Page 96 of Falling for the Grumpy Bad Boy

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CLEMENTINE

His kiss was everything I’d been imagining and more. It was more urgent. More demanding. I didn’t have to ask if he was serious about making this happen. I could feel it. The tension that had been building and burning between us for weeks was coming to a head. There was no way either of us could simply walk away.

Not now.

If he wanted to argue and tell me all the reasons why we shouldn’t, I would absolutely shut him down. I didn’t need him to look out for me. I was a big girl, and I could make my own decisions about who I slept with.

Age was just a number.

And we didn’t have to tell anyone. He was so worried people would talk. They didn’t have to know.

I melted into him. My hands found their way to his chest where I could feel his heart pounding as hard as mine.

“I’ve wanted to do that all night,” he murmured against my lips, his voice rough with desire.

“What took you so long?” I teased, pulling back just enough to meet his eyes. “I was starting to think you were immune to my cartoon taco pajamas. These are just about the sexiest things I own.”

I had come to his room with the sole purpose of talking. If I would have guessed there could be a chance for sexy time, I would have put on something a little sexier.

But it wasn’t like they were going to be on for long.

He laughed. “Trust me, those ridiculous pajamas are doing things to me that shouldn’t be legal.”

“Good,” I said, reaching up to trace the line of his jaw. “Because I wore them specifically to seduce you.”

“Mission accomplished.” His hands found my waist, pulling me closer until I was practically in his lap. “Though I have to say, your timing is terrible. I just told you my father is a convicted felon.”

“And?” I shifted so I was straddling his thighs, enjoying the way his breath caught. “Am I supposed to be scared of you now?”

“Most people would be.”

“Most people are boring.” I kissed him again, softer this time, letting my lips linger against his. “Besides, you’re an amazing chef and pretty easy on the eyes. Everything else is just details.”

“You’re amazing, you know that?”

“I’ve been told,” I said with a grin, then squeaked as he suddenly stood up, lifting me with him like I weighed nothing. “Rhett!”

“Bedroom,” he said simply, carrying me across the suite. “Unless you have objections?”

“No objections here,” I managed, wrapping my arms around his neck. “Although I should warn you.”

“Warn me?”

“Sex with brooding chef types whose families could probably have me disappeared isn’t really something I’ve done before.”

“They wouldn’t disappear you,” he said seriously. “They like you too much. They’d probably adopt you instead.”

I burst out laughing. “That’s supposed to be reassuring?”

“With my family? Yes.” He set me down gently beside the bed, his hands framing my face. “Are you sure about this, Clem? Because once we cross this line…”

“We can’t go back,” I finished. “I know. And I’m sure. Are you?”

Instead of answering with words, he kissed me again, deeper this time, his hands tangling in my hair. I could taste the champagne on his tongue, feel the barely restrained hunger in the way he held me.

“These have to go,” he murmured against my neck, tugging at my taco-covered pajama top.