I stopped when I was behind her, close enough that I could feel the heat of her body without touching her. I just stood there, letting the moment stretch, allowing her to decide whether she was going to tell me to leave.
If she stepped away, I would’ve let her.
My hand lifted slowly, giving her time to react, but she didn’t. My palm settled low on her waist, just above her hip. She went still under my touch as I felt her inhale. It was obvious her mind was trying to catch up with what her body was already aware of.
One second.
Two.
Three.
Nothing.
No resistance.
No rejection.
There was just silence between us again.
Little by little, my hand slid up, settling right under her rib until her breathing hitched.
“Kraven…” she rasped.
My hand stayed steady against her, feeling the way her body adjusted to it.
“This okay?” I asked.
She didn’t answer right away.
“It’s just me. You know me, Kitty.”
Gliding my fingers down from her ribs to her stomach, I made sure she felt every inch of my fingers running across her soft skin.
“Does it make it easier for you to pretend you don’t feel this between us?”
Her lower lip trembled. I wanted nothing more than to press my mouth to hers, kiss away the sadness, and claim what wasn’t mine.
“Nothing aboutyouis easy,” she replied, glancing over at me.
There was so much emotion behind her gaze. I knew they mirrored mine. There was no need for words. Our eyes spoke for themselves as I took her face between my hands, caressing the sides of her cheeks with my thumbs.
My thoughts.
My words.
They all seemed intertwined, pushing and pulling like a game of tug-of-war that never ended and could never be won.
“What do you want from me?” she whispered, peering into my chest.
I lifted her chin so I could once again look into her beautiful eyes. The pain in her voice was so tangible, it was like I could reach out and touch it and obliterate it with my bare hands, replacing it with my love instead.
Instead, I answered, “Whatever you have to give me.”
Her eyes glistened, brimming with tears. “Kraven, Julius?—”
“That’s never stopped me before.”
Her lips started quivering, unable to form words now. Moving on pure instinct, I kissed her forehead, resisting the urge to make her mine.
