Page 65 of The Run Option

“If by watch a movie you mean have it on in the background…then I’m good with that plan.” Her voice is low with a sultry tone that heats my blood.

“Whatever would make you happiest, Mrs. Kingsley.”

“You,” she whispers. “You are what makes me the happiest.”

Her hands rest on my face, soft and cold from the chilly autumn air. I look into her eyes and lose myself in their luminous silver depths. She dips her head and presses her lips to mine in a long, passionate kiss that renders me breathless when she pulls away. Our eyes meet again, hers having taken on a dazed look that fills me with a deep-seated satisfaction. She’s going to make taking things slow difficult, but the wait will be worth it. If her kiss lights my every nerve, I can only imagine what sharing something more intimate will be like.

All I know is I want to experience not just that, but so much more with her. I want to know everything about her, exploreevery inch of her mind, body, and soul. To have a connection that no one else does and know what she’s thinking just by meeting her eyes across the room. That kind of intimacy is what I've craved for so long, and the idea that I get to have it with someone as utterly perfect as Willow is mind-boggling.

She smiles at me, a slow and seductive one that makes my heart pound. Fear of losing her, of messing it all up, tries to creep in, but another kiss from Willow pushes it away. I won’t mess this up. I’ll do everything in my power to stay true to my vows, both the ones I said and the ones I wrote down. Whatever it takes, I’m holding on to my wife now and forever.

Chapter thirty

Willow Kingsley

I drag my lips down the column of Jason’s throat, smiling at the noise my touch earns. He tips his head back against the couch, giving me better access. I slowly trail gentle kisses up to his ear. My breath catches when his fingers dig into my waist over my silk pajamas.

“I should get ready for work,” I say before kissing his jaw.

“I think I heard you sniffle. You must have a cold, and I need to stay home and take care of you,” he says and I giggle.

“Is that so?” I kiss the corner of his mouth. “And how exactly are you planning on taking care of me?”

He captures my lips in a quick but ardent kiss. “With careful, hands-on attention,” he says against my mouth, making my stomach swoop.

“I missed work last week because of aheadache.” I give him a pointed look. He just grins. “I don’t think I can do that again. The game this week is big and the publicity is important.”

“It’s your fault we’re in this situation. I warned you what seeing you in these little pajamas did to me.”

I try to fight the smile pulling at my lips. “I don’t remember you saying that.”

“Let me refresh your memory then,” he says with a wicked grin.

Before I can process what’s happening, Jason’s on his feet and carrying me to the kitchen. He sets me on the kitchen island. Soon enough, we’re in the same position we were a few days ago, when he called me atorturous minxfor wearing these very pajamas around him. He’d set me on the counter and showed me just how he felt about them. Our coffee was ice cold by the time we wrenched ourselves away from one another.

“We shouldn’t start this,” I say, breathless as he threads a hand into my hair and tips my head back so he can press an open-mouthed kiss to the sensitive spot below my jaw.

“Tell me you wore this on purpose.” He meets my gaze, his green eyes sparkling with a dangerous desire that makes me feel like I’m free falling.

I bite my lip. Jason uses his thumb to tug my bottom lip out from between my teeth, then swipes the pad over the tender skin.

“Tell me, Lo, and I’ll stop.”

“And if I wore it so you wouldn’t stop?”

His eyes blaze and he’s kissing me before I can draw in another breath. One of his large hands splays my back, holding me steady as he kisses all my strength away. As suddenly as he kissed me, he’s pulling away. He rests his forehead on mine, his eyes closed and his breathing heavy.

“I don’t want to go any further if you’re not sure. My desire for you–” He cuts off. His throat bobs. “It’s overwhelming. Reckless and infinite. I don’t want to push you. I know we’re married, but I want everything to be perfect.”

Emotion overcomes me as I regard his tightly shut eyes and set jaw. I trace my fingertips from his temple to his chin. I’venever felt this way for anyone before. We’ve only been ‘dating’ for two weeks now, but my feelings double and triple by the day, sometimes by the hour. I don’t know if it’s because we’re already married, or if it’s justhim, but he’s quickly overtaken my every thought. I hate being apart from him. I look forward to us both being home at the end of the day, curled up on the porch swing talking about our days. Then going to bed and being wrapped up in his arms as I fall asleep, resting better than I have my entire life.

It all feels as though it’s moving too fast, and yet I don’t think I could hold back from him if I tried. I’m hopelessly in love. But that doesn’t mean now is the right time to experience the fullness of marriage. I don’t want anything lingering in the back of my mind during that moment. It’s too precious a gift.

“Jase,” I whisper and his eyes blink open. “I’m ready, but I want the moment to be right, not rushed.”

A smile melts over his features. “I agree. You deserve nothing less.”

“So, we should probably…” I trail off.

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