Page 71 of The Forbidden Trio

“Hang on a sec.”

Max flipped a light switch and the enormous room was bathed in light. Both side walls were old exposed brick, and the ceilings were two-stories high. She looked up to see a second loft level with an iron railing. There was some new drywall up, a few sawhorses and a big worktable, as well as piles of tools.

“Max, this place is amazing. What a beautiful space. Is there already a kitchen?”

“We’re having it custom-designed. We’ve had a permit delay, unfortunately, but hopefully we can start work again in no more than a month, and once that happens, it should be done in about six weeks. It’s pretty great, huh?”

“It is.”

Aster walked toward the back, running her fingertips over the textured brick on the wall.

“I love when these old elements are preserved in a building,” she said.

“It’s one of the things I love most about this place. You always did get me, Aster.”

She turned to him. He was right beside her, and she could see the pleasure on his face, could feel the pleasure he brought her, simmering in her body.

“You should be really proud of what you’ve accomplished,” she told him.

“So should you. Opening your own business is no small feat. I’ve always admired your drive.”

“Have you?”

He was so close, only inches away, and she couldn’t help but breathe him in. When he moved in closer, the command in that small movement rippled through her like a firm hand on her neck—as firm as she knew his hands could be. Her system lit up, every nerve ending alive and yearning for his touch.

She let out a long breath.

“What is it?” he asked, pushing a strand of her hair behind her ear.

She shook her head. She didn’t want to have to explain how badly her body wanted him, how her heart wanted him even more. How the way he always tucked her hair behind her ear was so damn tender, it nearly undid her every single time. But it couldn’t happen.Shouldn’thappen. And she didn’t know how long she could fight her desires—not with him this close.

But she didn’t have the will to step away from him, either.

When he moved in, cupping her chin and kissing her softly, all she could do was let out a small sigh as she leaned into him, and opened her lips to let him in.

Chapter Three

Max smoothed his palms over Aster’s shoulders as he kissed her. Lord, she was soft and smelled so damn good, like some exotic flower. He felt the surrender in her lithe frame as she softened all over, her body moving into his. He pulled back to look into her green eyes, waiting for permission. He took consent very seriously, even with the woman he’d known half his life. Maybe even more so with her.

“Okay?” he asked her.

She bit her lip, making him want to bite it to—need to! Her plush mouth, with that sexy crease in the center of her lower lip, had always been one of the hottest things about her.

“Aster? You know I need your consent to go any further. And I know our situation is… complicated. I want you so damn badly, and I think you want me, too, but I need to hear it.”

“I do want you—you know I do. And right now, fuck the complications,” she said with a small exhale. “It’s been too many years of wanting you, Max.”

“You’re sure?”

She nodded. “I’m sure.”

“Lord, I’ve needed you,” he said, searching her face, trying to look past the blood running hot in his veins and the throbbing erection he could barely contain. Searching for certainty. He brushed her long hair from her face, strands of brown woven with gold, and it was like a fall of silk in his hands. “We haven’t had a chance to negotiate, and I can see from your eyes you’re already going down into subspace, so it’s not appropriate at the moment.”

“I don’t care right now,” she said defiantly.

“But I do. There won’t be anything too rough tonight. Understood?”

She sighed. “Okay. I understand.”

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