“I… uh…”
FOURTEEN
TALLY
My heart was going crazy, battering against my ribs like it wanted to beat out of my chest. My throat felt tight and my head spun.
I was terrified of losing Alec.
If we started a relationship and it didn’t work out, that could spell the end of our friendship. But things had changed anyway. We’d kissed and shared a bed, and he’d told me he had feelings for me.
There was no going back.
Whatever happened, our relationship would be irrevocably changed. Now, it was just up to me to decide what shape I wanted that change to take.
I scraped my teeth over my lip and wiped my hands on my shorts. “You’re certain there’s enough chemistry between us for something real? Something that could last?”
He nodded. “Not a doubt in my mind.”
“Then prove it.”
With a glance at my croissant, he asked, “Are you going to finish that?”
I sighed. At this point there was no chance in hell. I’d have to come back and get another one when I regained my appetite. “No, I’m done.”
He stood and rounded the table, holding his hand out to me. I placed my hand on his and let him pull me to my feet. Hand-in-hand, we circled the slatted wall. A stranger to our left buried their face in a newspaper but neither of us looked at them as we made our way out of the bakery.
“What are we doing?” I asked as Alec led me down the street toward the resort.
He smirked, and the expression had a flirty edge to it. “I am proving to you that we have plenty of chemistry.”
“How?”
“With a kiss, if you’ll let me. Maybe more, depending on what you’re comfortable with.” He stopped, and turned to face me. “Seriously, Tally, your comfort is the most important thing to me, so if you’re not ready for anything at all right now, then we can just lie side-by-side on the bed and talk.”
I swallowed, imagining how it might feel to release control of the sparks of electricity I’d sensed between us during our “pretend” kiss.
“I’d like a kiss,” I admitted.
“Then we’ll start with that and go from there,” he said, giving my hand a gentle squeeze and continuing along the sidewalk.
At the resort, we skirted around the edge of the lobby, eager to avoid anyone we might know, and went straight to the elevator. We managed to get to our room without running into any acquaintances. Alec’s hands were irritatingly steady as he unlocked our door.
Inside, it suddenly struck me that I was about to kiss my best friend. This time, it wouldn’t come out of nowhere. I would be expecting it. And somehow, that made it all the more terrifying.
A little exhilarating too.
“Are you sure about this?” Alec asked, letting go of my hand and putting a few feet of distance between us.
“Yes.”
Really, what choice did I have? Things were going to change between us regardless of what decision we made now. I’d rather take the chance that we might, maybe, be able to have a wonderful new relationship together than hold back out of fear and lose him completely.
He put his hands on my hips and backed me against the wall. His big, strong body caged me in and the wall prevented me from escaping the sensual gravity of his presence.
Slowly, without hesitation, he lowered his head toward mine. Unable to resist the anticipation, I stretched onto my toes and touched my lips to his.
The kiss was gentle, soft, but then a deep growl rumbled in his throat, and he pinned me more forcefully against the wall. I parted my lips, and he deepened the kiss, sweeping his tongue inside and stealing my ability to think rationally.
