Page 145 of Closer

“Princess, you have nothing to apologize for.”

Her eyes dart up to mine and drop down to my lips. “You look like you got the worst of it this time.”

“It’ll heal.” Having her here is worth any injury. “I’m glad you came back.”

“I’m sorry for taking so long. I wanted to come back home earlier.”

Home. She’s right. This is her home.

“Did you have a good time?” I ask.

Her lips curve up into a smile. Not her fake one. The real one. “Yeah.”

“It’s kind of like back in college. Remember?”

“I do.” She laughs softly. “Only this time, I don’t have any cupcakes.”

When she was standing in front of me at my door, I knew Lil had chosen me, like I had chosen her, and I still continue to choose her. Always.

“That’s okay, I only need you,” I say.

She stills, eyes searching mine intently.

I grab her waist, lifting her onto my lap.

Her hands land on the backside of the couch, caging me in. “Stop. You’re hurt.”

I raise my head, bringing our faces so close that our noses brush. Her gaze flickers to my mouth, and I suppress claiming her lips like I’m fucking dying to.

“Princess…” I trail off, letting the plea hang unspoken. “I love you.”

I need to hear her say it back. Please. Need to know this is what she wants, too.

Her hands drop to my shoulders, and my eyes snap shut as her soft lips brush over the skin of my neck. It feels amazing, but it’s not whatI need or want right now. I want—no, I fucking need—to know if she feels the same way about me.

Disappointment courses through me. Why can’t she say the words? What the hell is holding her back?

She slides off my lap and onto her knees on the floor. My breath hitches when her small hands reach for my belt. This isn’t how I want this to go. Not like this. But the determined look in her eyes makes me falter. She wants this. Wants me. And fuck, I want her too, so damn much.

Maybe one day, she’ll be able to say it.

She tugs my zipper down, her delicate fingers grazing my hardening length through the fabric of my boxer briefs. Fuck. This woman drives me wild without even trying.

“Princess…” It comes out like a plea and a warning all at once. I’m barely holding onto my self-control here.

She glances up at me through her lashes, whiskey eyes dark with desire. “Yes, Sebastian?”

The way my name rolls off her tongue, breathy and seductive, nearly undoes me. I grip the couch cushions. “You don’t have to do this.”

“I know.” She snags her fingers in the waistband of my underwear. “But I want to.”

Before I can argue, she’s pulling me free, wrapping her hand around my thick shaft. A groan rumbles through me at the contact. Fuck.

She leans in, breath hot against the tip. “I love you, too.” Her perfect pink lips are closing around the head of my cock, and I’m done.

My head falls back, eyes slamming shut. “Fuck, just like that.”

She takes me deeper, the wet heat of her mouth pure bliss. I thread my fingers through her silky hair, wrestling with the hunger to thrust into her mouth while she bobs up and down my length, tongue swirling and teasing. It’s heaven and hell all at once. I’m drowning in sensation,in her, but I need more. Need to be inside her, claiming her, making her mine again.

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