Page 46 of Hidden Heart

“She left? Just like that?”

“Well, notjust like that. Like I said, she did her best to get me back in her grip. She kissed me.” Jessica’s eyes flew to his with his confession.

“You kissed her?”

“No, she kissed me. When I pushed her away, she started to get the idea. I ended up having to be blunter than that, though. I think what I said may have hurt her—”

“What did you say?” Jessica asked softly.

“I told her I wasn’t in love with her.” After a short pause, he continued. “I told her I was in love with you.”

For a moment, Jessica frowned. She couldn’t imagine how much it hurt to hear him say something like that, to hear Royce say he didn’t love her. Then her brain registered the second part of what he’d said. His gentle smile eased the tension from her shoulders.

“You love me.” It wasn’t a question—she needed to say the statement out loud—to feel the words roll around on her tongue.

“And if you allow yourself to think about how you really feel, you’ll see you love me too.” He gave a curt nod.

“I already knew,” she pointed out. “Well, I just figured it out, but I do. I love you too.” The realization had surprised her, but putting it out into the world made the emotion explode inside her. His grin widened, and she wanted to launch herself at him, but the smile faded from his lips, and the stern, authoritative expression surfaced.

“Enough about my lack of communication and on to your transgression.” He walked to her and yanked her off the couch before she could utter a word of protest. “Where is your bedroom?”

“Why?”

“I don’t think the people passing by your window should see your bare ass being tanned.” He motioned to the windows. She sucked in her breath as he stepped toward the dining room. “I’m sure I’ll find it.” He tugged her in the direction she nodded toward.

Once in the bedroom, he kicked the door shut and half shoved her onto the bed. She looked up at him. Too many things were reeling through her mind. He hadn’t gone behind her back. He hadn’t been playing with her heart. He had been exactly what he’d seemed, what she had fallen in love with. And he loved her.

“Tell me again why you haven’t called me in three days.” He crossed his arms over his chest.

His strong stance didn’t intimidate her. His eyes burning into her, exposing raw feelings and unexplored emotions, jumbled her nerves. “Because I thought you were seeing someone on the side, and that I was a toy to you,” she answered with a shaky voice. She knew it wasn’t true, but the hurt of feeling that way remained fresh in her mind.

He nodded. “You are not a toy to me,” he stated, enunciating each word clearly.

She wiped her eyes. “I know.”

“Why do you keep a mat by your front door?” He asked again.

She took a steadying breath and fondled the bedspread with her fingers. “Because it made me feel closer to you.” His face softened with her answer. She had seen the mat while shopping and instinctively purchased it for her apartment. It became as much a ritual at home as at his apartment.

“I’m adding a new rule. You are never to disappear like this again.” His voice turned ragged, and she nodded in agreeance. “I want to strip you down and whip you.” He ran his hand through his hair. His voice sounded rigid. “I should punish you for your lies, and for hiding your feelings, and disappearing on me.”

“Yes. You should.” She hopped from the bed, pulled her sweatshirt over her head, and dropped it on the floor. Her yoga pants slid easily from her body, leaving her completely exposed to him. She stood before him nude, her face hot from her blush, keeping her hands at her sides.

He stepped to her, wrapping her hair around his hand. A rush of sensations ran through her scalp and into her spine. Their eyes met, and then she turned her attention to his mouth.

“So natural,” he whispered, keeping his lips a mere breath away from hers. He kneaded her breasts and kicked her legs apart. His hands traveled down her body and found her wet and ready for him. “I’m not going to punish you now. Later you’ll come to me, and you’ll ask for your punishment.” He thrust his finger into her slick pussy. She grabbed his shoulders to keep steady.

“Not now?” she breathed against his ear.

“No. Right now, I’m going to fuck you.” He sounded determined—hungry. He gave her a little shove, and she fell onto the bed. “Forgive me for keeping you in the dark about Melody.” It was a command, but his tone was soft.

“Done.” It was that easy, she realized. She had a punishment coming for her actions, but he had already forgiven her. The punishment would cleanse her—and him. Right now, though, she needed something else. He needed something else.

He peeled his clothes off and returned to her, kissing her belly then her breasts and her neck, making his way up to her mouth. His fingers parted her folds and danced over her clit.

She reached for his cock and wrapped her slender fingers around the base. He growled into her mouth. She tortured him with slow strokes and delicate pressure while he tormented her with quick thrusts of his fingers followed by a pinch of her nipple.

“Please fuck me,” she whispered.

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