Page 63 of Love Me Forever

“Because fighting my instincts is becoming a full-time job.”

She drew in a sharp breath, looking away.

I took the key out of the engine and stepped out of the car.

"Stay in," I told her.

"What? Why?"

Going around the car on her side, I opened the door and said, "You have to limit movement, remember?”

“So what will you do? Do you have a wheelchair?”

"No, but I can do something better. I'll carry you."

She burst out laughing. I just kept looking at her.

Her smile faded. "Wait, you're serious, aren't you?"

"Fuck yes, I am."

"The doctor wasn't that literal. I can walk."

"You could, but you don't have to. You have me."

“You’re ridiculous.”

“I know, but I don’t care. Don’t fight me on this.”

"Fine, I won’t. Can you even carry me?" she asked. "I'm not as light as I look."

"Let's try." I put one arm under her knees and wedged the other between her back and the seat, then hoisted her up. She put an arm around my neck, clinging with one hand to my bicep.

"You're strong," she whispered.

I closed the door with my foot and headed straight to the elevator.

“Thanks. I'll come back for your bag and coat afterward.”

She’d taken off her coat, throwing it on the back seat with her other things.

"Are you sure I'm not heavy?"

"No, you're not." But being this close to her was testing all my self-control and self-restraint. She smelled amazing. She had on the same perfume I remembered from Oceanwell Bay, and it brought front and center the memories I'd tried to bury. I remembered the taste of her skin and her sounds of pleasure. Her breast was pressing against my chest. It felt as if she wasn't wearing a bra, and I almost turned hard at the thought. Damn, my self-restraint was vanishing by the second.

“The key is in my front pocket," I told her. "Take it out and unlock the door.”

“You can just put me down.”

“Not yet.”

“My God, there is no reasoning with you when you’re like this.”

“Exactly.”

She took the key from my pocket, awkwardly unlocking the door. Then I pushed it open with my shoulder.

"You can truly put me down now," Bonnie said, looking around. Her voice sounded strangled. I looked her in the eye, and she quickly averted hers. This was testing her self-restraint just as much as it was mine. Almost involuntarily, I looked at her lips. That mouth. I wanted to claim it right now.

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