Page 72 of Igniting Sparks

Forcing a smile, I back away from her. “Goodnight, Bitsy.”

Chapter 16

The Second First Time

Braden

Mina makes it to the elevator before dissolving into giggles.

I cock a brow at her. “What’s so funny?”

She covers her mouth with her hand. “Aunt Bitsy’s face when you intimated she needed to get laid more.”

I chuckle, leaning against the ornate railing, my eyes on the clicking floor numbers. “I spoke the truth.”

She sighs, biting back a grin. “An orgasm a day keeps the doctor away. Isn’t that what they say?”

“No,” I laugh, dropping an arm around her shoulder as we step off the elevator. “But they absolutely should.”

“So, what’s your plan for the rest of the night?”

Sweetheart, if you have to ask…

We reach our hotel room, but instead of opening it, I press her body against the polished wood. She releases a surprised gasp when I grab her wrists with one hand, locking them behind her back. I lower my mouth to her throat, tracing the contour of the delicate skin with my tongue.

Mina whimpers, a tiny sound in the back of her throat, her breathing heated in my ear.

“Does this give you a good idea of how I plan to spend therest of the night?” I murmur the words against her skin, delivering a soft nip to her neck. “Or should I keep giving you hints? I promised to drop to my knees to taste you, Mina, but it’s your choice. Here or inside?”

I raise my head as we lock gazes, and I see the restrained desire in her eyes. She wants this, but she’s not willing to admit that fact.

Mina draws her lower lip between her teeth, the perfect picture of innocence.

One I plan to sully the fuck out of tonight.

She looks down the hallway in both directions. “There’s no one here, Braden.”

“Good. I prefer not having an audience. At least, not tonight.”

She wets her lips, her eyes darting between my face and chest. “Then what are we doing?”

Now I get it. Once again, that damn garden scene is playing on repeat in her brain. Time for a new track.

I tilt her chin up, forcing her to meet my gaze. “Making your second time fucking unforgettable.”

“Are you sure you want me?” Her voice is quiet, uncertain. Like she’s bracing for me to laugh, orworse, lie.

Apprehension dances in her face—not of me, but of me rejecting her again. I need to lay aside the male bravado and the dirty talk and show her tenderness. Show her what it means to be worshipped.

I release her hands and rest my forearms against the door, caging her in my embrace. “You, pretty girl, are theonlything I want, and I’m about to lose my mind if I can’t have you soon. Saying no to you that night was the hardest thing I’ve ever done because I’ve never wanted anyone as much as I want you. I just didn’t want our first time to be something you didn’t remember.”

She fiddles with a button on my shirt, marinating on my words. “You were right to say no.”

“Mina, do you still want me? Because if you say yes, I’m taking you inside and making love to you for the rest of the night.” I cup her face, gently, cautiously, reminding her that with me, she’s always safe.

She leans into the embrace, a contented sigh escaping her lips.“Yes.”

That’s all I need to hear.