Page 100 of Stepping Into Tomorrow

Knock. Knock.

He glanced at the clock—eleven thirty—and closed his book, shoving it in the bedside table, out of sight. “Come in.”

Isabella walked in, shutting the door behind her. Her hair was slicked back, wet from her shower, her face, still a little puffy from crying, and her eyes, red. Everything inside him screamed to wrap her in his arms and do whatever he could to take the pain away.

Her plump lips quirked in a small smile. Some of the tension in his chest eased, replaced by an entirely different sensation—like he’d inhaled some of her radiance, had it lodged in his rib cage only to expand.

Bella stepped closer, her hands fisting the short pink nightdress. “Hey.”

“Hey yourself.” He set his glasses on the nightstand.

He moved over, making space for her beside him. She hadn’t been in his bed since the night of the massage. Bella sat, her hand landing on his forearm.

“You okay?”

She nodded. “I am actually, because of you.”

He focused on a loose thread on the comforter in his lap. He didn’t deserve her gratitude. He’d just done what he could to ease her pain.

Her palm cupped his cheek, tipping his face towards hers. Two amber pools staring at him like he’d hung the fucking moon and crushed his self-doubt. The affection glowing from her overpowered the shadows of his guilt—wiping it away as if it had never existed. He’d do whatever he could to stay in her light, like she was the sun.

His hand pressed against hers, holding it in place as if he could actually keep her. Like this could be his life.

Her breathing hitched, her sweet, minty breath taking up the space between them as he leaned in. If he was a better man, he’d back away. End this before it got even more tangled. He’d do the right thing and leave her alone. A war raged inside him, his every muscle taut with tension. His self-restraint hung by a thread. Should he cross this line with her?

“Nash.” His name fell from her lips in a warm whisper, deciding for him.

His lips crashed against hers, his hands fisting in her hair, tugging her closer. This felt so right. Like everything was exactly how it was supposed to be. His worries faded away, replaced by raging desire. Her light drowned out the darkness weighing him down. And he took from her like the greedy bastard he was, wanting more—everything she had to give.

He swallowed her small moan with his mouth, tugging her bottom lip, grazing his teeth over it. She raked her nails over his bare shoulders, like tiny daggers of pleasure urging him on.

“Tell me to stop,” he warned her.

“More.” She straddled his hips, grinding against his cock.

He groaned into her shoulder before sucking on her neck, his fingers inching the cotton fabric of her nightgown up.

She tipped her head back, exposing her neck to him. He bit her pulse point like the predator he was. She shuddered, a small gasp leaving her. Bella’s body tensed around him, her thighs squeezing his.

“You like that?” he asked.

She nodded.

“Take this off. Let me see you.”

She lifted the nightgown over her head. Her two full breasts bounced with the movement, his eyes drawn to the dark nipples. Leaning forward, he captured one in his mouth as he ran his thumb over the other.

“Nash!”

He pressed his hand over her mouth, locking in her screams. “Gotta be quiet. Can you be a good girl and not make a sound while I finger this pretty pussy and suck on these gorgeous tits?”

She nodded jerkily, her eyes rolling up.

Nash skimmed his hands over her thighs, squeezing as he gauged her reaction. Just how much pain could she handle? Enough to leave bruises of his prints? He dug his fingertips into her supple flesh. She whimpered, her eyes hazy with need as she bit her lip.

“You like a little pain, don’t you, sweetness?”

“Yes.”

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