Page 139 of Time Stops With You

It fights with my sense of self-respect.

This is your moment, Nardi. Prove to him that he doesn’t control you. Show him that what happened last time was a complete fluke.

A warm sensation slides up my neck and I glance up to watch Cullen. He’s cupping my chin in both hands.

“Didn’t you say you needed help with your hair?” he asks.

My eyelids bounce up and down.

Now, Nardi. Tell him now.

But his hand is so warm and his voice is edged with velvet and I haven’t seen him in so long.

No, don’t let him win. You’ve got to stand your ground now or he’ll never take you seriously.

I wrench my chin away. “I don’t need your help. I’ve been doing fine on my own.”

“I’m sure you have,” he smiles. The bags under his eyes deepen. Is it just me or does Cullen look more tired than usual?

No, don’t be distracted.

“ButIhaven’t been fine on my own,” he admits.

My breath escapes shakily.

Cullen’s eyes trace to my wrist brace. “I missed you. I was worried about you.”

My fingers curl into fists.

I need to shut him down. If he keeps talking like that, I fear I won’t be able to hold out for much longer. Especially when he seems so… defeated. There’s a layer of cockiness that’s gone from Cullen. I can’t explain it.

He shakes his head. His eyes trace past my wrist brace to the tie of my robe. “I was worried that someone was flirting with you while I was gone. That maybe your neighbor made another move.”

“Big T thinks we’re engaged.”

“It’d be better if he thought we were married,” Cullen teases.

“If you’re so obsessed with what Big T thinks, you can marry him instead,” I snap.

Cullen smiles.

I can resist many, many things but Ronan Cullen’s boyish smile that brings laugh lines to bracket around his mouth is not one of them.

I shake my head, struggling to keep my control.

Distance. That’s my only weapon now.

I move back. “We need to talk, but not like this. Let’s meet in your office—” My cheeks go up in flames at the mention of where we last kissed. “I mean,” I stammer, “go downstairs. I’ll meet you in five minutes.”

Cullen’s strong hands slide over my back and under my knees. In the blink of an eye, I’m being lifted into his arms before I’ve finished my sentence.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t come over that night. I hope you weren’t waiting for me.” He moves steadfastly forward and carries me into my bathroom.

“I wasn’t. Put me down,” I insist.

Cullen sets me on the corner of the sink and steps in between my legs, forcing them wider apart. The robe peels back, revealing more of my thighs. The sink tiles are cool against my bare skin, but the rest of me is fire-hot.

Please take off my robe. Put your mouth on me. Let me feel you.

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