Page 88 of Clinically Bewitched
“You, Julien Darcy, dropped clothing on the floor instead of hanging it up immediately.”
“I’m aware.”
“The universe isdefinitelyshifting.”
I unbuttoned my shirt, shrugged it off, and let it fall next to the tie.
“The universe,” I said, climbing onto the bed and bracing myself above her, “can do whatever the hell it wants. I’m done fighting it.”
I kissed her neck, feeling her pulse racing beneath my lips. Kissed the hollow of her throat. The curve of her collarbone. The swell of her breast above the neckline of her dress. She arched beneath me, her hands sliding up my bare chest, her touch sending electricity through my nervous system.
“Julien—”
“Shh.”
“But I need to tell you—”
“Later.” I found the zipper at the back of her dress and pulled it down with steady hands. “You can tell me later.”
“It’s important—”
“Athena.” I pulled back and looked into her eyes. “I love you. I think I’ve been in love with you since Vegas, possibly since the moment you walked into my presentation and smiled at me like I was the answer to every question you had ever asked. Right now, I need you to stop talking so I can show you exactly how much.”
Her eyes filled with tears.
“You love me?”
“Yes.”
“You’rein lovewith me?”
“Desperately.”
“Oh.” She smiled through the tears. “I love you too. I’ve loved you since—”
I kissed her.
She laughed against my mouth, and I swallowed the sound, tasted her joy and her certainty and her absolute faith that this,us,was exactly what was supposed to happen. The dress came off easily. She wasn’t wearing a bra—of course she wasn’t—and the sight of her bare breasts made my brain short-circuit momentarily.
Perfect. She’s perfect.
I had seen thousands of bodies in my career. Had operated on hearts, lungs, major vessels, even brains with steady hands and clinical detachment.
But this was different. This wasAthena,and she was looking at me with such trust, such openness, such complete lack of self-consciousness that something in my chest cracked open evenfurther. I kissed her breasts and heard her gasp. I took her nipple into my mouth, and she arched against me, her fingers digging into my shoulders.
“Julien—oh!”
I moved to her other breast, gave it the same attention, cataloged every sound she made, every movement, every sign of pleasure.
This is what I’ve been missing.
This is what I’ve been fighting.
This beautiful, chaotic, perfect woman.
My hand slid down her stomach, over the curve of her hip, and found the edge of her underwear. Simple cotton, not the lace I might have expected, which somehow made it even more endearing.
I hooked my fingers under the waistband and pulled her panties down slowly, giving her time to object. She didn’t. She just lifted her hips to help, her breath coming faster now, her eyes dark with want. And then she was naked beneath me. Completely bare. Vulnerable and trusting andmine.
