Page 59 of Naughty or Nice

She’s babbling and flustered and I fucking love her for it.

I stop thinking. I sweep across the cabin and pull her with me onto the sofa, crushing her mouth with my own, swallowing her startled moan.

She moulds to me instantly, her kiss just as fierce, as hungry.

God, this feels right. Being here like this with her. Totally wrapped in one another. I try to tell her, I need to tell her, and then I hear movement—

A trolley. Frederick. Christ.

I pull away from her and give her an apologetic smile. ‘Time to satisfy that hunger of yours.’

She blinks at me, dazed. All hot and bothered and embarrassed at once, And then she turns to Frederick and musters a sheepish grin.

To his credit, he barely bats an eyelid. ‘Dinner is served.’

He lays it out on the dining table before us. The smell wafts over to me, mixed in with the lingering scent of her still tingling my senses.

‘Thank you,’ I say, and he dips his head before turning and leaving once more.

I move to the table, retrieving our drinks as I do so, and wait for her to sit before I follow suit, placing her drink before her.

She raises it to her lips, her eyes locking with mine. I do the same. And this time I taste it. I feel the fine stream of bubbles dance over my tongue, taste the caramel, the hint of lemon...

It’s exquisite.

As is she.

The perfect match, just as I told her.

And she deserves the truth. I need her to know.

‘All those girls you saw me with...’

She takes up her cutlery and shakes her head softly. ‘Don’t worry about—’

‘It was because of you.’

Her fingers still, her eyes return to mine. ‘Me?’

Her frown is delectable. I want to lean over, kiss it away, trail kisses right down to her open lips.

‘Yes, you.’ I reach out, brushing

my thumb across her cheek as I lose myself in her eyes.

‘I was trying to prove to myself that I could look past you.’

‘Past...me?’

‘You were off-limits. I had to go elsewhere.’

It’s so simple, so honest, but she doesn’t seem to accept what I’m saying.

‘It was a foolish notion,’ I add.

She licks her lips and her cheeks heat beneath my palm. ‘How so?’

‘Because there’s only one you.’