“All you have to do is take what you want. Do you realize that? I’m all yours.” I place my palm on his cheek. “Just take me, Keller.”
The tension in the air grows so thick that it feels as if one slight movement could cause an unexpected explosion between us as he studies me, his eyes flitting back and forth. The desire in them mirrors mine, but uncertainty clouds that desire.
He wets his lips.
His hand grows tighter on my side, his fingers digging deliciously into my skin.
And he lowers his head to mine.
My breath catches. I prepare myself for his mouth, for his soft lips.
My hand floats behind his head, and just when I think he’s about to finally kiss me, he rests his forehead on mine and squeezes his eyes shut.
“I... I can’t, Lilly. I’m so fucking sorry.”
The hope building in my mind vanishes in the blink of an eye, and the weird thing about it is that I’m not mad. How can I be? The man is anguished with his decision, so why would I make him feel even worse than he already does?
My hand slips from behind his head to his cheek, where I brush my thumb over his coarse scruff. “Don’t apologize, I understand. I truly do.”
His hand scoots up just another millimeter, his thumb now pressing against the underside of my breast, causing me to gasp. He offers me a stroke, so light I barely feel it, but it causes me to dig my fingers into his scalp.
“Keller,” I whisper as our noses touch, his lips so close I can almost taste them.
His thumb moves carefully and then caresses my nipple. We both suck in a sharp breath, our mouths parted, our breath mixing. My skin prickles, wanting so much more. Wanting his mouth. Wanting his touch. Wanting his entire body.
Shifting, his cheek slides along mine, his mouth next to my ear as he cups my breast. God, yes, that feels so good. I spread my legs, welcoming him as I slide my other hand to his back, holding him close.
“Take me,” I whisper, my lips dancing against his ear.
“Fuck,” he says, squeezing my breast. His teeth pull down on my ear, causing me to moan quietly yet loud enough to snap him out of the haze we’re both in. He pauses, and then in the blink of an eye, he releases my breast and pulls away, rolling toward the edge of the bed. He’s clearly in agony, his hands digging into his hair while his back rolls with tension.
The wind outside whistles past the pointed edges of the stone wall, filling the silence that’s fallen between us. My heart is beating wildly from being so close, but my mind is reeling with a mixture of anger and frustration.
Why get so close?
Why tease me?
Why make me believe that he’s actually going to make a move and then pull away at the last moment? It’s cruel.
“You should probably get to your room,” I say, trying my hardest to hold back the edge in my voice.
“Lilly... I’m sorry.”
“Stop apologizing,” I say, that frustration coming out. “Just stop, Keller.”
“Okay,” he whispers.
“Just leave.”
“Yeah,” he breathes out. “Okay.” He rises from the bed and starts to walk away, but because I’m so weak for this man, I call out to him.
“Keller?”
He looks over his shoulder. “Yes?”
“Can you at least do me one thing?”
“Anything,” he answers.
