Page 71 of Next Time I Fall (Excess All Areas 2)

“Urgh,” Cerys said, ripping them off the mirror. “Manifestation quotes. Daily reminders meant to reprogram my neural pathways. Money flows into my life and work, easily and abundantly, in expected and unexpected ways. It’s a way to override negative thoughts, like ‘I’ll not get a loan to start the studio I want for a few more years.’ You say them when you doubt yourself. But look what good they did.”

Jase took them out of her hands and carefully placed them back on the mirror. “I’m allowing you another hour for this pity party, sunshine. Then we are moving on. I love that you believe in this shit, because I hardly believe in anything. I love the way you do yoga and meditate and think positive thoughts, because I punch things and get angry and my head swirls with negatives. I’m learning from you. You can’t stop believing in this, because I want to get to where you are.”

Cerys looked up at him, eyes filled with something he was beginning to suspect was a lot like love. It reminded him of how he’d felt standing in the crisp cold air overlooking the frozen lake, which was not everyone’s cup of tea. But to him, it had been the calmest he’d felt in forever.

“What? Did I say something wrong?”

“No. You said everything perfectly right.” Stepping up on her toes, she placed her hands around his neck and pulled his mouth to hers. Letting her take the lead, he sighed as she kissed him.

Wrapping his arms around her, he tugged her up against his chest, trailing his hands down her back until they settled on the cheeks of her arse. He squeezed gently, and Cerys let out a moan.

“Hey,” he said, pulling back. “Let’s get you comfortable.”

“I was enjoying that,” Cerys pouted.

“I know. Me too.” He adjusted his dick to make a point. “Old me would have walked straight through the door you just opened, and we’d be fucking by now. But new me, the one with a girlfriend, is thinking about the consequences of next steps. And sex right now would be taking advantage of you when your feet aren’t on solid ground.”

“Urgh. When did you become so noble?” she muttered, but the way she placed her palm on his cheek told him he was doing the right thing.

“This is what good boyfriends do, right?”

Cerys slipped her arms out of her blazer. “Good boyfriends also bang their girlfriends hard when they need to get out of their own heads.”

Jase couldn’t help the laugh that slipped out of his mouth. “Oh, we’ll get to banging hard, I promise. But is that what you need? To get out of your own head for a little while.”

Warmth slipped through him as she placed her palms on his chest. “I think it is.”

He kissed her again. Deep drugging kisses that made her fall against him. “If that’s what you need, why don’t we try this? Arms up.” He lifted her T-shirt over her head, then reached for her jeans. The sound of the zipper and their breathing filled the room as his fingers grazed along her skin. “Wiggle these off.”

When she stood in only her underwear, simple black cotton that looked sexier on her than any amount of lacy lingerie, he lifted her onto the bed, and climbed after her.

From his position kneeling across her thighs, he studied her. Her tongue snaked across her lower lip.

Carefully, Jase lowered his head and placed a kiss on her sternum. He inhaled her scent deeply as she ran her fingertips across his scalp, making him shiver. He trailed kisses to the rise of her breast, but he stopped as suddenly as he started. “I’m going to keep going until you’re out of your own head. But we aren’t having sex today. Okay?”

Cerys placed her hands on either side of his face. “Okay.”

With her smile, he reached beneath her and opened her bra before removing it. “Jesus, Cerys. You’re beautiful.” He went back to where he was, licking, nipping, and kissing his way over her breast until he reached her nipple, which he laved with his tongue before sucking it into his mouth. “So fucking sweet.”

“Jase,” she gasped, open-mouthed.

He cupped her breast, holding it as he feasted on her. A slow and steady throb pulsed through his dick as he did so, but this wasn’t about him.

Jase switched breasts and repeated the action. Cerys pressed her thighs against his, desperate to open wider for him. The move cranked him higher. It would be too easy to let her open her legs and rock his dick against the part of her that needed him, but his thighs pinned them shut.

He slid his hands beneath her to hold her close, his wide palms splayed on her back.

When his lips met hers, she melted further into the bed, barely noticing when he slid his fingers beneath the waistband of her knickers. “Hardly the sexiest underwear,” she muttered.

“It’s wrapped around you. Makes it damn fucking sexy if you ask me,” he growled.

The compliment made her smile, as he’d intended, and Jase winked at her.

Gently, he shuffled backwards, pulling the black cotton with him. When he looked at her, silently checking in, Cerys nodded. He could feel the pulse of her need beneath her skin.

When she was finally naked before him, he allowed himself a moment to appreciate her. Lithe frame, tight nipples, freckles. A narrow strip of strawberry blonde hair where she was already so wet and heated.

She reached for the hem of his T-shirt, but he grabbed both of her wrists. “Steps, babe. I want this to be about you.”

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