And yeah, that sounds dirty. But no, I don’t mean it that way.
Not right in this moment, anyway.
“It is,” she says. “There’s nothing between us aside from memories and a current safety crisis. Once that’s solved, you’ll move on and I’ll…”
“You’ll what?” I ask, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear.
She stills, throat working again and I can’t miss that her pulse is fluttering at the base of her throat, so fast it’s like her skin is vibrating. “I’ll figure out what my next steps will be.”
“And if I say those next steps will involve me?” I drag my fingers over her jaw, down the column of her throat, lightly brushing her skittering pulse.
“I’d say you’re wrong.”
“You think so?”Thud-thud. Thud-thud. Thud-thud.
Her chin lifts. “Iknowso.”
“Hmm.” I draw my finger along one collarbone. Then the other.
“Wh-what?” she asks.
“I think we should test that theory.”
Her eyes go wide. “T-test?”
“Yeah, baby.Test.”
“How are you—?” I lean in and she sucks in a breath, cutting off the rest of her question.
That’s okay, though.
I think we’ve spent more than enough time talking.
For the moment.
Which is why I lean closer and slowly, giving her plenty of time to stop me…
I brush my lips over hers.
TWENTY-TWO
BRIAR
I should have toldhim no.
Should have pushed him back, turned away.
He would have stopped.
I know he would have.
But some sick part of me, some pathetic and weak part wanted to be right here—his mouth on mine, his hands on my skin, his body pressed close.
So, I don’t stop him.
I don’t push him away.
And when his lips touch mine…I give in.
