Page 66 of Unapologetic Love Story

She untwisted the tube and started applying the dark colour, loving its appearance the moment it hit her lips.

She knew it was from him. Not just because it was from Liberty, same as the cushion; she just knew. She could feel him. He was almost pressed up against her from behind and she could smell that incredible scent he always seemed to wear. She turned around to face him, tilting her chin so that her freshly painted lips caught the light.

‘How does it look?’ she asked softly.

He shook his head, gazing at her with a look of pain. ‘Beautiful.’

Her eyes dropped to his mouth. ‘No one’s ever made my mind wake up like you do.’

She expected him to blink in surprise or say something flippant, but he held her expression and nodded. ‘I know. I feel the same.’

They were almost touching. Raina looked from his dark eyes to his handsome face, a face that had become so familiar to her. His hands hovered over her hips, and there was a sudden flash of reverence in his face as his eyes dragged up and down her body. He brushed his fingers over her heart.

‘You don’t think I’m fair to the world, Raina, but you’re not fair to me.’

She narrowed her eyes at him. ‘Excuse me.’

‘You haven’t been fair to me since the day we met. You’ve tormented me. You wore this dress tonight. That isn’t fair.’

His thumb stroked the heartbeat in her neck, and he inhaled, as if drinking her in.

‘Did you wear this dress for him?’ he asked, his words barely audible.

Raina felt a current of desire pulse through her whole body. ‘What?’

She met his glassy eyes and watched as he let all of the want he was feeling flash across his face. ‘Did you wear this dress for him? For the guy who didn’t deserve you?’

Raina glared up at him. ‘No, asshole,’ she all but choked. ‘I wore it for you!’

He made a desperate sound and then his mouth was on hers and his hands were under her thighs, lifting her in one swift movement so she was on the edge of the kitchen island. His kiss was fast and intense, and she kissed him back with complete abandon. He left indents on her thighs as he held her, his mouth dragging over hers with firm kisses that stole the air from her lungs. She clawed at his white shirt, pulling him into her so they were as close as possible. He lifted one of her legs and hooked it around him while she snaked her arms about his neck.

‘Don’t ever,’ he said fiercely, as he pressed his mouth to her throat, ‘throw yourself away on someone like him.’

Raina’s breath came in sharp staccato pants as he moved his lips over hers again, gently slipping his tongue into her mouth. He coaxed her into a kiss that was deep and wet and all-consuming. She moved his hands to her breasts with a clear, unspoken instruction.

‘Should I throw myself away on you then?’ she whispered as she pulled him into her, trying to get their bodies as close as possible again. With her legs around his waist, she could feel how hard he was.

‘Yes,’ he said, before kissing her again.

She moaned against his mouth as his thumb brushed a nipple. She released his name on a sigh, and he made a deep sound of approval. When she slid her hand beneath his waistband to grip him in her fingers, he growled against her lips.

‘God, Raina,’ he groaned. ‘You’re a fucking dream. Can’t breathe when I’m around you.’

His hands were moving under her dress, and her free hand slid up to grip his hair when—

‘Oh, shit.’

Neither Tom nor Raina said the words, and the loud interruption caused them to break apart. Solana stood in the entryway of the kitchen with wide eyes and a completely astonished smile.

‘Tom was’ – Raina scrambled internally for an explanation – ‘giving me a birthday gift.’

Solana clicked her tongue, clearly fighting a laugh. ‘He certainly was.’

Raina glowered at her little sister. ‘What is it?’

Solana’s eyes fell to the packaging on the island counter. ‘Lipstick, is it? Looks good on the both of you.’

Raina snatched up a tissue and started dabbing at her mouth while Tom coughed gruffly, turning his back on Solana in an effort to compose himself.