Page 46 of The Dating Prohibition

Wait.” Her face colored. “I didn’t mean to assume that we were going to be living together.”

His lips parted as he froze. “I’ll admit it was presumptuous of me, but I just want to be where you are, and honestly, I’m

in a temporary role for right now. So until it’s permanent, it doesn’t really make sense for me to try to buy something and

you’re gonna be at the restaurant all the time. I’m sorry, is that okay?”

She beamed at him. “Of course it is! I probably would have insisted,” she laughed.

He blew out a relieved breath. “Okay, cool. Did you have plans for an office?”

“I already have one. Come back here. Let me give you the tour.” She walked him around the first floor, showing him the main

living space. They went downstairs so he could see the progress she’d made on the bottom level entertainment room and storage.

Once upstairs, she showed him the bedrooms. “I still haven’t really done much for this room over here, but it’s going to be

the guest room once I decide what furniture I want. And then this is the master suite.” They walked in the room and Kendra

closed the door behind them. “We’ll have to bring your bag up later,” she murmured.

BJ pulled her to him, his mouth immediately finding hers as he wrapped her in a kiss that curled her toes and left her breathless.

His head tilted and he licked at the seam of her lips.

Once he gained entrance, his tongue danced with hers, Kendra moaning against his mouth.

“I intend to make you make that sound on a very regular basis.” The rumble of his voice vibrated within her.

Kendra’s eyes squeezed shut as heat built at her core. “I’m gonna hold you to that, Dr. Stephens.”

“Kenny. Just call me Ben.”

She smiled up at him, kissing him slowly, savoring his scent and the softness of his lips and the way he trailed kisses from

her jaw to her collarbone as he unbuttoned her denim shirtdress slowly, undoing her belt and pulling the fabric from her shoulders

until it dropped to the floor.

Kendra tugged off his blazer, laying it on an accent chair across from the bed by the window. As their lips met again, her

fingers continued to unbutton his shirt, which Ben pulled off as soon as the buttons were clear. Kendra fumbled with his buckle,

cursing to herself until she had it undone.

They kicked off their shoes in a fervor, disposing of the last of their clothes before they landed in the bed. Lying on their

sides, Kendra wrapped her leg around his waist. “I’ve missed this. I missed you.” Kendra dragged her index finger gently down

his chest to his stomach.

BJ’s eyes closed and he smiled. “You have the softest touch. I swear, if you did that on my back I would just fall asleep.”

“That’s for later. There’s no sleeping right now, Ben.”

“Oh no?”

She shook her head, mouthing the word.

“I’ve had a very long day of travel,” he murmured against her lips, his hand gliding down her back to cup her ass as he pulled

her closer.

“You want to sleep, there’s a comfy couch downstairs,” she teased.

He nipped at her playfully. “Wow, really, Kenny? You know I have no intention of sleeping . . . Condoms?”

Kendra stopped. “Fuck, I don’t have any idea where they are. Half of my stuff is still in boxes.”

“That’s okay. I’ve got some in my bag downstairs.”

“Well, hurry up.”

He kissed her hand, her wrist, the inside of her arm, her shoulder—each breath against her skin, lighting her insides on fire.

“Ben,” she whispered.

His eyes shut as he breathed out slowly through his nose. “Yep, you’re right.” He squeezed her thigh before making his way

off the bed and out the door. He returned with his suitcase and searched inside until he pulled a giant carton out from under

some clothes.

Kendra burst out laughing. “Dear god, did you buy that at Costco?”

“Shut up,” he chuckled.

“I guess we don’t have to find mine for a while—maybe until next year,” she teased.

“We’ll see about that.” He pushed her onto her back, using his knees to spread her legs farther apart to make space for him

before leaning down to kiss her. “Thank you.” He stopped to look at her, running his fingers over her hair.

“What for?”

“For giving us a chance.”

“This wasn’t a chance, love. This was a foregone conclusion.”

