Page 41 of Temporary Wife Temptation

“I fought this so hard,” he said, pulling his mouth from hers. “And waited much too long. I want you so much it hurts.”

“Then take me.”

With a moan torn from deep within, he buried his face in her neck and plunged into her in one swift thrust. Garrett froze when a sharp gasp escaped from her. He glanced down and saw Natalie had her eyes closed tight, her bottom lip between her teeth. What the hell?

“Sorry. I’m okay,” she gasped. “It’s been a long time.”

Her moist, tight warmth drove him mad but he didn’t move a single muscle as he bore his weight on his forearms. When he continued to hold still, her eyebrows drew together and she shyly swerved her hips.

God. He groaned, searching for his precious control. “Do. Not. Move. Give me a second. I want to go slow for you.”

“But I don’t want you to go slow.”

“Damn it, Natalie.” He’d plowed into her like a beast when he should’ve coaxed her body into accepting him with more ease. “I hurt you...”

“Not hurt. Just startled.” She cupped his cheek in her palm and stared up at him. “Please.”

His blood thundered so hard in his veins that Garrett could hardly hear her. His mind battled with his body as he searched her face.

“Please,” she said again, then rocked her hips against him.

Garrett shuddered in her arms, and began to move slowly, looking intently into her face. Gripping his shoulders, Natalie moved with him and set a faster rhythm until he broke. With a groan, he planted his hands by her head, rising onto his arms, and drove into her to the hilt.

He thrust faster and she matched him stroke for stroke. It was almost too much. She was close but he didn’t know if he could hold back. Then, Natalie cried out his name and arched her pelvis off the bed. Seconds later, he collapsed on top of her with a hoarse cry.

As their panting eased, Garrett rolled onto his back, taking her with him. He held her head against his chest and ran his hand down her hair.

“Natalie?”

“Mmm?”

“Are you all right?”

“Mmm-hmm.”

“Good.”

He tilted her chin up with his finger and studied her face, struck by her beauty inside and out. The delicate skin underneath her eyes was pale and bruised. She was still exhausted from yesterday’s ordeal, and he held her tighter, the need to protect her surging in his blood. With a sigh, she molded her body against his and her breaths grew long and steady.

He absently drew circles on her naked back. It was surreal how right all of it felt. Mine. Nothing in his no-strings-attached sexual philosophy explained his possessiveness. The mere thought of her having another lover scraped him raw. At least for now, she was his and his alone.

But this hunger... He had to believe it would pass. Natalie had no place in the life he meant to lead. He’d been content to pour himself into Hansol, and to find satisfaction in his professional accomplishments within the confines of his duties. Garrett had never wanted a real marriage. He couldn’t change who he was. He couldn’t offer Natalie anything more than what they had. She understands that. Doesn’t she?

And yet, the future he’d accepted as written in stone now seemed like a flimsy note on the back of a cocktail napkin—crumbled and blowing across the sidewalk.

Fourteen

The last few times Adelaide had seen her brother and sister-in-law, Garrett couldn’t stop touching Natalie—tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, entwining his fingers through hers, pulling her close to his side with an arm wrapped around her shoulders. Since their mom died, he’d held himself cold and aloof, becoming unreachable. Untouchable.

With Natalie by his side, her brother had finally shed his iron armor, and exuded warmth from his pores. And he became a puddle of goo when Sophie was around. The little girl had recovered from the fall scare faster than the grown-ups and was back to her energetic, rascally self.

Adelaide’s heart burst with joy to see him so happy, but a small, lonely part of her shivered with fear. Garrett was her constant. His love unconditional. No matter how much she screwed up, he would have her back. Have I lost him? Adelaide cringed with shame. She wasn’t the spoiled princess people made her out to be. She should stop acting like one.

She hadn’t lost a brother—she’d gained a sister. A wide smile spread across her face—Natalie was the best big sister imaginable.

Humming under her breath, she stepped out of the elevator at Hansol headquarters and strode past the reception desk.

“Hi, Cindy,” she said, waving goodbye at the same time.

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