Page 30 of Forbidden Billionaire Rockstar

“It could,” I whisper, then take a tentative step closer to her. “But I know how to be careful… do you?”

“This is probably a bad idea.”

“Probably.”

She glances from my stare to my lips, back up, and shakes her head. “No, we shouldn’t.”

“We shouldn’t, no, but that doesn’t mean we can’t.”

Mallory sucks in a ragged breath and glances around the room, eyeing the papers scattered over her bed with concentration. I clear my throat and nod toward them. “If you’re distracted,maybe this proposal is the best way to get your mind on the right track.”

"There will be conditions," she whispers, her voice a mix of desire and caution.

I nod, willing to agree to almost anything at this point. "Name them."

"This is...stress relief. Nothing more," Mallory says, her voice wavering slightly.

I nod, trying to ignore the twinge in my chest at her words. "Of course. Just two adults, helping each other out."

"And no one can know. Ever." Her eyes meet mine, a mix of fear and something else I can't quite place.

"Our secret," I promise, the words tasting bittersweet. "But Mallory, are you sure about this? Once we cross this line..."

She takes a shaky breath. "I'm not sure of anything anymore, Jace. But I know I want this. Want you."

Her honesty hits me like a physical force: "I want you too—more than I should."

The question hangs in the air, and I find myself searching for an answer that goes beyond simple desire. This is no longer solelyabout desire. It’s about need, about filling a void I didn’t even know existed until Mallory came crashing into my life.

This time, I take more steps until I press the tip of my toes against hers and reach out to brush hair from in front of her face so I can look into her eyes more deeply.

As I gaze into Mallory's eyes, I'm struck by the storm of emotions swirling within them - desire, fear, excitement, guilt. It's a mirror of my own internal turmoil. This moment feels as if we're standing on the edge of a cliff.

One step forward, and everything changes. One step back, and we might never get this chance again. The weight of our decision hangs heavy in the air, electric with possibility and fraught with potential consequences.

She sucks in a sharp breath, and I nod. “The thing is, sweetheart, I can’t seem to get you out of my damn head either.”

She glances down at my lips again and runs her tongue over hers slowly. I brush the pad of my thumb over her bottom lip slowly, which she takes into her mouth as she opens and closes her soft lips around it.

“Looks like we’re starting now, huh?”

I groan loudly and narrow my eyes at her. “You have no idea how much I’ve been fantasizing about taking you out of one of those outfits.”

“Then do it,” she whispers.

“Not quite yet, sweetheart.”

A frown appears on her face and I chuckle, shaking my head. “Don’t worry, it will happen but not right at this moment.” I crook my finger, beckoning her closer to me, and she obliges by leaning forward with her mouth popped open slightly. “Right now, I really want to fucking kiss you. Can I do that?”

“Take what you want, Jace,” she breathes, her words a siren song I can’t resist. I’m powerless against it, against her, as we balance on the knife edge of desire and restraint.

I lean in, my lips a breath away from hers.

Her eyes flick to my mouth, then back to my eyes.

The air between us crackles with electricity.

My heart pounds. Her breath hitches. One more moment of hesitation...And then I'm crashing my lips against hers and taking exactly what I want as she told me.

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