Page 46 of Mr. Not Nice Guy

“So then come here.”

Releasing my wrist, Scarlett tucks her legs underneath her and then crawls across the sofa and onto my lap. She straddles my hips and wraps her arms around my neck as she curls and melts against me. And she cries.

And cries.

And cries.

She cries so hard and so long that a lump swells in my throat, and my eye rims burn, and my bottom lip hints at trembling. My neck and shirt become soaked with tears, and I hold her convulsing shoulders while I rub the curve of her spine.

I know I need to say something comforting, but the only thing I can think of feels like a platitude, and when I open my mouth to say it, it comes out cracked and shaking. “I’m so sorry, baby. I’m just so sorry.”

Foreverything.

For the loss that is breaking her deep down in her bones.

For the malicious things I did and said to her.

For doing and saying those things because I was so scared ofthishappening.

It feels hollow, but apparently, it’s exactly what she needed to hear, and she lifts her face off my neck. “Kiss me.”

She doesn’t need to tell me twice.

My hands cup her head, and I crush my mouth to hers, and the word involuntarily ricochets inside my mind and heart.

Finally.

Finally.

Finally.

The first time I felt her mouth on mine, I was drunk enough that I don’t remember it as well as I want to. But right now, I’m stone-cold-sober, and she isdelicious.

Now everything just blurs.

Amidst dampness from her tear-stained cheeks, I feel the erotic stroke of her tongue on mine along with the haste and desperation of her hands as she fumbles with the buttons on my shirt. It’s so intense, so compelling, so intoxicating that I almost forget to breathe. Scarlett’s kiss is so aggressive that it borders on violent, and it’s exactly what I need and have desperately wanted. She thrusts her fingers into my hair and pulls me closer, and I trap her body against me with my arms like a vise that will never release her.

“Get up,” she orders, her voice husked against my lips, but still quavering with her overpowering grief. “Take me to bed.”

In one deft movement, I push off the sofa, still clutching her against my torso, and I don’t even know where her bedroom is. But it’s a small apartment, and I manage to blindly fumble my way down a hall and into a room.

My breathing is so rapid that I’m nearly lightheaded as I drag my mouth from hers and skate my lips across her jaw and down her throat, my fingers locating the silken sash of her robe and pulling it loose. The robe slips off her body and flutters to the floor just as Scarlett pops open the last of the buttons on my shirt and shoves it off my shoulders.

I don’t even bother stifling the groan of desire at the sight of her naked form that I’ve seen a number of times, because this time that desire has plunged to depths beyond merely physical want, but soul-deep love.

Cupping one of her spectacular breasts, I draw my thumb over her puckering nipple, and she arches into me, pressing her hips hard against mine and grabbing my ass to pull me even closer. Every touch is electric. Sensation after sensation zips through my whole body, crackling to life and causing my heart rate to skyrocket. Dipping my head, my lips replace my hand on her breast, and the feel of having my tongue circle and flick over the straining peak is like sampling a feast after starving for my whole life.

“Mmmm.” A long moan drains from her as she lets her head fall backward. “I need your clothesoff.”

I release her breast from my mouth. “Working on it.” Scooping her up again, I drop her onto the bed and make haste stripping off the rest of my clothes.

Scarlett’s brows are drawn together, lips parted, as her eyes flick up and down my form, watching me lower my body over hers. “I fooled around with Lucky last night.”

I freeze. My hands are planted on the pillow on either side of her head, holding me up with only a couple of inches separating us, and I cock an eyebrow at her. “Why are you telling me this right now?”

She swallows. “Because I called him your name by accident. ‘Cause I was thinking of you the whole time.” She flutters her lashes and shakes her head. “It was mortifying, but it only proved to me that you’ve pretty much ruined me for anyone else.” She reaches to clasp the back of my neck and pulls me down onto her. “I just want you. Just you.”

Andthatis exactly what I needed her to say after splaying my soul wide open only minutes ago.

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