He sees right through me. Of course he does.
“You can’t say things like that.”
His eyes soften. “I can, because it’s true.”
And for one terrifying second, I see it. I see what it would feel like to let him.
To stop holding myself together.
To stop performing.
To let someone else carry me for once.
The idea is so foreign it hurts.
Instead of thinking too much into it, I grip his shirt, pulling him down to meet my lips again, and allow myself to get lost in this moment with him.
Even if just for tonight.
CHAPTER 17
TO YOU, THIS IS ALL PRETEND AND FOR SHOW, BUT…
Tucker
This kiss feels like an escape.
My words touched a nerve she didn’t want to wake up, and I can feel it in the way her lips press against mine. I pull back, still pressing my body against hers on the door.
“Scottie.”
She shakes her head, the emotions written on her face. “Stop. Don’t. Just…keep doing this before I change my mind.”
I step back, putting distance between us and hating how cold the room feels without her skin on mine. She looks up at me, shocked that I did.
“I meant what I said. You have no idea what you do to me,” I say, pointing at her, feeling some type of irrational rage inside of me. “You drive me insane with the back and forth game. You don’t move when I get close or touch you, leading me to think something is there. I know, to you this is all pretend and for show, but…” My words trail off, fearing I’ve already said too much and might scare her away.
I’m so gone for this woman.
There’s no mistaking that.
She crosses her arms over her chest. “What you said before. About forgetting the voices.”
“Yeah?”
“How?” she asks. “You don’t even know me.”
I step into her again. My body pulling me toward her on its own. I lift my hand, cupping her face before my hand slides from her jaw to her throat, stopping where her pulse jumps under my palm. My eyes land there and then lift back up to hers.
“Then let me. Let me be the one who does.”
Something inside her cracks just enough that her body relaxes. Her hands find my chest, softly. No urgency in the way she touches me this time. No chasing away the feelings she was trying to hide.
I lean down, pressing my lips to hers to quiet any racing thoughts.
My hands slide to her hips, firm, pulling her closer until she’s fully pressed against me again. Close enough that I can feel the heat of her through my clothes. She grinds her hips into me. Reaching down, but not releasing her mouth from mine, I grip her behind her legs to lift her. As soon as I do, both legs wrap tightly around my waist. I slam her back into the wall, as if a primal need to claim her in so many ways rips through me.
I thrust toward her, and she moans against my lips. My cock is bursting at the seams of my jeans. Everything about Scottie turns me on. The way she sounds. The way she’s clawing at my back. The way she’s angling her head just right to allow me to deepen the kiss.
