Page 134 of Carbon

“I’ve been hard for you since dessert,” he murmured. “With the way you licked that chocolate mousse off your spoon, I could hardly keep my hands off you.”

Oh good—my plan had worked, then. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I think you do.” He ran the tip of his tongue from my collarbone to my earlobe, then gently nibbled on it. “You’re a little minx under that innocent smile.”

“As of last week, I’m also a little minx on birth control pills.”

When Emmy insisted I see the doctor for a check-up after the accident, I’d used it to my advantage.

Ben paused in his ministrations and met my eyes. “Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”

“I don’t want anything between us.”

“Fuck,mon cœur. I can’t wait.”

“That’s kind of the point.” I could feel my wetness running down my thigh. “Woman on the edge here.”

I didn’t have to tell him twice. He reached between us, ripping one orgasm from me with his fingers as his cock nudged my entrance.

“Perfect fit,” he whispered. “You were made for me.”

With skin on skin, every sensation was heightened, and I barely lasted five minutes before he made me see stars again. His thrusts slowed, waiting for me to come back to earth again before he went for number three. Ben always had been an over-achiever.

Heat spread through me, mine and his, as we both groaned at the same time. Yes, my first date night with Ben was something to be remembered.

“Best surprise ever.”

He dropped kisses on my hair afterwards while I used his shoulder as a pillow.

“Uh, I have another one.”

I tilted my head back in time to see his eyes gleam.

“Really?”

“I started writing again today.” It took some effort, but I rolled over and retrieved a few sheets of paper from the drawer of the bedside table. “Want to read?”

A smile spread slowly over his face as he scanned the pages. “A picnic? You want to go on a picnic?”

My cheeks turned a little pink, but I nodded.

“I think that can be arranged. After all, you’re my favourite thing to eat.”

37

Aweek later, Ben had introduced me to the delights of dining alfresco, and I saw the strawberry yogurt on the breakfast table in a whole new light.

“Are you looking at flats again today?” Roxy asked.

“No, we’ve already found one.”

“The Camden place?”

“Yes.”

Albany House had every luxury we could ask for but one: our own space. After we’d accidentally walked in on Emmy and Black in the hallway, Ben and I agreed we’d like a little place of our own, and once we’d viewed a couple of unsuitable properties, Emmy suggested the flat I’d originally shared with her in Camden. Turned out she owned the whole building and rented it out. We planned to move in once we got back from visiting Sofia in Virginia, and Ben would start his new job soon after that.

The planets must have aligned or something, because after weeks of hell, good things were finally clicking into place. I had Ben, the freedom I’d secretly craved, and at least two orgasms every night. Even my father had phoned to apologise, although we both acknowledged we had a lot of bridges to mend.

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