Page 50 of Entwined With You

His smile is mostly in his eyes, but it lights up his entire face. “Good.”

“I feel like I’m still in that bucket on the pier,” I confess. “Still falling.”

“Don’t worry. I promise I’ll catch you.”

My pulse is pounding, and the only thing I want right then is for him to kiss me. So, naturally, I speak.

“Brax…”

“Hmm?” His thumb is still teasing my lip, and I’m pretty sure all of my nerve endings are on fire.

“I think you ought to kiss me now.”

“You think so?” His mouth brushes the corner of mine as he speaks, muffling the words.

“I do. In fact I’m certain.”

He pulls back enough to hook his finger under my chin. Then he leans in and brushes his lips over mine. A featherlight touch that I feel all the way down to my core.

I hear a soft moaning sound and realize it’s coming from me. Then the kiss changes. It’s no longer soft and delicate, but hard and demanding and deep. His fingers slide into my hair, holding my head in place as he claims my mouth. His other hand slides down, cupping my breast as our kiss deepens, each of us trying to claim the other, determined to mine every bit of pleasure possible from this moment.

“Brax,” I murmur, my mouth pressed to his cheek.

“Hmm?”

I push away so I can see his face. “I feel a little guilty about kicking you out of your bed last night.”

I see the flicker of humor in his eye. He knows exactly where I’m going with this.

“Well, you should. It’s a king size bed. Plenty of room to share.”

“Exactly what I was thinking,” I say. ”Sharing is caring.”

He presses his hand over his heart. “I’m touched.”

I laugh. “Well, not at the moment, but you will be.” I slide off the sofa and hold out my hand. “Care to join me in the boudoir?”

He stands, and though I’m being a goof, his expression is nothing but heat. “Yeah,” he says. “I’d like that very much.”

I hold onto his hand and tug him toward the bedroom, then fall onto the bed while still holding his hand, which forces him to pretty much fall on me, too. He does, and we both end up laughing until I manage to squirm out from under him, then straddle him as soon as he slides all the way up the mattress.

“Definitely more comfortable than the sofa,” he says.

“Then let’s get you even more cozy.” I cup him through the soft material, and he closes his eyes, his low sigh of pleasure familiar even after all these years. But when I untie his sweats and start to tug them down, he opens his eyes and puts his hand over mine.

I tilt my head up to meet his eyes, my expression a question mark.

“I’m sorry,” he says. “I know this sounds crazy, but it feels like I’m cheating on Brina.”

I swallow, trying to clear the tears that have suddenly gathered in my throat. Then I lean forward until I can brush a kiss over his lips. “I think that’s about the sweetest thing I ever heard. But I promise you it’s not cheating.”

“Because she’s dead.” His voice is flat. Harsh.

“No. Because she wouldn’t want you to spend your life in a damn chastity belt. And because she wouldn’t want you to spend your life alone, any more than she’d want you to hide away in some mental dungeon, punishing yourself by refusing to even have fun. On the contrary, she’d want you to live your life. She’d want you to be happy.”

“Would she?”

I can’t tell if he’s asking me or teasing me, but I answer seriously. “I promise. That’s what she’d want.” I brush some of his sun-kissed hair off his forehead. “We’re not making a commitment. We’re not planning a future. We’re just attracted to each other. We’re just exploring. Having fun. That’s okay, Brax. Don’t over analyze it. The bottom line is that I like you. You make me laugh, and right now, I want you. But if you don’t want me … I mean, if you’re too confused, then—”