Page 130 of The Hotel Room

“You’ve been so stupid,” she whispered, her voice trembling.

A laugh bubbled out between her tears, and his shoulders relaxed slightly as a hesitant smile tugged at his lips. “I know.”

“You broke us,” she said softly, her voice thick with emotion. “You broke me. But somehow you’ve managed to repair us.” Her voice cracked, and she shook her head, tears slipping faster now. “I still love you.”

His face crumpled, raw emotion washing over him. “I love you too, Kate. More than anything.”

She let out a shaky breath and nodded, her fingers tightening around his. “Okay,” she whispered. “You can start proving it.”

The relief on his face was immediate and overwhelming, his grip on her hand firm but reverent, as if she were something fragile and precious. “I will,” he promised. “Every day.”

Kate looked at him, taking in the man before her. The man who had broken her heart and was now so painstakingly working to piece it back together. There was still guilt in his eyes, still sorrow, but beneath it, there was something else—something stronger. Determination. Love. She felt her own heart swell with the undeniable truth of it: she loved him.

She loved her husband.

Her gaze softened as she studied him, her thumb brushing over his knuckles. She loved the way he looked at her, the way he was utterly focused on her, like nothing else in the world mattered. That feeling—of being seen, being cherished—wrapped around her like a warm embrace. Her love for him filled her chest, steady and certain.

And then, slowly, that feeling shifted. It evolved into something sharper, more visceral, the zing of arousal sparking to life like a live wire. Her skin warmed, her pulse quickened, and she became acutely aware of how close he was, of the weight of his hands, the intensity in his gaze. She couldn’t stop the small, teasing smile that curved her lips.

“Great,” she said, tilting her head slightly, a playful edge to her voice. “Because right now, what I need is some relief from these pregnancy hormones.”

James blinked, startled by her words. For a moment, she thought she might have caught him off guard. Then his eyes darkened, the heat in them unmistakable, and the shift wasinstant. His hunger for her was raw and electric, and it sent a delicious shiver down her spine. He swallowed hard, his voice dropping to a low rasp. “Yes, ma’am.”

The laugh that bubbled out of her was light and easy, a mix of amusement and anticipation. “Are you waiting for an engraved invitation?” she teased, arching an eyebrow.

His smile widened, slow and deliberate, and it was the kind of smile that made her feel like she was the only thing in the world he cared about. As his hands moved to her hips, gentle but confident, Kate felt something loosen inside her. She trusted him in this moment—trusted his touch, his love. And as his fingers splayed over her sides, steadying her, she realized she truly believed it.

He leaned in, his breath warm against her cheek. “You don’t have to ask me twice,” he murmured, his voice a rough promise.

Kate reached up, her fingers brushing lightly over his jaw before tangling in his hair, drawing him closer. “Good,” she whispered, her smile turning softer but no less certain. “Because I don’t plan on stopping anytime soon.”

And as their lips met, the tension between them melted away, leaving only the heat of the moment and the love that had endured everything.

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Kate shifted in the chair, trying to find a position that didn’t strain her back or press uncomfortably against her belly. Lying down was impossible these days, the weight of her pregnancy making everything harder. But the moment James dropped tohis knees in front of her, all those aches and pains faded to the background.

“Relax,” he murmured, his voice deep and steady, like a promise. “Let me take care of you.”

His large hands slid up her legs, fingers brushing along her inner thighs in a deliberate, featherlight touch. His lips followed, pressing soft kisses to her skin, moving slowly, reverently. Kate shivered, her hands curling over the arms of the chair as his touch sent heat pooling low in her belly.

His hands were steady as they pushed her thighs apart, his lips pressing reverent kisses to the sensitive skin of her inner thighs. “I love you,” he murmured, his voice low and rough, a promise etched into every word.

Her body softened at his words, and she felt herself begin to melt under his touch. He knew her—knew how to soothe her, how to tease her. His hands moved higher, his thumbs brushing the sensitive skin just beneath the hem of her underwear. Then his lips followed, warm and teasing, kissing her in a way that made her toes curl.

“You’re beautiful,” James whispered against her skin, his voice thick with emotion. “You’ve always been beautiful, but like this…” He trailed off, his hands pulled at her underwear, easing them down her legs and off before gently spreading her thighs once more, exposing her to him.

Kate felt heat rise to her cheeks, but it wasn’t embarrassment. It was the flush of arousal, of feeling seen and cherished. She tangled her fingers into his hair, urging him closer. “James…”

“I’ve got you,” he said softly, his lips brushing over her inner thigh before moving higher. His mouth was warm, deliberate, his tongue moving in soft, teasing strokes. He was taking his time, exploring her slowly, methodically. He let her feel every flick, every kiss, every soft suckle that built her pleasure higher and higher.

Her breaths grew uneven, her hips shifting against the chair as the tension built inside her. James’s hands slid under her, gripping her hips firmly to keep her in place. He knew her body better than his own, every sensitive spot, every motion that drove her wild. It was a knowledge born from years of intimacy, of love, of devotion.

“You’re everything,” he murmured between kisses, his voice a low rasp that sent shivers through her. “My everything.”

Kate’s fingers threaded through his hair, her body arching toward him as he brought her closer to the edge. She moaned softly, her thighs trembling, and James growled in response, his mouth moving with more urgency now. Her fingers tightened in his hair as a fire started to build low in her belly.

His hands gripped her thighs firmly as he pulled her closer to his mouth. He was feasting on her now, his mouth worshipping her with every stroke and flick. Her head tipped back against the chair, a gasp spilling from her lips as the pleasure coursed through her. Her husband. That word burned through her like a wildfire, igniting every nerve in her body. He was hers, and she was his, and in this moment, she could feel it in every inch of her being.

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