“May I?” she asked.
“You may.”
Their profiles close, he heard her inhales quicken. His blood rushed with possessiveness. Hunger.
Her palm slid around to the back of his neck, warm.
She closed the distance between their mouths until there was just a fraction of an inch left. Then paused.
He stopped himself before making a sound of impatience. Instead, he merely looked at her, willing her with his eyes to kiss him.
Kiss me.
It felt like the most urgent thing in his world. The difference between life and death. He was willing to give her his house, his cars, and everything else he could think of if she would just kiss him.
She was going to back away. He needed to prepare for that—
Closing her eyes, she pressed her mouth to his.
Like a greedy man unwilling to part with a nickel, he was unwilling to give up a single sensation. He wanted them all.
His hands gripped the table hard.Let her set the pace, he repeated to himself over and over.
She was as strong as the wildflowers that grew on this island. Brilliant in her creativity. Rare in her individuality. The better he knew her, the more he appreciated her.
She gentled the kiss as if testing to make sure she could step back when she needed to. He showed her that she had that freedom.
With a small sound of satisfaction, she leaned her body against his.
Blazing minutes passed. Unhurried and also too fast. Perfect. Regret twisted in him when she ended it.
Her cheeks were bright. Her eyes hazy.
Come back to me, he thought.
She made no move.
“You done?” he asked hoarsely.
“I’m still deciding. You done?”
“If you are.”
She resettled her braid. “If you’d like, you can put your hands on me.”
He moved with so much speed that she quickly added, “I should’ve been more specific.”
His hands stopped in midair.
“You can put your hands on my face. Or hair.”
Inclining his chin, he slowed his movements. He ran his thumbs over her cheekbones, then threaded his hands into her hair. Gently, he supported the base of her head.
In answer, Remy’s hands came up to grip his sweater and pull him closer.
“Okay?” he asked.
“Yes.” Then she was kissing him again.
