Now that shocks me to the point I rock back on my heels. His arm stabilizes me. “Really? Why didn’t you…”
He releases a breath that sounds like a balloon deflating. “Because it was wrong. You were engaged. I’m not the kind of man to poach or cheat.”
“I know.” Something warm is spreading through my body at his words. I don’t interrupt when he continues.
“You’re exactly the kind of person I just knew needed to be in my life—whether that’s as a lifelong friend or more.” He tugs at one of my curls before letting it go. “Is it wrong I’m grateful that your ex imploded your lives so we can have a chance at more?”
His fingers drag along my cheek, down over my throat, before dancing delicately over my exposed collarbone. My pulse is tapping out its rhythm instaccatoat the waiting as he explores every bared inch of skin he can reach.
Reverently.
“Troy…” My voice comes out as a breathless whisper. “You make it hard to think.”
“How about I make it impossible?”
Before I can ask what he means, his mouth finds mine. Slow. Like he’s afraid he’ll startle me away if he moves too fast.
Our kiss deepens, tasting of the sweet honey and sugar we ate just moments ago. I slide my hands to the back of his neck, anchoring myself to him when every part of my insides feels as if they’re rearranging to make room for the growing size of my heart as our lips taste and retreat over and over.
When he pulls back, I recognize nothing that doesn’t have to do with him. There’s only the sound of our breathing; the warmth of his hands. The smell of his cologne and the way our foreheads rest against each other. His words are filled with restraint. “We have to stop.”
“I don’t want to,” my voice is a rasp.
My words break his restraint. His lips find mine again and again until time and space fade away along with the warmth of the sun. In each exchange, I’m giving him more than just desire.
I’m placing my trust in him.
The kind of connection I never thought I’d feel again.
It’s terrifying and impossible to stop, but I’m not certain I want to.
Not now.
26
TOUCHDOWN (TD) – BALL CROSSES INTO THE OPPONENT'S END ZONE.
Tension fills our drive back to the villa. The second we made it back to the car, Troy reversed so fast, I was wondering if there was a problem.
That is, until Troy took my free hand and laid it on his thigh.
Now, I understand what’s driving him as it’s the same intensity inside of me.
I feel the strain pressing against his pants. Part of me wants to snark to diffuse the tension. Something like, at least it wasn’t his important third leg that was injured by that bad tackle, but every time my gaze wanders in his direction, I note the way his jaw is clenched and withhold my words.
Now isn’t the time for jokes, nor the past. It’s edging into something more. Something just for us.
I try to edge my hand away when he presses his down on top of it.
Hard.
If the gritty tone of his voice was anything to go by, Troy is feeling the sexual tension between us as strongly as I am. “I need you to be touching some part of me, Maya.” His eyes drift over to mine in the twilight for a brief second. “Don’t let me go.”
“I won’t,” I whisper.
When he drops the gear, I trace my finger along the seam of his pants, feeling his muscles bunch beneath. He let out a growl causing my lips to curve into a brief smile. “I’m going to make you pay for that.”
All too soon, after a drive that felt too long as anticipation suffocates us, I let out a relieved sigh as I spy the castle ahead. When he takes the turn onto the villa drive, spreading gravel everywhere. I let out a carefree laugh. “It’s a good thing you don’t have neighbors.”
