Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 79553 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79553 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
“Well, not completely wide open,” I say, shifting closer to him. “Right now, our calendars are marked as busy.”
My eyes meet his before they dart to his mouth, wanting to kiss him, wanting him to kiss me. It would be a horrible idea to cross that invisible line. It doesn’t matter that I’m falling for him. It would be irresponsible and selfish to act on my feelings. He’s connected to my family, and with my track record, the chances of us working out are—
“Tell me what you’re thinking about.”
“How much I want to kiss you,” I blurt out. “And how stupid I would be if I did.”
He edges closer. “And why would that make you stupid?”
“The obvious reasons,” I whisper. “I was just engaged…”
“And you said you never loved him.” He sets his hand on my hip and squeezes softly. “Problem solved.”
“You’re best friends with my brother,” I argue. “What if this ends badly?”
“You’re worried about it ending”—he rounds his hand to my butt and pulls me closer, so our faces are only inches away from one another—“and nothing has even started.”
He’s right, but… “I suck at relationships.”
He quirks a brow. “Who said anything about a relationship? I thought you just wanted to kiss me.”
“I do, but—”
“Then kiss me,” he says slowly. His lips are so close that all I’d have to do is lean in a little bit, and our mouths would connect. I want to, so damn badly, but I’m scared.
“What if—?”
“Kiss. Me.” His warm breath carries a hint of the whiskey he’s been sipping all day, and I wonder if he tastes how he smells.
He shrugs, his hand leaving my butt. His face starts to move backward, and I realize he’s going to back away. The thought of losing my chance and not finding out what he tastes like, feels like, has me reaching over, gripping his neck, and pulling him toward me for a kiss.
Our mouths connect softly at first, our lips brushing against one another. I take his bottom lip between my teeth and suck on it gently, wanting to taste him, feel him. He groans, and the sound makes me gasp. He uses my action to slip his tongue past my parted lips, and in slow, methodical movements, his tongue caresses my own. He tastes perfect, sweet with a hint of spice, and something flashes in my head as if I’ve tasted him before. That can’t be right since we’ve never kissed, but maybe it’s because, unlike most first kisses, which can be awkward, kissing Declan is as easy as breathing.
When my tongue tangles with his, he sucks it into his mouth, deepening the kiss. As if his mouth is connected to an electric current, with every curve of his lips and every swipe of his tongue, my body is hit with the most delicious shock to my system, which goes straight to my belly, tightening my insides and then descending to the area between my legs. One kiss with Declan and my entire body is affected in the best damn way.
He ends the kiss, pulling back slightly, and I sigh at the loss of the connection, wanting to kiss him again. Wanting to strip him of his clothes and explore the rest of him. Wanting him to explore me.
“Did you feel that?” he asks, his lips brushing against mine.
“Feel what?”
“The connection… like your mouth was made for kissing mine.”
Yes, I felt it… “Dec… I don’t think—”
“No, don’t think. Just feel.”
And before I can argue, his mouth is back on mine, making me do nothing but just that…feel.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
DECLAN
Fuck, that kiss. Her lips, her tongue, the way our mouths moved in perfect rhythm. Everything about her is addicting. Her taste, her scent. I want more. No, I need more. The last time I had her in my grasp, she slipped through the cracks. But not again. I can’t go another month without kissing her, touching her.
Everything I tell myself, every decision I come to, I contradict. Since the day she showed up at the bar, and we spent the night together, I haven’t been able to think straight. I keep telling myself to stand down, take a step back, and take it slow, but I can’t help myself when I’m with her. I want her in every way possible.
So fuck it. I’m done trying to stay away. She’s here, and it’s clear she wants me, but she’s scared. She has a dozen reasons we shouldn’t jump, so my new plan is to show her how good it can feel to fly. No promises and no talk of the future. Once she sees how good we are together, she’ll get on board. The risk will be worth the reward. She just has to feel it for herself. And she will. We have only kissed once, and I can see it written all over her face. She wants more. And I’m going to give it to her. Right after I tell her the truth about us…