Our breath mingled, gasps and sighs and sounds of desire. We were on the same page about that.
At first I didn’t want to rip her dress with my eagerness, but then I threw that out the window. This was the one time I’d get to do this, and I was going to make the most of it. No regrets.
“Wait, wait,” Lea said, pulling back from my seeking mouth. I licked my lips, tasting her and champagne.
“What?” I asked, my blood buzzing in my ears.
“You do want to kiss me?” she asked, her eyes bright and wide.
“I think that’s pretty obvious, Lea. I’ve literally been kissing you. What kind of a question is that?” Her confusion was adorable and just made me want to kiss her even more.
“Well, you’ve always pulled back before, so I just assumed you didn’t want to.” She was practically pouting. I wanted to kiss it right off her face.
“I pulled back because I didn’t think we should. Not because I didn’t want to.” I didn’t want to be talking right now. I wanted to be kissing her.
Her eyebrows drew together. I wanted to kiss those too.
“Why is this different?”
“Lea,” I said, my tone soft. “Do you want to kiss me, or do you want to discuss it?”
Her eyes narrowed. “That’s not fair. You know what I’d rather be doing.”
I clasped her chin and tilted her head up and to the side a little.
“Then let’s get back to it.”
“But—” Okay. I wasn’t going to kiss someone who was protesting this much.
Unclenching my hands from her, I tried to give her space, but there wasn’t anywhere for me to go.
“Talk to me.”
She rolled her eyes. “Now you want to talk? Two seconds ago you didn’t.”
“Lea,” I said, and waited.
She huffed out a breath and glanced at something on the wall behind me so she wasn’t looking directly into my eyes.
“I just need to know that you want this too. Because I’ve wanted it so much that ithurts, Vail.” The ache in her voice was palpable.
She gazed up into my eyes and I saw the fire there. The naked wanting. I hoped she could see it mirrored back to her from me.
“I know exactly what you mean. Do you know why I dragged you out here? Because I couldn’t stand everyone getting to see how good you look. And because I wanted to keep you for myself. I don’t care how that sounds. It’s the truth.” Intensity bled through my voice and I guess I wasn’t holding back anymore. The time to go for it was now.
“Shit, the things you say.” She closed her eyes.
“What about them?”
Her eyes opened. “They make me want you more.”
“Good. Have me.”
Our lips crashed together and there was no more hesitation. We moved with intention and without reservation. Our tongues battled each other and then decided to stop fighting and work together for our mutual benefit.
I did hear a ripping noise, but I didn’t know if it was her dress or mine.
“What are you wearing under your dress?” I said in between deep kisses.
