The Billionaire Boyfriend Proposal: A Kavanagh Family Novel by Kendra Little Page B

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palm and he closed his fingers around mine. His grip wasn't
bruising, but it was strong, as if he were anchoring himself.
"Cassie?"
    "Yes, Blake. It's me."
    He let me go, but I didn't want to sever the
contact yet. Some part of me thought he needed to feel the warmth
and life of another human being, so I placed my hand against his
cheek. His skin was warm and soft above his stubble.
    He drew in a shuddery breath. "Thank
you."
    His whisper melted me completely. He needed
me at that moment. He needed to touch and hold and feel alive. I
wanted to help him.
    I sidled closer and pressed my knees against
his, my hand on his hip. He was naked. I traced the scar with my
thumb and he sighed, a deep, relaxing sigh that came from his
core.
    He kissed my throat, his lips a feather-light
caress against my skin. I captured his face and tilted it so I
could kiss his mouth. It was a sweet, gentle kiss, filled with
hints of longing and sorrow and loss. It made my heart ache for
him, for us, for what might have been.
    This was it. This was the last time we would
be together so intimately. It was as if we both knew it and wanted
to cherish it. Wanted to make the most beautiful memory ever.
    He helped me out of my pajamas and covered my
body with his own. I felt so small and delicate beneath him, but he
kept his weight off me, protecting me. His kisses lingered on my
lips, my eyelids, my collar bone. His hands roamed over my hip, my
thigh and in between us until I was panting and burning up from
within. Without withdrawing his finger from my heat, he slipped his
long length into me. We set a slow, sensual rhythm, our gazes
locked as intently on each other as our bodies. There was none of
the frenzy of last night, but it was more passionate than anything
I'd ever felt before.
    His deft fingers lifted me high up before
allowing me blissful, glorious release. I dug my fingers into his
shoulder and rode it out in a haze of pleasure that turned my brain
and body to mush. My orgasm seemed to trigger his and as I crested
the wave, he came too, into me. We'd forgotten to use
protection.
    But I couldn't grasp the consequences of
that. Tomorrow I would. Not now. Now I wanted to hold Blake in my
arms for the rest of the night.
    Tomorrow would be the time for hard truths
and regrets. Maybe, just maybe, we could restore our fragile
friendship. Either that, or we'd see if it had been shattered
forever.

CHAPTER 8
     
     
    Blake was still in my bed when I awoke in the
morning. His arms were looped around me, holding me against his
chest. I didn't know why I expected him to be gone. When we were
younger and Gran was alive, he would sneak out through my window
and down the drainpipe before daylight, sometimes after I'd fallen
asleep. There was no need for subterfuge anymore.
    "Hey," he said as I stirred. "Good
morning."
    "Hello." Ugh , I sounded so formal. I
drew in a deep breath and got a lungful of the twin scents of Blake
and sex.
    He swept my hair from my shoulders and
gathered it in his hands. "You're beautiful in the mornings."
    My face heated, damn it. "Um, we should get
some breakfast."
    "Why rush?" He kissed my mouth, his hands
still buried in my hair.
    Typical man. He thought years of problems
could be swept aside by a night of passion. Wrong, Blake. So
wrong.
    I pulled away and he watched me from beneath
heavy lids. "You okay?"
    "Sure." But I shook my head. "No. Blake, this
isn't right. Last night and the night before just happened. I
wasn't thinking and—"
    "Why should you think?" He sat up and leaned
back against the headboard, his blue eyes watchful, his lips full,
inviting.
    I got out of bed and threw on a robe. I could
feel his gaze on me, but I avoided looking at him. "I told you last
night. We can't go back, Blake. It's impossible."
    "We don't know until we try."
    "I don't want to try."
    He greeted my response with a long silence
that forced me to look at him. He climbed out of bed and stood in
front of me, naked.
    Don't look down.
    But I