Page 24 of Kiss Me, Mr. Bridge

There’s so much more I want, but I’m not sure I’m willing to risk it all. Or start again.

“I see that.” Her smile doesn’t quite reach her eyes, and I can’t help but wonder if she sees through my facade.

I’m too afraid to do what I really want. Afraid to admit I want to do something so unlike me. And afraid of losing everything I built.

“We’re really different, aren’t we?” she says.

The air in my lung disappears like a slow released balloon. “Are we?”

“Absolutely. I can’t see you trudging around Paris with a map and a backpack.”

I help Lucia out of the car, guiding her into the private elevator that leads to my apartment. As the doors slide shut, I slowly unzip her dress, watching as the delicate fabric pools at her feet.

“Don’t worry. This is my private elevator to my apartment.”

“Your apartment? Not your office.”

“That’s right.” I place my hands on her hips, pulling her closer. “I wanted to have you all to myself for a little while longer.”

Her eyes search mine, uncertainty flickering across her features. “Ronan, why did you take me for dinner? It’s not Friday. What are we doing?”

I silence her with a finger pressed against her lips. “Shh, just let me take care of you, Lucia.” My thumb caresses her cheek, and she leans into my touch.

The elevator dings, and the doors open to my private sanctuary. I step back, allowing Lucia to precede me into the dimly lit space. She takes a few tentative steps forward as I reach down for her dress, watching her walk into my apartment semi naked with no shame at all.Her gaze sweeps across the modern, minimalist decor before she turns to me. “This is...unexpected,” she murmurs, running her fingers along the smooth surface of the granite countertop.

I move up behind her, my hands sliding around her waist. “I took you for dinner because I wanted to show you a side of me you haven’t seen.” My breath grazes her neck, loving how she shivers in response. “And because I wanted more than sex with you tonight.”

Lucia turns in my embrace, her green eyes searching my face. “I thought once I told you about Amelia, you’d have stopped this?”

I cup her chin, tilting her head up towards mine. “Lucia. I’ve wanted you for much longer than I can have you.” My thumb brushes across her lower lip. Our eyes meet and I want to slam my mouth on hers.

But I don’t.

“I shouldn’t want this, either,” she whispers, her breath fanning across my face.

“But you do,” I murmur, my fingers trailing down the side of her neck. “And I want it too.”

She smiles and a second later; I wrap an arm around her waist, pulling her to my chest. Her feet dangle off the floor as I stride to my bedroom, kicking on the unlatched door.

“Tell me to stop, Lucia.”

“I can’t. I want this.”

My heart is racing as I walk to my bed, which is quite unlike me. Not the racing heart, but a woman in my bed and not on the floor or the couch.

But if we’re going to do this, we’ll do it right.

She lands on the mattress. My fingers are already hooked on her panties, dragging them lower, not giving her time to think.

And then I just look at her. Unable to take my eyes off her gorgeous tits, her soft stomach. Her bare pussy.

Her breath hitches, mirroring the erratic beat of my heart.

I lean closer, the scent of her seeping into my mind. “Tell me to stop, Lucia.”

“I can’t. I need this,” she whispers, her voice husky.

I trace the curve of her jaw. Her lips part slightly, and her eyes begging for more.

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