Page 61 of Before We Break

“Hmm,” she says. “Underwhelming.”

Ravenous, I band my arms under her ass and heft her up my body. She squeaks, clinging to me for dear life, her face buried in my neck.

A chuckle escapes me as I tread into the living room. “I’ve got you, princess.”

I sink onto the sofa with Clio on my lap.

Our eyes lock, and she smiles. “Third time’s the charm?”

I capture her mouth once more, and every atom of my being is instantaneously consumed by Clio. My tongue slides against hers, coaxing a quiet moan from her perfect fucking mouth. Her hips rock forward, and my dick stirs back to life.

I’m losing control.

I pull away on instinct. “Clio. Baby. We can’t.”

“Why not?”

I run my knuckles down the slope of her cheek. “You’re not ready.”

Her palm skates down my chest toward my straining erection. “I think I can be the judge of that. I heard you the other night. You want this.”

“Fuck,” I grit out. “I do. But not like this. I’m not ready.”

It’s the truth. I wasn’t prepared for how much I’d want her. How much this insatiable craving would consume me. It’s not just her body, but her smile and that laugh. God, that laugh.

She shifts off my lap, and I instantly miss the weight of her body on top of mine. Why did I stop this? I could have her. I could fuck her senseless right now. But she’s inexperienced, and it might be too much too soon.

She needs time to rediscover herself, but it can’t be with me. This has to end here while I have the wherewithal to stop it. I press my mouth to her cheek, letting my lips linger on her warm skin. “You should get some sleep.”

“Will you stay with me? Just for a little while. In case…” Her solemn voice trails off.

Right. The nightmares.

I place a throw pillow over my hard-on and grab the remote. “What’s your favorite movie?”

“You’re not gonna like it.”

“Try me.”

“Pretty Woman.”

I try to hold back a snort, but it comes out anyway.

She backhands me across the chest. “Told you.” A wistful smile spreads across her face. “Penny always said I reminded her of Julia Roberts.”

“Did you moonlight as a stripper?”

She dissolves into a fit of giggles. “I think she meant the red hair.”

And the megawatt smile.

“I can see it.” I pat my lap and search the menu for the movie. “Lie down, princess.”

Soft breaths escape past Clio’s parted lips as she sleeps soundly with her head on my lap, the dark living room lit only by the glow of the TV light as the credits roll. I stare down at her, running my finger through the golden strands framing her face. She looks peaceful, almost otherworldly.

Leave, Noah. You chased away the nightmares. It’s time to go.

The voice in my head telling me to leave is the reason I can’t. I know I’ll regret this later, but I hate the thought of leaving her here, defenseless against the past that haunts her dreams.