Contract Marriage: I Will Never Love You-Chapter 128: High Stake Romance

Hailey

His shirt falls to the floor with a wet slap, and I trace my fingers along his chest, marveling at the warmth of his skin despite the rain. Josh’s hands find the hem of my blouse, tugging it upward as his eyes seek permission. I nod, lifting my arms as he pulls it over my head.

"You’re beautiful," he whispers, his voice husky with desire.

I silence him with another kiss, my fingers working at his belt. We stumble backward, shedding layers as we go—his jeans, my skirt, leaving a trail of wet clothes across the floor. My back hits the wall again, and Josh lifts me, my legs wrapping around his waist. I cradle his face in my hands, breathing hard.

"My room," I murmur against his lips. "Now."

I slide down, taking his hand and pulling him toward my bedroom with newfound certainty.

The door closes behind us, and I push him toward the bed, watching as he falls back against the mattress. His eyes never leave mine as I reach behind to unhook my bra.

"Are you sure?" he asks, propping himself up on his elbows.

"I’ve never been more sure of anything," I say, crawling over him.

Josh’s hands settle on my hips, warm and steady. "I need you to know something," he says, suddenly serious. "This isn’t just..."

I press my finger to his lips. "I know."

His lips find mine again, gentle at first, then hungrier. We move together, exploring, discovering. His touch is reverent, almost worshipful, as if he’s been imagining this moment for as long as I have.

"Josh," I breathe as his lips trace a path down my neck.

Outside, the storm rages on, rain lashing against the windows.

"Hailey," he whispers against my skin, his voice like velvet. "You’re all I’ve thought about since I first saw you."

Lightning flashes, illuminating his face above me for a heartbeat—his eyes dark with desire, his lips parted. I pull him closer, desperate to feel more of him. His weight settles between my thighs, perfect and right, as if our bodies were made to fit together this way.

His fingers tangle in my hair as he kisses me deeper, longer, until I’m dizzy with want. Every touch ignites something new, something I’ve been keeping locked away for too long. I arch into him, gasping as his hand slides down my stomach, tracing patterns that make me shiver.

"I’ve wanted this," I confess against his ear, my nails dragging lightly down his back. "I’ve wanted you."

Josh groans, the sound vibrating through his chest and into mine. "Since when?" he asks, his breath hot against my neck.

"Since you showed up in that ridiculous leather jacket," I admit, smiling against his lips.

He laughs softly, pulling back just enough to look into my eyes. "Well, now I’m definitely keeping it forever."

I wrap my legs around his waist, pulling him closer. "Less talking," I murmur, guiding his hand where I need it most.

His fingers find me, and I gasp, head falling back against the pillow. Josh watches me with reverent focus, as if to memorize my reaction, every sound I make. His touch is both tender and insistent, drawing pleasure from me like he’s unlocking a secret only he knows the combination to.

"You’re so beautiful like this," he whispers, his voice thick with awe.

I reach between us, wrapping my fingers around his cock, and it’s his turn to groan. The sound sends a thrill through me—knowing I can affect him just as deeply as he affects me.

"I need you," I breathe, guiding him. "Now."

Our eyes lock as he enters me slowly, both of us holding our breath at the exquisite sensation. For a moment, we’re perfectly still, savoring the connection. Then he begins to move, and reality dissolves into pure sensation.

Thunder crashes outside, mirroring the storm building inside me. fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm

"Hailey," he groans as he slowly thrusts in and out of me. "God, you feel amazing."

I pull him down for a kiss that’s all heat and hunger, my fingers threading through his hair. The tension coils tighter, higher, until I’m trembling beneath him, teetering on the precipice.

"Let go," he whispers against my lips. "Come for me."

I close my eyes, letting myself fall. The tension crests inside me, and I gasp, fingers digging into his shoulders as the world shatters and reforms around me.

Josh is right there, murmuring my name, holding me through it like a lifeline. When he follows moments later, it’s with a breathless groan against my neck, his body trembling against mine.

For a long time, we just lie there, tangled and breathless, our heartbeats slowly syncing again.

The storm quiets.

He brushes a damp strand of hair from my forehead and kisses it. "Matthew will definitely kill me now," he murmurs.

I let out a breathless laugh, my face still buried against his chest. "Yeah, well... at least you’ll die happy. I hope."

Josh groans dramatically. "Worth it. Ten out of ten. Would die again."

I lift my head, arching a brow at him. "That better not have been a review of the sex."

His eyes gleam with mischief. "No, that was a review of you."

I roll my eyes, but I’m smiling too much to be convincing. "Charmer."

He tilts his head, fingers lazily tracing patterns on my bare back. "I am still taking you to our iconic second date."

I snuggle closer, resting my chin on his chest and looking up at him. "You’re really not letting that go, are you?"

"Absolutely not," Josh says, completely unapologetic. "It’s going to be epic. I’m thinking rooftop lights, string quartet, maybe a horse."

"A horse?" I laugh. "What, are you going to joust for me too?"

He grins. "If that’s what it takes to impress you."

"Josh," I say, shaking my head, "you already impressed me. I am in bed with you for Christ’s sake."

He grins. "I know. But still."

He brushes his fingers through my hair, slower now, like he’s savoring this moment, me curled against him, the storm outside fading into a whisper.

"I just want to keep showing you," Josh says, voice softer now. "That this isn’t just some one-time thing."

I trace lazy circles on his chest, letting that sink in. "You’re kind of ridiculous, you know that?"

"Mm, you say that like it’s a bad thing."

"It’s not," I admit. "It’s actually kind of... perfect."

Josh shifts slightly so he can look down at me, brushing his thumb along my cheekbone. "So, tell me something. Now that we’ve, you know, crossed the ’stormy night of passion’ threshold..."

I groan playfully. "Don’t ever call it that again."

He laughs. "Okay, okay. But seriously...what happens now?"

I blink, surprised by how quickly the question roots itself inside me. What does happen now?

"Well," I say slowly, "now you take me on that over-the-top second date. And we keep figuring this out."

Josh’s smile is slow, warm, and real. "Good. Because I’ve already googled rooftop restaurants."

"Of course you have."

"I have to," he says with mock seriousness. "This is high-stakes romance now."