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“They’re missing out by trying to fit you into a box that makes them feel comfortable. But you should never have to bend yourself into a person that is easily digestible for someone else. That’s their problem, not yours.”

Now I understood why Jamil hadn’t crumbled under the pressure of the expectations that everyone else had for him.

He’d surrounded himself with people that celebrated him and were part of his very foundation.

They made it nearly impossible for the world to knock him down because they reminded him of the person he was—carefree, loving, and full of so much joy that you couldn’t pull your eyes away from him.

And he was trying to provide me with the same support system that he’d surrounded himself with.

“Do you always spill out such deeply personal observations to everyone?” I asked.

“Only with people I care about,” he replied, his eyes soft as they traced every curve of my face.

If I were my mother, I would have shut down where this was heading.

My mother would want me to prioritize the opportunity this interview with Derek was bringing and capitalize on it by doing what Terry was asking of me.

She would hate that I was getting distracted by the earthy tones of Jamil’s eyes or the dimple that highlighted his crooked smile.

But when had I ever done what my mother wanted?

I worried on the inside of my cheek as I felt his gaze like a caress. “Do you think we should talk about whatever this is between us?”

“Do you?”

Take courage, my heart.

My grandmother’s words echoed in my head, reminding me that I didn’t need to play things safe all the time. Not everything could be defined or planned. So just like that night in Florida, I leaned forward and let myself fall into Jamil.

Strong arms wrapped around me as he met me halfway, like he’d been ready to react the moment I made the first move. He captured my mouth with his and that same sense of euphoria I’d felt before came rushing back in.

In one swift move, Jamil swept me up into his arms and walked us back into his home.

I was barely aware of my surroundings as we passed through the dining room, the kitchen, the living room, and down a hallway I hadn’t seen yet.

All the while Jamil held me against him with one arm while his free hand roamed over the curve of my cheekbone with abandon.

I knew what was coming. We’d been here before. Except this time there was no liquid courage coursing through either of us. This was a decision we were making in good faith. Something that neither of us could supply an excuse for when the morning came.

The last time I’d let Jamil take me to bed, I knew before I even walked through his front door that I wouldn’t be waking up next to him.

That it wasn’t going to be more than a one-night stand.

It had felt impossible for it to be more than that.

Now I was beginning to wonder how it could have ever been just once.

Jamil tipped me backward until I was lying on bedding that felt like a cloud and was silky smooth against my skin. “Why do you have such nice bedding? You have nicer bedding than I do.” I ran my hands over the comforter, as the first sign of nerves made their appearance.

“Is this your bedroom talk, Harper? Do I need to mention the thread count to really get you going?” That teasing smile that rarely showed on his face nowadays made an appearance as he reached for the hem of his shirt to pull it over his head.

I looked everywhere except at the chiseled planes of Jamil’s torso as he walked closer to where I was lying.

“Why are you so nervous?” Jamil teased as he tossed both of my shoes behind him.

“The last time we did this I had some extra courage from my good friend, Jose.”

Jamil’s fingers trailed up my legs softly, amusement written all over his face as he watched me squirm.

“I should thank him for that night,” Jamil whispered as he undid the button on my jeans and leaned over to place a gentle kiss to the bare skin that was now exposed.

“He played an integral role in one of the best nights of my life.”

I scoffed. “That couldn’t possibly have been one of the best nights of your life.”

Jamil hesitated to place another kiss against my stomach and I watched as his eyes slowly lifted to meet mine. “Eventually you’ll understand what I mean, but tonight isn’t the night to argue over how I feel, Moon.”

That goddamn nickname sent butterflies erupting inside of me like some sort of aphrodisiac. The moment my shirt disappeared over my head and his fingers traced the tattoo on my chest reminded me where it came from.

When Jamil’s lips fastened back on to mine, I was floating. I fisted my hands in the bedding to keep me grounded—here in this moment with him. “You’re already holding on for dear life and I haven’t even gotten started yet, Harper. What am I going to do with you?” His smile was practically devilish.

“You have quite the mouth on you today. Where was this back in Florida?” I squeaked out as Jamil traced a line of kisses from my mouth downward, feathering across every piece of sensitive skin on my body.

“I was in awe of you that first night. At a loss for words. Gobsmacked. I might have to pull a dictionary out to really capture what was going on.” Jamil’s teeth nipped at the inside of my leg, eliciting a soft yelp from me.

“And you aren’t in awe of me anymore?”

Was banter considered foreplay? I’m starting to think it might be.

“Quite the opposite, actually,” Jamil replied as he leaned down over top of me. The muscles in his arms flexed as they held him up. “I’m just prepared now.”

Now it was my turn to be wholly unprepared.