Page 104 of Bloom

“I’m not sorry,” he grins. “I learned some valuable information.”

“What information?”

“You like to be held down,” he says against my ear.

I blush. “And how exactly do you know that?”

“You got that look on your face you always get when you’re excited,” he says.

“What look?” I ask accusingly.

“The one where everything about you says ‘please fuck me’.”

“That’s not true,” I argue. “I don’t have a look.”

He says nothing, but his hand goes to my breast, teasing it into a hard point. His mouth moves downward, over my ribs, down to my belly button, and farther south, until his head is between my legs. He raises his head and grins at me. “Elle, do you think you have that look now?” he asks softly.

“Yes,” I moan.

“I’ve made my point,” he says, and he lowers his head again.

Chapter 55

It’s more than a little embarrassing to emerge from his room the next morning. He’s not embarrassed at all. He’s just gotten laid six times in less than eight hours, and he looks pretty pleased with himself. You might even say he looks smug.

He holds my hand as we walk into the kitchen, and the laughter begins almost immediately. I release his hand to go pour coffee.

“I think there was some kind of break-in on the street last night,” says Max. For a moment I believe him, but when I turn he’s grinning broadly.

“Yeah,” says Ginny. “I heard all the screaming. It sounded like someone was being murdered.”

“You know,” says Max thoughtfully, “if that whole broadcast thing doesn’t work out, Elle, I think you could totally make it in porn.”

“And now,” says James, turning his angry brows toward the table, “you’ve carried it too far.”

“You deserve it,” says Ginny. “I’m going to be scarred for life. On the bright side, Mom and Dad will be relieved to hear you finally lost your virginity.”

Max chortles at this. “Right. James hasn’t been a virgin since the two of you were learning to read.”

His laughter gets cut off by a sharp look from James. “It’s only 9 a.m. and you’re already pissing me off,” he warns.

Ginny sighs dramatically and grabs Max’s arm. “Come on. Let’s give the lovebirds a little time to eat. God knows they probably need the energy after last night.”

She turns as they exit the room. “And just so we’re clear, the kitchen and that table are completely off-limits if you two can’t keep your hands off each other for an entire meal.”

I groan my embarrassment when they leave, but James is laughing silently, shoulders shaking as he tries to hold it in.

“Stop laughing,” I say. “It’s humiliating.”

“Not for me,” he says, encircling my waist and pulling me close. He plants a kiss on the top of my head. “What was that last bit Ginny said? I think she was suggesting the table or the counter?”

“Yes,” I giggle. “I’m pretty sure that’s what she was trying to say.”

He kisses me, a sweet kiss that slowly slides into one that is less sweet and more purposeful. “That would be completely hot.”

“Yeah,” I say a little breathlessly.

“Breakfast first or after?”