But I’ve said it now, and I’m gonna have to say it again.
Turning to face her properly, I rub my thumb across her smooth skin and admit once more, “He wasn’t me. That’s what was wrong with him. That’s what’s wrong with all the guys you’ve been dating.” I give her a pained frown and say it one more time, so there’s no way she won’t get it. “None of them are me.”
Her lips part, her eyes going wide like she’s on the verge of freaking out.
I don’t know what to do.
I’ve said it.
This secret I didn’t even fully realize I was harboring is out there, and I better fucking do something with it.
Letting go of her arm, I reach for her face instead, tracing the shocked lines of her expression, my thumb skimming her lower lip as I fight the urge to kiss her.
Would she even want me to?
This is Atlas’s girl.
Atlas is dead! He’s not here anymore.Youare!
But would she want me?
I’m nothing like him. How could she be in love with a guy like Atlas and then want a guy like me?
I can’t stop touching her, though. Now that the pads of my fingers are tracing her delicate skin, I never want to stop. I love the shape of her face, those big, beautiful eyes, those luscious lips.
I… I want to kiss them. To taste her. To…
She still hasn’t said anything.
But she hasn’t moved away either.
She’s just gazing up at me like she can’t believe what I said.
But it’s true.
Now that it’s out there, I know it’s true. I’m going ahead and falling for this woman. I didn’t mean to. It happened before I even realized, and now that I’m finally acknowledging it, I better fucking make it count.
As I gaze down at her mouth, my heart starts to thunder between my ears.
Do it, man. Just do it!
I lean in, slowly inching my way into her space. The tip of my nose reaches her first, and I brush it against the side of her cheek, moving to the straight line of her nose.
Her breath fans across my skin.
I’m going slow, giving her every chance to reject me. But she’s not.
Whether it’s curiosity or desire, I’m not sure, but her lips are right there.
Another shaky breath punches out of her, and I wonder if I should pull away, but there’s no stopping this now.
My lips skim over hers, a delicate, tentative touch.
She sucks in a quick breath before I apply a little more pressure.
Our lips meet… and stay connected.
I hold my position, giving her every chance in the world to pull away…
