Page 136 of Protecting Love

“He’s not going to care. He’s going to cook us brunch. He really enjoys cooking. He’s talented. When he’s not ruining my pans.”

“That’s sweet.”

“So am I forgiven?”

She wrinkled her nose. “Guess nothing gets by you.”

She crawled into his lap, put her arms around his neck. “I saw it on your face. I opened my mouth to introduce the two of you and he threw out the flower scent.”

“And you had a panic moment?”

“No.”

His mouth lowered again, his tongue slid against hers, slow at first, then exploring.

The teasing disappeared.

This wasn’t feather-light anymore.

It was heat.

Her fingers tightened in his hair as she leaned into him, deepening the kiss without hesitation. His hands moved to her waist, gripping with more purpose now, anchoring her against him as if he’d decided he was done holding back.

Her heart hammered.

He tasted warm. Familiar. Dangerous in the way her heart was holding out against. For now.

Their kiss turned molten, unhurried but consuming, his hand sliding up her back, his fingers spreading wide like he was discovering her for the first time again.

She shifted in his lap, and the reaction in him was immediate, a low sound in his chest that made heat spiral through her.

“Paris,” he murmured, her name rough now.

She loved that.

Loved that she could do that to him. Loved that the controlled, deliberate man could unravel just enough with her.

And that he allowed her to see it.

He was no longer trying to hold back like he had in the beginning.

She kissed along his jaw, down to his neck, feeling the tension in him snap tighter with every brush of her mouth.

His hands moved decisively then, one at her back, one under her thighs.

Before she could fully process it, he stood.

She gasped softly, him cradling her as he carried her out of the room like a child.

“You’re not very subtle,” she murmured against his mouth.

“I stopped trying to be,” he said, his voice low.

He carried her down the short hallway without breaking the kiss, steady and sure, like this was the most natural thing in the world. Like she belonged in his arms.

Like she wanted to be forever and was fearful of those words slipping out.

Her fingers curled into his shoulders as he nudged open the bedroom door with his foot.