Page 241 of Diego

“Now I’m tired of explaining it away.”

His smile widens and becomes beautiful, joyful.

“Good.”

He kisses me.

There is no hesitation this time, and I meet him just as quickly, my fingers sliding into his hair while his arms close around me. The kiss deepens almost immediately, weeks of restraint pushing at us now that there's no doctor telling us to stop.

We have kissed, touched, slept wrapped around each other, and spent every night with unbelievable patience because there was no alternative.

Now there is.

Dr. Mehta had been very clear.

No restrictions. Including sex.

When he pulls back, I am breathing hard.

“You know,” I say slowly, “she cleared me.”

“I heard.”

“Just making sure.”

His hand slides up my back.

“I heard every word.”

The heat in his voice makes my breath catch.

For a second neither of us moves. Then Diego cups the back of my neck and kisses me.

There is nothing restrained about it.

Weeks of holding back disappear in a matter of seconds. I grab the front of his shirt and pull him closer while his other arm comes around my waist. He kisses me deeper, and I feel the answering rush all the way through me.

I have missed this.

God, I have missed this.

He leans me back against the mattress slowly without breaking the kiss, careful even now. I tug at his shirt, my fingers fumbling with the buttons until he finally pulls back long enough to strip it over his head. My shirt follows, and when he reaches for the clasp of my bra, I arch my back so he can undo it.

His hands warm my skin as he tosses the bra aside. “Blair.”

I slide my fingers into his hair again and pull him down.

He shifts us so I'm more securely on the bed, but he doesn't bring his weight down on top of me. He stretches out next to me instead, one arm draped over my waist while his other hand traces the curve of my hip.

“Everything feels different,” he murmurs.

“Good different?”

His thumb drifts back and forth over my hipbone. “Yes.”

He leans in and kisses the side of my neck, then the sensitive spot just beneath my ear that makes me shiver. I turn into him, seeking more contact, and he responds by trailing open-mouthed kisses down my throat to my collarbone.

My hands press against his shoulders, feeling the strength there.