His lips curved in satisfaction. “Back to business.” His head lowered and he ran the palms of his hands over her breasts,

her nipples puckering, tightening under his touch. He rolled them between his fingers, and she writhed under him as he lowered

himself, lifting her legs over his shoulders as his tongue parted her folds.

Kendra’s head fell back as she gasped, her hips involuntarily bucking against his face. She heaved a breath as she whispered his name.

Ben used his fingers to hold her apart as his tongue drew small circles around her clit before pressing flat against it, slowly

dragging upward, making Kendra cuss and shout. The more he moved, the closer she got. The intensity built, heat pouring from

her, her inner thighs slick. As his tongue went lower and pushed inside her, his thumb pressed against her clit, continuing

the sensation. He built even more pressure within her.

Kendra’s back arched, her vision blurring as she squeezed her eyes shut. Her moans interrupted as her body convulsed. “Oh

my god,” she panted. “I don’t think that’s ever going to get old.”

“I sincerely hope not.” BJ rested his arms against her hips, watching her with hooded eyes, his beard glistening. Kendra ran

her hand over his mouth, trying to wick some of the moisture away. “It doesn’t bother me,” he said. “I want you soaking. Aching.

Ready for me.”

“Well,” Kendra laughed, still trying to catch her breath, “mission accomplished.”

“Not quite—it’s not yet complete.”

Kendra beckoned him forward with her index finger.

Ben snatched a condom from the economy-sized box and slid it on. He crawled up her body, holding himself up on his elbows

as he hovered over her. She tugged him close, running her tongue over his top lip before opening her mouth to kiss him. As

his hips lowered to hers, she wrapped a leg around his waist and sucked in a breath as he rubbed the tip of his erection against

her.

“Gimme,” she whispered.

He laughed. “I immediately picture that grabby hands GIF you’re always sending me.”

“I’ll grab something ...”

“Yeah, okay.” Slowly, he pushed his way in, her walls gripping around him. “Damn, girl.”

Kendra moaned as he filled the space within her. She clenched her core. “Kegels work wonders.” She grinned.

His breath hitched. “Don’t do that again too fast, I might disappoint you.”

She laughed, gripping his ass to drive him deeper, all the way to the hilt. Their rhythm built slowly at first, until both

of them were filled with an urgency. Skin clapped against skin and Kendra tilted her hips so that his dick grazed her spot.

Her back began to arch as he continued to drive inside of her. “Fuck, I’m close,” she whimpered.

He licked his thumb and pressed it against her clit as he continued to shove his way inside, stretching her from within. “So

fucking wet,” he whispered. His thumb wound circles around her most sensitive spot until she screamed.

Her eyes squeezed shut. “Don’t stop. Please don’t stop,” she panted until she broke, stars shooting against her closed eyelids.

BJ slowed slightly before speeding up again, Kendra’s nails raking against his back. “Damn, Kenny,” he groaned and buried

his face in her neck, kissing the sensitive flesh just above her collarbone as he pummeled into her. “Fuck!” he yelled, his

voice a growl as he came. He rocked inside of her slowly as he took a deep breath, lifting himself to his forearms, pushing

her hair out of her face as he cupped her cheeks. He kissed her again. “I love you, Kendra Porter. And I’m not just saying

that because we... you know.”

Her eyes sparkled as her heart pounded. “I love you, Ben.”

He lowered himself to kiss her, wrapping her in an embrace, his forehead resting against hers. “I’m never letting you go,”

he whispered.

Kendra squeezed her eyes shut, thinking of her speech—about dreams coming true.

About a man who loved her, who she’d known the better part of her life. She sighed happily. “Come on.” She pushed him up and

off of her as she swung her legs over the side of the bed.

“Where are you going?”

“ We are gonna go take a shower. Gotta get cleaned up. Or actually, wanna take a bath?”

He’d eyed her big soaking tub when she gave him the tour. “Yes, ma’am.” His wicked smile made her shriek as she rushed into

the bathroom, squealing.