“We did make some pretty amazing memories that week, didn’t we?”
Nodding in agreement, I’m at a loss for words. July nights by the fire, visions of Taevin in the sun and covered in sand, and watching in awe as she came to life in the glow of the festival lights all come rushing back.
I think she’s just as lost as me because as her face inches closer to mine, her eyes flutter shut only momentarily before her breath hitches in a nearly silent gasp.
She shifts on the couch, moving slowly to a stand. “It’s been a long day, I think I’m going to head to bed.”
Wanting to make sure she makes it there safely, I stand and place my hand on the small of her back, but with the way her sleep tank has shifted, my palm is met with her bare skin. I feel her tiny goosebumps rise beneath my hand, and from only the slightest touch, it feels like lightning has struck my heart, sending chills of my own straight down my spine.
God, I’ve missed her. When it comes to Tae, my body’s in tune with hers as if no time has passed at all. But time has passed. Too much of it, in fact. So much that it has me dying to feel her lips pressed against mine.Would she taste the same?
Thankfully, Tae moves toward her bedroom before I do something stupid like press her against the wall and find all sorts of answers to all sorts of questions I’ve got.
“You don’t have to walk me to my door, you know,” Tae tells me.
“Oh, I know. I don’t plan to just walk you to your door. I’m going to tuck you in too.”
She scoffs at that. “No you’re not.”
“I most certainly am. Just like old times.” I give her a wink. When she sticks her tongue out at me in response, I throw my head back in laughter. “Always the thorn in my side.”
Spinning to face me once she gets to her door, she pushes playfully at my chest. “Hey, you were the masochist who kept coming back for more,” she teases before her smile falls and her eyes drop to her hand lingering over my heart.
She moves to pull it away but I catch it and bring it back to my chest, needing to hold on to the feel of her touching me for just a moment longer. Lifting her chin, I gaze into her eyes. “I think you’re mistaken,” I tell her.
She swallows. “Is that so?”
“Yeah. You see, you used the past tense when you said that. But the thing is, I’ll never stop coming back for more when it comes to you. You’ve ensnared me for life, Thorn.”
Lifting onto her toes, our faces inch impossibly closer. When she licks her lips, my stomach clenches in anticipation.
“Sounds painful,” she murmurs, and I feel her warm breath against my lips like a caress.
It’s taking all the restraint I have left to hold back in this moment, but I need her to be the one to take this step.
“Good night, Bear,” Tae whispers against my lips as she presses the lightest kiss against the corner of my mouth.
When she pulls back just enough to take in my reaction, I lace my fingers through her hair and bring her mouth back to mine. Our lips don’t crash together in a passionate frenzy, no this is a long time coming—ten years, in fact—and I plan to take my time reacquainting myself with her lips. Gliding my tongue along the seam, she opens for me. Tae’s body sinks against my chest as we moan in harmony at our first taste of each other in nearly a decade. I savor every moment, slowly rolling my tongue against hers.
Nothing has ever felt as right asthis. This is where I belong—who I belong with.
Tae reluctantly breaks our kiss, grabbing hold of my forearms to regain her balance as she sways on her feet. Fear instantly replaces my lust, and I grab her around the waist to anchor her to me. “Are you okay?”
She buries her head in my chest and I think she’s crying when her shoulders begin to shake, until I hear her soft laughter. “I’m alright. Turns out your kisses still make me weak in the knees.”
I breathe a sigh of relief, placing a kiss on the top of her head. “You scared me, baby.”
Lifting up onto her tiptoes, she wraps her hands around my neck and pulls me down for a brief kiss. “I’m sorry for scaring you.”
“Is that all you’re sorry for?” I ask, immediately regretting opening my dumb mouth but needing to know her answer.
With her fingers threaded through my hair, she pulls back and looks me in my eyes. “If you’re asking if I’ll regret kissing you in the morning, the answer is absolutely not. In fact, I think knowing I might get another tomorrow will be the only thing that helps me sleep peacefully tonight.”
I rub my hands up and down her rib cage. “I’ll kiss you whenever you want—every hour of every day if you’d like.”
She flutters her long lashes. “I’m not sure if only once an hour will satisfy my needs.”
“I don’t remember you being so gluttonous.”
