“Yes, please,” I practically moan.
His warm lips brush over mine.
I grip his shoulders and melt into him as he gently sucks my bottom lip. Then he angles his head, and his tongue is a velvet caress. He tastes like mint and chocolate. My knees go weak, and heat blossoms low in my belly.
It’s the perfect first kiss. Soft, sweet, gentle, commanding. His hand curves around my waist, and he pulls me tighter against him, the door at my back and him pressed to my front.
Phillip Madden is kissing me. I’m kissing Phillip Madden.
He walks me backwards into my apartment at the sound of voices in the hall. I nudge Parsnip out of the way so he can’t make an escape and ruin a perfect good night kiss.
Flip doesn’t stop kissing me as the door falls closed. His lipsare soft and sure, his hands firm but gentle. I feel like I’m burning up from the inside. I can’t get enough of the taste of him, of the feel of his tongue sliding against mine, or his body pressing me into the wall.
He pulls back and cages me with his arms, gazing down at me with hot eyes. “A kiss is as far as this goes tonight, Tally.”
I blink up at him, momentarily stunned and suddenly uncertain. “Did I do something wrong?”
“No, kitten.” He kisses my cheek and sighs. “But I have to be honest with you about something.”
“Okay.” He looks so serious. I swallow down my nerves.
“When you asked me to take your virginity, I thought it was only because of my experience, and that hurt more than I expected it to.”
“I’m so sorry,” I croak, mortified all over again.
“I know. And I know it wasn’t intentional. I have baggage, more than you realize probably. I loved someone once, and she didn’t want me for me, and that…broke me for a long time. I spent a lot of years seeking pleasure with no connection, and I can’t go there again. Especially not with you. So I need you to let me go at my pace, okay?”
“Okay,” I whisper.
“We’re going to take this real slow, kitten.” He kisses each knuckle and presses my palm to his cheek.
My knees go weak at the sweet affection.
He brushes his lips over mine. “I’m going to kiss you one last time, and then I’m going home.”
“Can this one be a little longer then?” I ask.
“One taste of you, Tally, and I’m already addicted.” He slants his mouth over mine.
It’s better than the first kiss. I’m obsessed with the feel of his lips, the softness of his tongue as he explores my mouth. The gentle way he touches me. He wraps his free arm around my waist and holds me against him as our tongues brush.
It’s the perfect good night kiss.
The kind that leaves me aching and needy.
Desperate for more of him.
Eventually he pulls back, and the dark look in his eyes nearly brings me to my knees.
He strokes my cheek one last time. “’Night, Tally.”
“’Night, Phillip.”
CHAPTER 14
TALLY
The door falls closed behind Flip.
