Page 269 of Time Stops With You

“I know what you’re doing,” Cullen mumbles against my neck.

“Do you?” I arch a brow.

“You don’t have to tiptoe around me, Nardi.”

“I’m not. I just think you’re taking this worse than I am. We’re together again. The past and the future aren’t as important to me.”

“I know. And I feel that way too. But I hate that I put you through so much,” Cullen admits, nuzzling his cheek against the top of my head. “And it scares me that my time is still so limited. The first time I left was so painful for you and now you’re going for a second round.”

“Sh.” I place a finger to his lips. “No more talk like that. You promised.”

He sighs. “I won’t break my promise. I just wish?—”

“Wishing things were different won’t make them different. This is the life we have. How about we make the most of it?”

He reluctantly nods.

“Hm?” I kiss his nose, right above the tubes.

The smile flickers on for longer this time.

I kiss his cheeks and then his jaw.

He pulls his lips into his mouth, smirking secretly.

I notice his expression and stop. “What?”

“Nothing.”

I grip his collar and shake him lightly, moaning, “Tell me.”

Cullen’s smile breaks out in full force. “You’ve been extra frisky since I came back.”

“Have I?”

I reflect on our time together.

Our first night in the suite, we were so hungry for each other, we knocked into a lamp. It crashed loudly to the floor and we didn’t stop. I was up against the wall, moaning loudly when someone knocked on the door to check on us.

Cullen didn’t release me while he yelled an answer to the staff, so I was forced to be quiet. Biting back my screams during that entire exchange nearly split me in half.

“I don’t think so,” I argue. “If anything,you’rethe one who’s on me twenty-four seven. We’ve barely left this hotel suite in the last three days.”

“Yeah, but nine times out of ten I’m not the one who starts it, babe.”

“What are you talking about?”

He arches a brow and then looks down pointedly. I follow the path of his gaze and realize my hand is on his belt buckle and I’ve already freed it out of three loops.

I drop his belt like it’s on fire.

Cullen swoops in and kisses me until I falter back a step. My fingers slide around his neck and desire stirs in the pit of my stomach. My skin buzzes, already anticipating his large, steady hands on my body. The nasal tubes that keep Cullen alive have not gotten in the way of us enjoying each other’s bodies.

Unfortunately, Cullen pulls back and gives me a mischievous look. “Want some breakfast? I bought pancake mix and strawberries.”

As he speaks, he tugs on the tie of my robe.

“You’re asking that while undressing me?” I breathe shakily.

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