Page 34 of No Take Backs

In that moment, Josh gives me the power in our relationship. He doesn’t force the issue or try to take me on the table without explicit permission, no. That one question gives me everything I’ve ever wanted in a relationship.

“The bed.”

I kiss him on the cheek, press my lips against his skin, and let my legs unwrap from his body so that I can lead the way.

Reluctantly, he lets me go. “Let’s put away the food first.” He scrambles to put things away. “Once I get you in bed, I don’t want to let you out again until tomorrow morning. Or afternoon.”

“Or never.” I pick up the dishes and the silverware while he packs the leftovers away. “Do you know what the most attractive thing about you is?” I bite my bottom lip. “It’s that you didn’t just insist on us leaving the food out. If you could stop being perfect sometime soon, I’d really appreciate it.”

“Nia.” Josh takes my hand and pulls me into his arms. “You really have no idea. I’m nowhere near perfect, and we both know I’m gonna drive you crazy. But the idea of having you in my arms again is too good to ever pass up.”

Before I do something stupid, like kiss him again and insist he take me on the kitchen counter, I step away.

“Follow me.”

My bedroom is on the second floor of the townhouse, and Josh is right behind me the entire way. His hands find my hips and as soon as we step through the doorway into my room, I’m in his arms. His lips press against mine, and our bodies fight for control.

I could pretend that I struggle against him or that I don’t want him to take command of the situation, but that would be a lie. I want him, just as much as I did the first night. And even more than I’ve wanted him in the nights between but was too chicken to admit.

So, when one of his hands slides under my shirt, I moan with the pleasure of having his fingers touch the sensitive bud there.

His lips brush mine one more time before he moves down to my neck and then lifts my shirt up and off my body.

“Bra, too,” I rasp.

He is too happy to comply, unsnapping the front clasp of my bra and letting it slip from my shoulders and off my arms.

“Next time,” he promises with a secret smile. “I’m going to tie you up, and you’re going to like it.”

My core clenches, and I most definitely am not in control anymore. Not when he is voicing the fantasies that I haven’t ever put words to.

“Tonight is about learning your body again. For marking you. Making you mine the way you and I both know you are. It’s about reminding us both why this is a good idea even if it’s going to bring us both to the brink of regret.”

The threat, the dark promise in his words, send a rush of adrenaline through my veins.

“I want everything,” I finally say. “I want all of it.”

When Josh pulls at my leggings, I immediately lift my hips and let him pull them off my body. Then I lean back and watch as he slips out of his shirt using one hand. Instead of waiting for him, I shift forward and unsnap the buttons on his jeans before he can stop me. If he even wants to stop me.

But the smile on his face tells me he doesn’t want me to stop, and the bulge I pull his pants down over announces his arousal to the world.

“I want you,” he groans when I wrap my hand around his member. “I want you more than I’ve ever wanted anything in my entire life.”

“What are you waiting for?” I hear the throaty tone of a seductress and can’t understand how it is coming from me. But there is no one else there with us, and I don’t want to wait any longer than I have.

“Tell me a lie,” he orders, wrapping his hand around my throat and guiding me back so that my head comes to rest gently on the pillows.

He doesn’t squeeze, doesn’t hurt me. Just keeps me from rising up off the bed.

“What?” I’ll tell him anything he wants me to if it means that I will get relief from the throbbing need of my body. “What lie?”

“Lie to me, Nia. Tell me there hasn’t been anyone since the night we were together.” His whispered demand may as well have been a shout. “Tell me that no one’s come close to satisfying you the way I want to. That you’ve spent every night aching for me the way I’ve done for you.”

My heart races and my chest heaves with the power of that statement.

“Josh.” I bring my hands up, cupping his cheeks even though it is weird with the fact that he still has a hand wrapped around my throat. “I haven’t even thought about another man in the same way. Even while I was trying to forget the way you knew exactly what I wanted without trying, I couldn’t. My body wanted you. No one else. That’s not a lie.”

The hand leaves my throat, and then his mouth is on mine once more. His tongue brushes against the seam of my lips and I open to let him in while I bring my legs up and wrap them around his waist again.

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