Page 86 of Paper Roses

He rolls his eyes. “Yes, Ben. The man who you went out with tonight. The love of your life, wasn’t he?”

Oh.Is he jealous? I examine his face, but it’s hard to tell. No man has ever been jealous over me before.

“He’s fine,” I say tentatively. “He’s back for good.”

“Really? Howlovely.” He spins and picks up a towel to clean the counter, but as there’s only one length installed, and it’s covered with a kettle, a toaster, and a bread bin, it doesn’t take long.

I watch as he does it again. “Jed?”

He spins around. Any sign of emotion is now gone. “I needed to say that if you want to bring him back here, I can clear off and get a hotel for the night.”

This is so out of left field that I stand there gaping at him. “What are youtalkingabout?”

He sucks in a breath and then visibly calms himself. “I said if you wanted to bring him back, I’d get out of your way.”

I put my hands on my hips, anger stirring. “And you’d be okay with that? What happened to our agreement that we wouldn’t see other people during this arrangement?”

He looks down at his hands. He’s clenching the tea towel so tightly his knuckles are white. He folds it neatly and sets it down. “That was before someone you really care about came back on the scene. I could never stand in the way of you being happy.”

The earnestness in his voice is so endearing that my anger drains away. “So, would you be okay if he came around here again to see me?” I ask, examining his face carefully.

His gaze shifts towards the window, but hiding won’t work, as his distraught face is reflected clearly in the glass. “Of course,” he says woodenly.

“And you’d be okay if he sleeps in my bed?”

His face spasms, and he closes his eyes.

I’m abruptly ashamed of myself. “Jed, I?—”

“No,” he snaps, spinning around, and now everything is naked on his face—jealousy and pain and something else. “No, it’s not okay.”

“Why?” I say steadily. His eyes flare, and he steps towards me. And when he takes another slow, purposeful step, I move back, slightly regretting pulling the tiger’s tail. Which is why it’s bemusing to find myself saying, “It doesn’t seem like you’re okay with me seeing Ben?”

“Don’t say his name,” Jed snaps.

I gasp as he drags me into his arms and takes my mouth. The kiss is furious and hard, but the passion behind it makes it the hottest thing I’ve ever experienced.

“I don’t want you to see him,” he says between kisses. He pulls at my clothes, fabric tearing and falling to the floor as he strips us naked. He stops to rummage in the pocket of his jeans for a packet of lube and a condom, and then he grabs my arse, hoisting me up and pressing me against the wall.

His effortless strength turns me on, and I stroke his bulging biceps and wind my legs around him.

“Don’t fuck him,” he says, kissing me between words. He shoves his tongue into my mouth and sucks on mine. “Please don’t fuck him.”

“Iwon’t,” I promise feverishly, holding him tight and pulling at his hair.

He gives a pained grunt. “I mean it. I couldn’t stand it. You’re mine while this is going on.”

I’m always his, but I can’t say it, so I kiss him back, rutting against him, feeling the pressure of his abs against my cock.

“He means nothing,” I promise, gasping as he presses rough kisses to my throat. “I told him I wouldn’t see him again.”

“Good.” He examines my face intently, both of us drawing in hoarse gasps of air. I wriggle against him, groaning as he grips my arse. “Come here,” I whisper, and he obeys.

Our kisses become deeper and more lush as we suck and lick each other’s lips. His hands sting as he clenches my arse, holding me as if he fears I’ll run away. That’s not going to happen, and I tell him so in heated whispers as I rub against him, delighting in his rough chest hair on my nipples. They’re swollen with the abrasion, and I cry out as he bends to take one in his mouth, sucking at it before biting it gently. The pain is sweet and bright, and my balls tighten as if I’m going to come. I stay still for a second, hearing my breaths come fast and hard.

“Oh god,” I whisper, twining my hands in his hair and clutching him close. “Do that again.”

My head falls back against the wall, and I stare sightlessly up at the ceiling as he bites and sucks on my nipple until it hurts—hurts and feels so good at the same time. And when he takes the other nipple between his fingers and pinches it hard, pleasure runs through my body like an electric shock.

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