Page 52 of Right Where I Belong
Sabrina slid into her chair. Her fingers scraped gently along his jaw, the simple touch soothing his frazzled nerves. “You okay?”
He didn’t answer right away. He couldn’t. He hated being at odds with his mother. In the past, she’d never reacted this negatively to him dating a woman. But with Sabrina… it felt different.Hewas different this time.
“She’s right to be protective of you,” Sabrina said softly.
His eyes widened. “You’re too smart to not have realized that she disapproves of you. And yet you’re taking her side?”
“I’m a mother too…” Her tone was light, steady. “I know how fierce that instinct to protect your child is, no matter how old they are. Besides, I know I’m not the kind of match she’d want for you. Not even for short-term.”
Something snapped in him.
He sat up straighter. “Don’t say that. Don’teversay that.”
Her lips compressed, and she lowered her gaze.
“You keep doing this.” He tugged her face up with a finger, ensuring she met his eyes. “Why do you think you’re not enough? Why do you think that you have to keep putting yourself last? What have you been through in your life that you think so little of yourself?”
She gasped softly. His finger held her face up, not allowing her to escape from his gaze.
Her eyes warmed, and she gave him a soft smile. “Thank you for seeing me. For always seeing me. You’re the first person to ever do that.”
“I see you, Sabrina. I see your calm, your strength, your honesty, your devotion to your son, even your hesitation to put yourself first—it’s all beautiful. You are beautiful.You, Sabrina, are absolutely perfect for me.”
“Youmake me feel brave,” she whispered. “You make me choose myself. You’re rewriting every single thing I’d ever thought of myself.”
She leaned forward and pecked his lips softly. Immediately, the air between them shifted. The charge between them returned with a vengeance, making his body tighten. Raw, primal need coursed through him. He stared at her. This spark between them was burning hotter with each passing second, wiping away all his thoughts. Only she remained. Sabrina.
“I’m not hungry anymore,” she whispered, her gaze dipping to his mouth. “Not for the food, at least. Can we leave?”
His lips curved as he stood and signaled to the waiter. Her hand remained clasped in his as the driver drove them to his hotel. He stole a glance at her; she was already watching him, need swirling in her dark, heavy gaze. The heat between them was simmering like a fuse waiting to ignite.
Fuck, this woman would be the ruin of him.
16
Desire pulsed in her blood. This man… he was everything she’d ever wanted. Everything she didn’t know she’d needed. Why did he always make her feel seen? Why did only he have the power to shake her like this?
The car stopped at the hotel entrance. Aditya helped her out, then ushered her up the elevator. He stood beside her in the elevator car, his arm touching hers, his sexy scent wrapping around her. She inhaled, getting intoxicated by him. His eyes moved over her, slowly, leisurely. Her chest rose and fell in rapid, shallow breaths as she watched him study her.
“What are you thinking?” she asked.
His lips tipped. “I’m thinking of all the ways I’m going to make you mine.”
A tremor washed over her, and a satisfied smile flashed on his face. God. She was so gone for him.
The elevator chimed. She stepped out with him, and he led her to his suite. He followed her inside, and even before the door shut, he moved into her. Yanking her to him, his lips met hers with a fiery urgency. Her mouth opened under his, and Aditya swooped in, staking control over her lips and tongue. He kissedher like a man starved—hard, fast, licking, sucking. She gave him everything he needed, and took everything she wanted from him.
Her hands coiled tightly around his back, desperate and greedy for him. With a low growl, Aditya lifted her into his arms, and her thighs wrapped around his waist as their mouths remained fused together. He set her down only once he was in his bedroom. His eyes raked over her—from the mussed waves of her hair to her lips, down her throat, pausing on her breasts. Then, lower, over the curve of her waist, her hips, down her legs. Then back up again. Slower this time. She felt every pass of his gaze like a touch. Her nerve endings ignited. Her pulse fluttered. He hadn’t touched her yet, but she was already burning. In this moment, she was entirely his—lost to the hunger, the heat, and the storm of sensation he was awakening inside her.
“This dress looks fabulous on you,” he said, his voice low and rough.
“Uh, thank?—”
“—take itoff.”
Her breath hitched, caught off guard by his sharp command. There was no mistaking the authority in his voice, no room for doubt. Her eyes widened. Hot damn. That deep, dark dominance in him lit something feral inside her. Her core throbbed in response, heat blooming low in her belly.
“I said take it off,” he repeated, his gaze locked on hers.
