Page 93 of The Way We Collide

Rolling me onto my back, he kisses my cheek before lifting his head and looking over at our sleeping beauty. “She’s the cutest little cock blocker.”

With a quiet laugh, I turn my head to look at Haddy sleeping on her back with both arms over her head. “She missed you a lot. The entire time you were gone, she fussed.”

He smiles, watching her a moment longer before looking down at me. “Are you mad? I might have upended our lives, at least for a little while.”

“No.” Lifting my hand, I trace my finger along the edge of his square jaw.How could I be mad at him?

“Good.” He leans down as if to kiss me again, but I straighten, pulling my body from beneath his.

He releases me at once, but my core is slippery and tingling. I’m a live wire of need, and I’m searching for anything to slow this down, to calm this hurricane.

“Fun fact…” I clear my throat. “Aristotle believed wind was caused by the earth exhaling.”

Leaning back on his elbow, a frown pierces his brow. “What?”

My nose wrinkles, and I scrub my fingers over my forehead. “We’re forgetting why I’m here.”

He falls onto his back, speaking as if he’s reading a script. “You’re here because you needed to get married so you could inherit your trust fund. So you could be financially independent. So you could follow your dreams.”

“That’s right.” I bend my knees, hugging them to my chest to calm my racing heart.

He rises again, hitting me with those gorgeous blue eyes like a lightning strike. “I said yes because I wanted to help you, because I wanted to know Haddy, because…”

A knot is in my throat. “Because?”

“Because you’re beautiful and smart, and I’m not sorry we have a daughter.” He moves closer, his heat invading my space, and my breath comes faster. “Up to this point, I’ve let you take the lead, Pink. I’ve let you set the rules, but I have needs too.”

“What do you mean?”

“You needed a husband, but it’s not a real marriage if it’s never consummated.”

“Hendrix—” I don’t know what to say.

“I’m not fucking my hand tonight, Pink.” His voice drops, and he holds me with his incredible force. “Tonight I want my wife.”

My nipples tighten, and my lips part. “What about…” I glance at Haddy, and he’s off the bed in one fluid movement.

I watch him moving silently, my body vibrating with need. In a careful sweep, he lifts her from the bed along with his pillow and strides out of the bedroom.

My hands are trembling. My whole body is trembling. One word, and I could stop this. I could hold the line and insist we’re making a mistake.

He returns to the room, standing in front of me in boxer briefs and a gray tank top. His broad shoulders rise and fall with his breathing, and he hesitates.

Rising onto my knees, I can barely breathe as I move across the mattress to where he’s standing.

His bicep flexes, and he reaches up to slide his thumb across the top of my cheek. “I want to sleep with my wife. Will you let me?”

Reaching up, I put my hand in his. It’s small and cool in his firm grip. I can barely breathe as our eyes meet. We’ve done this before, but this moment feels different, sacred somehow.

“Yes,” I answer softly.

I put my hand on his shoulder as he leans down to cover my mouth with his. His strong arm circles my waist, and he pulls me flush against his hard body. His lips open mine, and I exhale a moan.

His tongue invades, caressing mine, and my knees turn to liquid. Reaching down, he lifts me into his arms, and I cup his face in my hand, leaning closer to kiss his neck and inhale his warm scent of wooded vanilla.

Placing me on my feet, he holds my cheeks in his hands and leans down to kiss me again, pulling my lips with his as our movements grow hungry.

“Fuck, I’ve wanted to do this so long.” He groans, moving his face into my hair, to my ear, and shivers race down my arms and legs. “I’ve dreamed of this body every night. I don’t want anyone else.”

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