Page 124 of The Best of Us

I sighed, and the fluttery feeling in my chest magnified as happiness and hope bottled up inside, now ready to explode outward. I wanted to stay in this moment. Pretend danger and evil weren’t threatening us. Even if for only a little longer. Because soon, I knew we’d have to wear our suits of armor again, parents playing defense to the world’s problems, protecting our son.

“No looking back,” I reminded him. “Only looking forward.”

We may have moved fast, but as my brother pointed out yesterday, that was our MO seventeen years ago. Why would now be any different?

“What can I do for you that doesn’t involve breaking the oath you made?”

I had a feeling he correctly assumed I’d signed an invisible contract with God, committing to abstain, and he had no plans on upsetting Him.

The poor guy had been through so much. The last thing I wanted was for him to add any more guilt to his plate when I was desperate to help him understand that his plate was clean.

Keeping that in mind, I knew I had to behave myself, even if lust and desire called out to me.

“Juliette?” His voice was firm but patient, reminding me he was awaiting an answer.

“Touch me without touching my bare skin. I want you to feel and see me, though. Help relieve my tension.” I tried to hang on to my sanity as I tacked on, “Please.”

He had me off him in seconds and on the bed in two more, removing my shoes before devouring me with his eyes. I rested back on the bed that looked like it belonged in a high-end boutique hotel, with its lavish duvet and pretty tufted-velvet gold headboard.

“Unzip your jeans and slide them to your thighs for me.”

Quickly heeding his command, he zeroed in on the red satin triangle between my legs. I arched my back off the bed in anticipation of the next order.

“Shirt up to your neck. I want to see more of you.” His voice was luxury, silk, and sex.

I did as he asked, revealing my unlined red lace bra, knowing he’d easily be able to see the swell of my flesh and my nipples poking through.

“Hands over your head.” His eyes journeyed over my body, and I squirmed as I did what he told me. Was this really happening here in his parents’ house after our perfect day had gone extremely sideways?

The moment he joined me on the bed, kneeling beside me, still in his jeans and black tee, confirmed it was.

His arm muscles tightened as he shifted to all fours and climbed on top of me. He brought his face over mine and kissed me passionately, just as intensely as before, while also somehow gentler and softer at the same time.

I did my best to keep my hands up as he’d instructed and not claw at his back like I craved to do.

A moan passed between us, and I wasn’t sure if it was his or mine, but it became one mingled breath of ecstasy.

He dragged his lips to my cheek, jaw, and neck. I tightened my legs together as that ache of need built. He looked up at me, his lips now hovering over my breast. “What am I allowed to do with my mouth?”

“Use it, please. On top of my bra and panties is definitely okay.” I’d never given anyone else that permission, but this man wasn’t just anyone else.

He closed his eyes as a wave of uncertainty visibly crossed his face. This man was beyond good. He was hedging into saint territory.

“I need this,” I bit out, hoping to cut through his concerns.

His dark lashes fluttered open, and heat and desire blazed between us.

He leaned in, and the flat part of his tongue ran across my nipple pressing against the fabric. A deep hiss rattled free from his lungs as I cried under my breath, that one slight touch moving mountains when it came to pleasure.

“Again.” My hands clenched over my head. I was on the verge of breaking skin, my fingernails carved deep in my palms as he gave my other breast the same attention he had the first.

When his lips returned to my mouth, he kissed me hard. And by kiss, I meantfuckmy mouth. (No, I rarely said that word. Yes, this was a very qualifying time to use it.)

After destroying me in the best possible way with that kiss, he lowered himself down my body, keeping his mouth an inch away from my skin, allowing his hot breath to trail down, down, and finallythere.

“Your panties are soaked.” He nuzzled his nose against the satin. “You smell like sex.” A groan vibrated against me. “So, so good.”

With his tongue, he traced my seam over my panties the way he’d done to my nipples, and I abruptly jerked upright to rest on my forearms.

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