Page 145 of Time Stops With You

She arches a brow.

I add, “Please.”

She sets her good hand on the tub.

I carefully adjust her injured arm. “Keep your wrist brace out of the water. No matter what. Do you understand?”

She licks her lips.

“Nardi.”

“I understand.”

“I’m going to be gentler than I was in my office.” I lean down slowly. Her eyes flutter closed but mine remain open. “Because I know that’s what you need.”

“WhatIneed?—”

I take her mouth and end whatever she was going to say. Our lips brush and my heart feels like it might burst.

She’s exquisite.

And so soft.

This woman. This brave, intelligent, warrior of a woman. She calls me insane, but she’s the reason I lost my mind.

Nardi arches into me and my resolve snaps. I want to drag her straight into the depths with me. I want to sink in deep and fill her to the brink until there’s nothing but pain and pleasure, torture and bliss. Until she can feel nothing but me. In her body. In her heart. In her soul.

But I hold back because what she needs right now isn’t my lack of control.

Her hands are shaking as she holds on to the side of the tub. I notch her chin higher so I can get a better angle and I lap at her mouth like the rawest of honey. Her lips meld to mine. I savor the taste.

Always so sweet.

My sweet, sweet Nardi.

I don’t want to punish her or anger her. I don’t want to take from her or teach her.

I just want… time.

So I kiss her until time stops.

Until her hand dances up in the air to caress my cheek.

I wrap my fingers around her uninjured wrist and place it back against the tub, giving it a squeeze in a reminder to stay.

And then my hand disappears into the warm water.

Down.

Down.

I submerge my wrist.

My arm.

The water laps all the way up to my elbow before I find her.

Nardi whimpers on impact and it feels like my heart is being squeezed to within an inch of its life. Her eyes burst open and she watches me with surprise and desire dripping from her gaze.

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