The Controversial Princess (The Smoke & Mirrors Duology #1)(67)

“Owned,” he heaves, turning his mouth into my neck and biting lightly.

I smile, smoothing my hand into his hair and combing through the wet strands. “Fine by me,” I reply quietly, letting my heavy lids fall closed. I wouldn’t mind if we remained exactly here for the rest of the night, connected so intimately. Josh has other ideas though, and pulls away, his softening cock slipping out on a wince from both of us. He glances down at his groin, as do I. “That’s bareback done, I guess.”

I laugh, unable to feel remorseful for our lack of protection. Our craving for each other got in the way.

Josh chuckles with me and helps me down from the dresser, grabbing a tissue from the nearby box and cleaning me. “Would you think less of me if I told you I feel no remorse?” He takes my cheeks in his palms and holds my face, looking deeply into my eyes.

“I don’t feel remorseful, either.” I shrug. God, if he never wears protection again, that’s fine by me. That was … unreal. “I take the contraceptive pill.”

He smiles and presses his lips to mine. “I got all dressed up for you.”

I inwardly swoon but outwardly grin. “I prefer you without clothes.”

“What a coincidence. I feel the same about you.” He moves back and has a little inspection, smiling at the cups of my bra still pulled down. I roll my eyes and reach to sort them out, but my hands are seized. “Just take it off.”

“What about wooing me over dinner?”

“I don’t think there’s any need for wooing now, do you?” He points to the dresser on a hitched brow, and I grin like a loon.

“Suppose not.” I unhook my bra and let it fall to the floor.

Josh matches my grin and slips his arms around my shoulders, pulling me in and walking me to the bathroom. “I’d offer you a shower, but I’m quite liking the smell of me all over you.” He takes a white fluffy robe from a hook and holds it open for me. I catch sight of myself in the mirror as I turn to feed my arms through the sleeves.

“Gosh, I look—”

“Deliciously fucked,” he finishes for me, reaching around my front and securing the tie. “Let’s keep you that way.” A light kiss is placed on my cheek. “It suits you.” I don’t know about that. All my makeup has been rubbed away, and my hair is a frightful mess. Taking a robe for himself, he puts it on and I pout at the lost vision of his nakedness. “Come.” My hand is seized in his, and I’m led through to the main suite.

We pass a beautifully laid table for two. “That was a waste,” I say as Josh pushes me onto one of the couches.

“Not half as wasteful as passing up the opportunity to fuck you.” He falls to the couch at the other end and picks up the phone on the side table. “Yeah, hi. Guest Services, please. Yeah, sure.” He looks at me. “They’re transferring me.”

I laugh. Crazy American Boy. “I need the bathroom,” I tell him, getting up and hurrying back through the bedroom. Closing the door behind me, I use the toilet, but no sooner have I released the muscles of my bladder, Josh walks right on in, with no knock or call of warning. “Josh,” I yell, unable to stop the flow, leaving me no choice but to remain where I am—sitting on the bloody toilet having a pee in front of Josh Jameson. I close my eyes, like if I can’t see him, then he can’t see me.

He starts laughing, and I open one eye, so mortified, though Josh clearly is quite unperturbed. “You look cute sitting on the toilet.” He rests his back against the doorframe and gets comfortable.

“Some privacy, please?” I ask, my bladder now empty.

“What’s the big deal?” He nods at the toilet roll. “We’ve skipped through first, second, and third base, and I nearly hit a home run the very first time we met. I think this is the next natural progression, don’t you?”

I snatch the toilet roll and shuffle the robe to conceal me while I do the unthinkable; wipe myself. In front of Josh Jameson. His grin is slap-worthy, my embarrassment making me squirm. “The natural progression?” I ask. “So what comes after peeing in front of you?”

“Oh, you know, moving into my condo, marrying me, popping out a few ankle-biters.”

I shoot up from the seat, my eyes round in shock. “What?”

“I’m kidding.” He laughs, holding his hands up in defense.

I breathe out, flushing the chain and wandering to the sink. I wash and dry my hands. “That was not funny.”

He mirrors my playful scowl as I move toward him, yelping when he grabs me and suspends me back in his arms. “You’re right. I need to fuck your ass before we think about moving in together.” He swallows my incredulous gasp when he kisses me, smiling around my lips, and despite my shock, I laugh too, because Josh Jameson has that effect on me.

He returns me to vertical and pushes my hair over my shoulder, studying me for a few moments. “Tell me. What are your dreams, Adeline?”

“Freedom,” I answer honestly and quickly, and Josh smiles.

Leading me to the bed, we lie down, him on his side, me on mine, facing each other. “And if you had that freedom, what would you do with it?”

“Oh my God, everything,” I say, just imagining how different my life could be. “I’d go back to university and study something I actually want to study.”