Page 84 of Stepping Into Tomorrow

“Never with me.” She smiled, and damn, that small curve did things to the space in his chest where his heart should be.

He swallowed, getting lost in those light brown eyes. “Can I feel her?”

“Of course. You don’t have to ask; I don’t mind.”

He slowly lifted his hand, smoothing it over her belly. Her soft fingers gripped his, moving his palm just above her belly button. The off-beat vibrations made his breath catch. Love pulsed, spearing through him for his unborn daughter. Emotion clogged his throat, burning the backs of his eyes.

They had created this life, together. He flicked his attention back to her, in awe that this good woman had given him this gift. That he was the lucky bastard who got to experience this.

“You’re so beautiful,” his voice came out in a hoarse whisper.

Her lips parted the smallest amount, her scent mingling with notes of rose hips in the thickening air between them. Tension snaked around him, tugging tighter and tighter. The woman was like a magnet, drawing him in, and he was powerless to fight it. He shouldn’t do this . . . but he couldn’t stop himself either.

He trailed his finger from her cheek over her jaw, mapping a line down the pulsing vein of her neck. She shivered, whiskey eyes growing dark with liquid need. He leaned in, the temptation too great. Just one taste. That was all he needed. Just one moment where nothing else mattered but this thing between them. His heart pounded, every muscle tense and on edge. She deserves more.

“Nash?” Her voice came out on a breath.

I should leave her alone.

Warm, soft lips slid against his, stealing his hesitation. Her mouth parted, wrapping around his lower lip, her teeth tugging, adding gasoline onto an already blazing fire. He kissed her back, his hand gently collaring her throat as he slid his tongue inside, stealing her taste like a thief.

This kiss wasn’t the same as the kisses they’d shared the first time they were together. This was more than lust. It was different, somehow. Slow licks, sensual nips—he kissed her like she was his oxygen, because she was. The world could be falling apart and he wouldn’t stop.

A tiny moan left her swollen lips. Her nails dug into his shoulders and he cursed the fabric between them. He should stop this before it went any further, but it was impossible to pull away from her. Not when kissing her made him feel free—whole.

She pulled back, her eyes glazed. Lips glistening. Chest heaving. “Nash?”

“I-I’m sorry.” Fuck!

“I’m not,” she whispered.

“What?” He was afraid to hope.

“I’m not sorry. I kissed you, after all.”

“I can’t give you more than this.”

“I know.”

“And can you do that—keep feelings out of it?”

Hesitation flashed in her gaze before she nodded and licked her lips. “I think so. I mean, I have so far, right?”

“This is probably the worst idea.” But since when had Nash made the right decision when it really mattered?

38

ISABELLA

Isabella’s body burned, yearning for his touch. She’d never craved someone as much as she did right now.

Having sex with Nash was probably not a good idea. But she knew the score. Nash had made it clear he’d never return the kind of affection she wanted in a partner someday. If she’d learned anything, it was that life was short. Nash made her happy. And he delivered multiple orgasms. Isabella deserved to find some joy for herself for however long it lasted.

His warm hand across her throat didn’t budge as Nash stared at her like she held the secrets of the universe. There was something so arousing about that little bit of pressure on the sides of her neck, the display of dominance.

“You’re okay with this being strictly physical,” he confirmed.

“Friends with sexy benefits,” she proposed. That was what most of her marriage had been like. This was the same thing, wasn’t it?

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