Page 120 of The Broken Keys

His resistance crumbles. He kisses me harder, backing me toward the bed with a purpose that sends heat pooling low in my belly.

This feels right. More right than anything since I woke up in that hospital.

We hit the mattress. His familiar weight settles over me, and I gasp from the pain it causes.

“Wait.” He breaks the kiss, breathing hard. “Lily, we should slow down.”

“Why?” I find the hem of his shirt with my fingers and tug it upward. “Give me one good reason.”

He catches my movement, stilling it. “We haven’t done this in a very long time.”

I arch up against him, feeling exactly how much he wants this despite his protests. “Even more reason to, if you’re asking me.”

“That’s not?—”

I roll my hips and he moans.

“Not what?” I reach for his shirt again.

He captures both my wrists, pinning them gently above my head. “You’re making this very difficult.”

“Good.” I lean up and take his lower lip between mine. “I don’t want to make it easy.”

A groan rumbles from his chest. “Lily?—”

“Callum, I know my body.” I wrap my legs around his waist. “I know what I can handle. And right now I can handle you.”

His control fractures another degree. His grip tightens on my wrists, and his breathing turns ragged against my neck.

“You’re relentless.” But there’s heat in his voice, not accusation.

“You love it.” I grind against him again. “You’ve always loved it.”

“Fuck.”

“Exactly.” I kiss along his jaw. “That’s exactly what I want.”

His free hand slides down my side, stopping at my waist. “If we do this?—”

“When we do this.”

His fingers dig into my hip. “I’m not gonna hurt you.”

“I know that. That’s why we shouldn’t stop.” I pull against his hold on my wrists. “Please don’t stop.”

Something shifts in his expression. The restraint cracks wider, and what’s underneath is pure need.

“You always did this.” His mouth finds my neck. “Pushed until you got exactly what you wanted.”

“And it worked, didn’t it?” My pulse races where his lips press against my throat.

“Every damn time.” He releases my wrists to pull my shirt up.

My hands immediately go to his waistband. “Then why fight it?”

“Because…” He stops moving, jaw clenching.

“What’s wrong?”