Page 127 of The Hotel Room

James’s hands gripped her hips, not to guide her but to anchor himself to the moment. She moved above him, her body fitting against his as perfectly as it always had, and he felt tears sting the corners of his eyes. He wanted to be inside her in every possible way—not just her body, but her life, her heart, her future.

Her breathing quickened, her chest rising and falling against his. She tilted her head back slightly, exposing the graceful curve of her neck. James’s hands tightened reflexively on her hips, his own body responding with a near-painful intensity. He shifted slightly beneath her, trying to adjust, trying to ease the overwhelming pressure building low in his abdomen.

“James,” she whispered, her voice a breathy tremor that sent another wave of heat surging through him.

“I’m here,” he managed, his voice thick and unsteady.

Kate’s hands slid over his shoulders, her nails lightly scraping his skin as she adjusted her position. He felt the shift of her body, the movements that signaled she was finding her rhythm. His chest tightened as her breaths grew quicker, her soft gasps filling the space between them.

The way her body moved against his was exquisite—her hips rolling, her thighs tightening, her fingers curling into his shoulders. James swallowed hard, his heart pounding in his chest as he fought to keep himself from surrendering to the overwhelming sensations coursing through him.

She felt incredible—tight and hot and wet. The way she gripped him was better than he remembered, better than he deserved. The sheer pleasure of her movements, the way herbody had taken him inside her, was almost unbearable. His body was screaming for release, every muscle taut, his skin burning with need. But he wouldn’t—he couldn’t—let go yet.

His jaw clenched, and he let go of her hips to dig his fingers into the mattress, his nails biting into the fabric as he focused every ounce of his willpower on holding back. He wasn’t going to let his own pleasure steal this moment from her.

She was moving faster now, taking him deep over and over. James groaned and stared up at her. She was a goddess.

Kate’s head tipped back, a soft cry escaping her lips as her body arched against his. The sound was like a spark to his already smoldering nerves. He bit down hard on the inside of his cheek, the sharp sting of pain barely registered.

Her breathing grew erratic, her hips rocking against him. Her hands moved to his forearms, clutching them—not to stop him, but to anchor herself. Her touch burned against his skin, sending another wave of heat through him, but it only fueled his determination to see her through.

“Let go,” he murmured, his voice barely audible over the pounding of his heart. “I’ve got you, Kate. Let go.”

Her body tensed, every muscle tightening as her breaths came in quick, shallow gasps. He felt the moment she surrendered, her movements stilling as the tension broke and waves of pleasure shuddered through her.

James exhaled shakily, his own body locked tight as he held her through it, his hands firm but gentle on her hips. He surged up to take her in his arms. He pressed his forehead to hershoulder, his breathing ragged, his entire being focused on the woman in his lap.

She wilted against him, her body limp and pliant, her breaths gradually slowing. James closed his eyes, his lips brushing the curve of her neck in a tender, reverent kiss.

James was still hard, the ache pulsing insistently between them, a physical reminder of the desire that hadn’t waned for a single second since she had climbed into his lap. The pressure was maddening, but he forced himself to stay perfectly still, his hands resting gently on her back.

His body screamed at him to move, to thrust up into her warmth, but he gritted his teeth and kept his focus on the woman in his arms. She had given him this moment, trusted him with her body, her vulnerability, and he wouldn’t ruin it by letting his own need take precedence. His breathing was labored, each inhale shaky as he tried to quiet the fire coursing through him.

“I love you,” he whispered into her hair, his voice thick with emotion and raw with the intensity of his restraint.

Kate stirred slightly, her movements sending ripples of sensation through him, making his control falter for the briefest second. His hips shifted involuntarily, just enough to press himself deeper against her, and he froze immediately, biting down hard on his bottom lip to stop the groan rising in his throat. This was her moment, not his.

Her hand slid over his chest, her fingers soft but steady as they traced the lines of his collarbone. The tenderness of her touch was almost too much, and he closed his eyes, willinghis body to settle even as her warmth surrounded him, as her breaths evened out and her body softened against his.

“I know,” she murmured, her voice heavy with exhaustion but carrying an undeniable note of peace.

James tightened his hold on her, letting her weight settle fully against him. The hardness pressed between them was a constant, aching reminder of his need for her, but he ignored it, focusing instead on the way she felt in his arms. His heart pounded against her palm as she rested her hand against his chest, and he savored every second of this connection.

Her head rested against his shoulder, and he pressed a kiss to her hair, breathing in her familiar, grounding scent. His body remained coiled with tension, his muscles taut, but his focus stayed on her. On the way she relaxed in his embrace. On the way her breathing slowed and her fingers moved absently against his skin, like she couldn’t stop touching him even in her half-drowsy state.

Kate shifted slightly in his lap, and he tensed, every nerve on edge as her movements sent a new wave of sensation surging through him. He clung to his restraint, his hands flexing briefly before settling on her hips, anchoring her in place.

“I forgive you,” she whispered suddenly, her voice so soft he almost didn’t believe he’d heard it.

His eyes snapped open, his breath catching in his throat. For a moment, he couldn’t move, couldn’t speak. Then he pulled back just enough to see her face, searching her eyes for confirmation. What he saw there—exhaustion, quiet resolve, and a flicker of something warm—undid him completely.

“I don’t deserve that,” he said hoarsely, his voice barely above a whisper.

Her lips curved into a faint smile, and her fingers brushed his cheek, sending shivers through him. “Maybe not,” she said, her voice gentle but sure. “But I forgive you anyway.”

James’s chest ached with the force of his emotions, his tears spilling over as he pressed a shaky kiss to her forehead. His body still burned with unfulfilled need, but it didn’t matter. She had just given him the only thing that truly mattered—her forgiveness.

His breath came in sharp, uneven gasps, and his vision blurred with tears. “Kate,” he whispered, his voice breaking. His hands flexed on her hips, the feeling of her body cradling his own making him ache with both love and need.

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