Brushing his nose against my skin, he took a deep breath. “Hugging my Rosebud.”

“You’re tired. All you need is a cup of coffee and some rest.” I tried to wiggle out. But as always, he only tightened the grip.

“You being in my arms is everything I need,” he rasped in my ear, kissing the junction of my neck and shoulder.

A shiver ran down my body, along with the warmth that spread across my chest at his words.

“Stay with me for a moment, baby. I need you.” His hot breath fanned my skin as he let out a tired sigh.

“I will if you don’t call me ‘baby.’ Because I’m not your baby.” But my arms slowly went around him as I rested my face against his chest. My eyes went shut, soaking in his warmth and scent, as if they had their own mind.

Hugging someone to provide comfort wasn’t wrong, right?

A deep chuckle reverberated through his chest. “We’ll see.”

TWENTY-FIVE: CHEESY GARLIC SHRIMPS

We’ll see? This infuriating man!

“I’m just letting you hug me because you needed it. Don’t think of anything else. I’m still mad at you for what you did up in your penthouse.” My cheeks flamed at my slip of tongue. Why did I need to mention it right now? My lips tingled recalling the earth-shattering kiss on his bed.

He pressed his nose against my hair. “And don’t think I forgot what you did last night. It was a really reckless move. And about kissing you,” he rasped, arms tightening around me, “I don’t regret a second of it. I’ll do it again and again, even if you don’t like it.”

A gasp slipped through my parted lips as he placed an open-mouthed kiss on my neck and then on my throat.

“And I know you loved it,” he said in a deep husky voice, brushing his lips over my jaw.

My heart raced in my chest as hot desire shot through my veins at the touch of his scorching mouth. A tug in my lower region made me want to seek those sinful lips again, the same lips that were on mine this morning. My skin burned with his bold touch over my curves.

But even if I wanted to burn in his flames for the rest of my life with pleasure, with all the strength I’d in me, I untangled myself from him and stepped away.

I couldn’t do this again. I couldn’t let my control slip again. I had to go.

When I turned around to run, his arms again shot out to me. Holding my shoulders, he pulled me back against him.

“Stop running away from me, Rose. We both know what we want. Stop escaping the truth,” he murmured in my ear, stroking my mid-section.