Page 87 of Cautious Love

“You already knew that when you married me,” she whispers.

“Oh boy, did I.”

“Kiss me, Ledger.”

“You’re so demanding,” I mumble.

“Then do what I tell you,” she says, her voice sultry.

“I’m usually the one giving directions.”

She huffs. “Well, it looks like I just took the reins and—”

I grab the back of her neck and pull our mouths together, cutting off whatever catty comment she was about to make.

She sighs into my mouth, and it’s a good thing I’m sitting because my knees feel weak. I’ve kissed her a handful of times, but I want countless more. I want to feel her lips on mine so much that I lose count.

Chapter 22

Shiloh

Histongueslipspastmine, making me dizzy, and my chest tightens in anticipation. Our tongues brush and I shiver in his hands as he pulls me tighter, cupping my face in his large hands. I’m totally, completely at his mercy.

Ledger pulls back slightly to let us breathe before he dives in for more. Warmth pools in my stomach and melts down to my core. I know without a doubt that I’m safe with this man. It was not on my bingo card to consider this marriage real, and there was a part of me that thought while we’re married it could be fun, and end it when I leave, but … the way he holds me, looks at me as if I’m the only one that matters in his world. It not only scares me, but it makes me crave him more.

I pull back and grab his shoulders to steady myself so I can straddle his lap. He grips my hips, yanking me down.

Looping my arms around his neck, I press my braless chest to his, and the friction sends a spark over my skin. He breathes roughly, sliding his muscular arms around my ribs, and my body melts like butter.

My hips instinctively roll against his, and Ledger groans, pulling back. “I don’t—”

I press a finger to his lips and drag a hand through his hair, making it messy, which I know he doesn’t like.

“Ledger, stop thinking so hard. We can stop if you want, but I’m not asking you to.”

He looks at me with those warm, beautiful brown eyes as his thumbs draw circles over my hips. “I don’t want you to think that all I want is sex. I don’t want you to think that I will do right by you to get something out of it. That’s not what real men do. They don’t use women they care about to satisfy their own needs. That’s not who I am, and I don’t want to do that to you.”

I smile, leaning in.

He tilts his head back as I lean into the kiss, his hands drag up my shirt and I pull away.

“You are far too decent a man for me. I don’t think any of those things. But this whole marriage thing is temporary. We don’t have to be so serious about it,” I rasp. It might not be a bad thing if he were. I’m going to leave one day, and if he ever finds out the truth of what I’ve seen, then there’s no way he’llwantto keep me. But it could be for the best. The last thing I want is to see him get hurt because of me becausetheythink I ratted. So if it’s all I’ll get from him, then I’m willing to take that risk and live with the future hurt. He’s worth it.

He huffs and lifts his hand, rubbing the pad of his thumb over my lower lip. “Shiloh, I think you know by now I’m more of a no-nonsense guy, and I’m serious about you. I wouldn’t have asked you out if I wasn’t. But if you’re not, then I’d appreciate it if you told me now.”

Part of me wants to scream, and the other part of me wants to strip myself bare to prove my point. Realistically, I am scared. I’m putting my heart on the line again, and I’m the one actively crossing it.

But it’s different this time. Everything about this is different. This time, I’m with a man who I know will do right by me regardless of my answer right here and now.

“I don’t think I’m ready to walk down the aisle tomorrow, even though I already kind of did, but I don’t have eyes for anyone else. Only you, but if that means you need more time, then I can wait if that’s what you want.”

Ledger growls and shakes his head. I can see the indecision in his eyes. He’s awake and on watch. If someone comes, he’ll be ready, but then I threw myself at him, and I’m making it a lot harder for him to respond.

“The ball is in your court when you’re ready,” I whisper and kiss him again before I start to climb off his thighs. I’ll stay awake with him, but I’ll find a seat somewhere else because it’s far too tempting to sit on his lap.

Before I can get down, he tugs me back into the seat and captures my lips.

“You’re very distracting, but you’re not going anywhere,” he growls against my mouth.