“With you,” he said, his voice dropping, “I could wish for everything.”
My heart clenched, and Rufus pushed off from the railing and turned to me. He brushed away a strand of hair that had fallen into my face.
His eyes swam before me. The pressure in the air thickened as if a wall of humidity had settled over us. My senses heightened. His musky scent trickled up my nose. The sound of my heart drummed in my ears. My mouth dried to a desert as I reached out and grazed my fingers down the sleeve of his suit. The fibers were coarse under the pads of my fingers.
“There can’t be anyone waiting for me,” he whispered. “If there was, I would feel it. I know I would.” He took my hand and pressed it to his heart. The warmth of his body flooded my hand. “I would know them in here.”
I was breathless now. “Are you so sure?”
His fingers tightened on mine. “I am. I have to be. They would consume me, as you are consuming me.”
My gaze was pinned on his chest, and I feared looking into his eyes. I would be lost, plain and simple. He would swallow me whole.
And I wanted it.
I didn’t hesitate when he lifted my chin with a crooked finger. Our gazes met, and his warm breath washed over me.
“Never in my life have I met someone like you. I know it in my heart. I have to find that spell. I have to know that there is nothing between us.”
“We haven’t even kissed,” I croaked.
He smiled. “I can rectify that.”
There was no point arguing. Rufus slid his hand over my cheek and pressed his lips to mine.
My world ignited.
I have kissed several boys and er, um, men, but none of them set my heart fluttering. None of them stirred me the way that Rufus did. My fingers curled into his shirt until I realized that I was probably wrinkling the fabric and released my hold.
My lips parted, and his tongue danced over mine. My body flared to life under his touch, and y’all, my girl parts screamed.
Screamed!
Every inch of me wanted him. I wanted to pull him to me and lose myself in his kiss. I was drowning in Rufus Mayes, and I was enjoying every single moment of it.
When his lips left mine, I felt lost. I gasped for air, trying to remember what it was like to breathe without being locked to him.
Rufus pulled me into his chest and brushed his lips against mine. “I have to know what I’ve left behind. I want more of that, but it isn’t fair to either of us until I know for sure.”
Here was my chance. “John?”
The name felt so foreign on my tongue. No shocker there since it wasn’t his real one.
He pulled away and gave me a quizzical look.
“So, there’s something—”
My phone rang. Seriously? Right now my phone had to ring? I tried to ignore it, but it kept on going.
“Maybe you should answer that.”
“Right.”
Malene’s name flared on the screen. This better be good. Like, really good to interrupt not only the most cosmic kiss ever, but also to stop me from telling Rufus the truth.
“Hey, Malene. Is everything okay?”
“No, everything is not okay.”
