful with me. So thoughtful. But Niall. I’m sure about you. I want you. I have.”

My willpower is a frayed thread, close to snapping. “Dinner, though. Dante helped me make it, and it’ll get cold…”

“We can reheat it.” She brushes a kiss across my lips. “And watch the movie after.” After a silent pause, a hesitant expression crosses her face. “Unless you don’t want to. Did I get it wrong?”

The worried look in her eyes slays me. “No, sweetheart. You didn’t. I want you more than anything. I just don’t want to hurt you. If I did… I’d never forgive myself.”

“You won’t hurt me, Niall.” Another soft kiss, and she gazes at me with eyes dark as midnight. “I trust you. And I know you. I want this.”

Then she does something I’ll never forget.

First, when she gets off me, I think she’s changed her mind. As she stands in front of me, I’m certain Jade’s about to agree that we should wait.

Until she whips her dress off in one fluid move and tosses it to the side.

I nearly swallow my tongue.

I’ve seen Jade in shorts and tank tops and even just in a towel. But in skimpy lace lingerie that’s so sheer I can see the outline of her nipples through it? Sheer enough to see the evidence of her arousal?

Not naked, but only inches of lace from being there?

“Jade,” I choke out, my pants suddenly much too tight.

“Do you…” Uncertainty flares again. “Is this okay?”

“Is it okay?” My voice goes rough. Deep. Desire like nothing I’ve felt before sweeps through me. I stand up to face her, resting my hands on the swell of her hips. “This is… Jade. You’re fucking gorgeous. Every inch of you.”

Pink touches her cheeks. “You think so?”

Protectiveness and love slam into me so hard it steals my breath for a second.

My wonderful Jade. So brave and strong, but hiding vulnerabilities she only lets me see.

“Yes. Beyond gorgeous. You’re perfect.” I stroke one hand up her side to cup her breast, brushing my thumb across her nipple. “And if you’re sure, absolutely sure, then there is nothing I want more than to make love to you.”

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

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