Page 31 of The Substitute Fiancée

Alexander stands, and for a moment we face each other in silence. Him—tall, so close I can smell his scent: cedarwood and something deeper, unmistakably masculine. He lifts a hand, brushes my cheek with the back of his fingers, then tilts my chin up. His skin is warm against mine. Blood pounds in my temples, my breath catches in my throat.

“It’s going to be okay,” he murmurs, so softly only I can hear. “It’s just a kiss.”

No. It’s not just a kiss.

It’s the kiss I’ve been waiting for my entire life. But to him, it means nothing.

“We don’t have to if you don’t want to,” he whispers, giving me the choice.

He isn’t forcing me, and I know that if I refuse, he’ll respect it and find another solution.

“We’ll do it.”

A gentle smile curves his lips. Then he leans in slowly.

I see his eyes close. I close mine. And his lips touch mine.

My heart stops.

They’re soft. Warm. Hesitant at first, like he’s testing, exploring.

Then surer.

His other hand settles at the small of my back, pulling me closer. My body ignites at the contact.

It’s… it’s… my God.

Then his tongue brushes my lips, asking permission to enter.

A shiver runs through me from head to toe.

My breath falters. I feel suspended over a void.

My hands find his chest, clutch his shirt. I need something to hold onto, or I’ll fall.

A soft, barely audible moan escapes my mouth.

And the sound seems to fuel him.

He deepens the kiss.

I feel like he’s tearing my soul from my body.

I melt against him, craving more. My arms wrap around his neck. My fingers tangle in his hair. I press myself against him, wanting to erase all space between us.

He responds by tightening his hold. His heart is racing as fast as mine.

When we finally part, breathless, it takes me a moment to come back to earth.

The world returns. The noise. The lights. The people.

Oh my God! What just happened?

My cheeks burn.

Alexander looks at me, eyes wide, breath unsteady. His lips are swollen. His hair tousled by my fingers.

He looks just as shaken as I feel.