I reach over and push up against her chin, so she closes her lips. "Oh my god." She swallows. "That was...hot."
Her eyes gleam.
"Also, if you were hoping to put me off by declaring your intentions, it’s had the opposite effect."
I shake my head. "You don’t want to see the ugliness I have in me. Or touch the damage that's changed me forever. I don’t travel light. I carry too many ghosts."
She closes the distance to me, until the tips of her shoes brush mine. Her green eyes shine like dew on spring grass. Her lips part. She’s danger wrapped in beauty. A promise I can’t trust myself to keep. I’d hurt her. I’d destroy her faith in romance and splinter the stars in her eyes. And yet, I can’t make myself step away. Not when she goes up on tiptoe and raises her chin. Not when she wraps her hand around my neck and urges me to dip my head.
I allow her to pull me down halfway to her lips, then stop, my gaze fixed firmly on her plump mouth. My heart swelling in my chest until I’m sure it’s going to break through my ribcage.
She tries to pull me down further, but I don’t give in.
Her lips turn down. "You’re stubborn."
"I am."
"And pig-headed."
"I’ve been called worse."
She licks her lips. The blood drains to my groin.
She jumps up, still unable to brush her lips against mine, and makes a sound of frustration. "So not fair that you’re so much taller than me." She pouts.
Those luscious lips form a moue which plays havoc with my blood pressure. My pulse rate shoots up. She’s so damn sexy. And tempting. And seductive. One taste. Just one taste… How would that feel?
She huffs, then begins to move back.
That’s when I lower my head and capture her mouth with mine.
10
Harper
Ohmigod. Oh my God.Oh. My. God.He’s kissing me.
James Hamiltonis kissing me.
My best friend’s very hot, very sexy, very alpha older brother is kissing me.
I part my lips. He makes a rumble of approval in his chest. Then he slides his tongue over mine and…I. Am. Lost. Sinking. Spinning.
He deepens the kiss, and I feel it all the way through my toes. It’s as if he’s sucking my very spirit out. My heart skips a beat. The very core of my being flutters.
He digs his fingers into the root of my hair. His fingertips graze my scalp and a shudder shakes me to the core. My entire body seems to vibrate with need. I’m aware of my ponytail coming loose. My hair flows around my face.
I’m vaguely aware that I’ve lost my hair tie. He releases his hold on my hair for a moment. I begin to straighten wondering what he’s up to, but then he hauls me closer until I’m plasteredagainst that hard, massive chest, and I forget everything but the sensations of being held in his powerful arms.
The heat of his body surrounds me, cocoons me. I’ve never felt this safe. Or this desired. This turned on. The contradiction drives me a little crazy. Lust fires up my blood.
I close my eyes and kiss him back deeply, savoring the softness of his tongue, the hardness of his lips, the bump-bump-bump, frantic beating of his heart which echoes mine. If there is a heaven it is surely here in his arms? My chest hurts. My pussy clenches. My toes tingle. I’m sure I’ll self-combust with this need to crawl inside his skin and fuse my body with his.
And then, I’m free. So quickly, I stumble back. He rights me with a touch on my shoulder. I feel the reverberations echo through my body. Then he releases me. Steps back.
I look up into his stunning face, feeling like I’ve stumbled onto something magical and beautiful and earth-shattering and everything I've ever imagined but didn't think possible.
"Wow," I manage to whisper.
