Page 71 of The Bodyguard Situation

I lean in, my lips brushing hers softly at first, a gentle touch, but the instant our mouths meet, something uncontrollable erupts inside me. Harper gasps, her fingers gripping the back of my neck, pulling me closer. The kiss ignites, spiraling us both into something raw, urgent, and necessary.

Her mouth opens beneath mine, a sweet moan slipping past her lips as the kiss deepens. Heat floods my veins, electrifying every nerve, and suddenly, I’m drowning in the sensation of her. Her warmth, sweetness, and hunger are unlike anything I’ve felt in years. Her body arches into mine, pressing closer, fueling the fire between us as she threads her fingers through my hair. I savor every inch of her mouth, overwhelmed by how perfectly she fits against me, by how much I craved this very moment.

“Brody,” she breathes again, her voice ragged, and it sends chills down my spine.

Her moan fills the space and awakens the sleeping dragon inside me, flaring back to life. Desire and longing mix together in an unstoppable wave that crashes over us.

I grip her tighter, deepening the kiss, needing her in ways I can’t fully comprehend, yet understanding how long I’ve waited for this, waited for her. Our tongues twist together, and her soft whimpers are nothing more than a surrender to this, to us. It nearly undoes me. We’re dangerously close to losing control, passion building to a sharp, reckless edge, and if we don’t stop, we’ll fall off the cliff together.

My heart slams painfully in my chest. I’m alarmed by the intensity of our emotions. Slowly, I pull away, breathing heavily, my forehead resting against hers.

“Harp,” I rasp, the ache of longing bleeding into my voice, “there is no rush.”

“I know,” she whispers, her voice shaking slightly, eyes still closed. “You just make me want to lose control.”

The feeling is fucking mutual.

We linger, holding each other close, breathing in the hush behind the waterfall. The gentle mist settles against our flushed skin, cooling the intensity to ground us in the moment.

When Harper finally opens her eyes, the softness and vulnerability in her gaze steal my breath. She smiles faintly, shy and sweet, her fingertips tracing down my face.

“You feel it too, don’t you?” she whispers, barely audible.

“Yes,” I admit, pressing my forehead against hers again. “I do.”

I swallow hard, feeling every wall I’ve built to protect my heart crumbling to ash. I’m still breathing hard when I pull away. Not because I want to. Hell no. If I had my way, I’d keep kissing her until the sun dipped below that rock ledge and the cave filled with shadows.

But I know that if we don’t pump the brakes now, we’re going to cross a line there’s no coming back from.

Harper’s eyes stay locked on mine—bright, breathless, daring. There’s a flush on her cheeks that matches the teasing curve of her swollen lips.

“Do you always stop when things start getting good?” she asks, voice light but laced with something more.

I exhale slowly. “Just trying to keep us from setting the whole forest on fire.”

Her grin spreads. “Your control is impeccable. Or is it?”

Fucking temptress.

Harper moves out of the cave, then takes a step toward the pool’s edge and lifts her shirt in one slow, fluid motion. She tosses it onto a dry rock, then shimmies out of her leggings and panties, not bothering with modesty.

I cover my eyes. “What are you doing?”

“It’s called living a little!” She dives into the large crystal-blue pool of water with a loud, “Woohoo.”

A beat passes. Then her head pops up, and a radiant smile waits for me as she treads water.

“Come on!” she calls out. “You scared?”

I arch a brow. “Of what?”

“Of me. Of this. Of skinny-dipping.” She swims around, laughing, and kicks lazily in the water. “Unless you’re a chicken! But I’m telling everyone when we get back to the city.” Her voice echoes through the forest.

I cross my arms, watching her. “What the fuck did you just say?”

She grins, eyes glittering. “Chicken!”

That does it. I yank my shirt over my head, kick off my boots, and strip with quick efficiency, muttering something about reckless women and how they’re going to be the death of me.

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