Page 53 of Forbidden King (Magnolia Falls)

“Well then, I guess there’s a new question for you.”

I reached for the flower in her hand. I don’t know why I did it. I ran the yellow petals along her bottom lip slowly. Back and forth. My free hand moved to cover the side of her neck, while my thumb grazed along her jaw. My mouth watered at the way her plump lips parted for me. “Do I want to kiss you? That’s the question? Of course, I’ve thought about it.”

Her eyes fell closed, and she whispered. “Then do something about it.”

thirteen

Saylor

The feelof the petals grazing along my bottom lip, while his hand was wrapped around the side of my neck, thumb slowly tracing the line of my jaw… was overwhelming.

I’d never been so turned on from just a hand on my face.

This made no sense.

This attraction. This pull. It was like nothing I’d ever experienced.

“Can’t go there, Saylor.” His voice was gruff, and my eyes sprung open.

Mortification set in as I searched his gaze and realized he wasn’t going to kiss me.

Here I was, panting over the man who was barely touching me, and he was turning me down.

The feeling was familiar in ways I couldn’t begin to explain. This feeling in my life like I wasn’t good enough. This battle I had with myself about not allowing anyone to make me feel that way again.

I stepped back immediately.

“Got it. Then let’s stop playing games, okay?” I moved around the counter and locked the register before grabbing my purse.

He just stared at me with this look I couldn’t quite pinpoint. I knew Kingston Pierce better than most. He was a good man with a big heart. He’d never intentionally hurt me.

But did that make the situation any better? Not really.

Did anyone intentionally hurt anyone? I don’t know. But it wasn’t much of a defense either.

I walked toward the door, and he followed me outside as I turned to lock the bookstore up. When I glanced over at him, he looked like he’d just committed a crime.

“I’m fine, King. You don’t have to feel bad about it. I never expected anything to happen.” I started walking, and he found his stride beside me.

“The only thing I feel bad about is you hearing me in the bathroom. That was so fucking wrong, Saylor. I just had a lot of pent-up frustration, and it was the release that I needed.”

I tried to hide my smile as I turned to look at him. “Life of a playboy, huh? Always chasing your next release?”

“It’s not like that.” He stared straight ahead.

“Your house is in the other direction. You do not need to walk me home.”

“So if I don’t kiss you, I don’t get to walk you home?” he teased, and I slapped him on the arm.

“No. It’s not that. But I already told you... I don’t need a babysitter.”

“Well, you’re stuck with me. So, deal with it.”

I huffed and didn’t respond. We walked in silence the rest of the way. When we made our way up the steps to my front door, I paused and turned around. “I’d say you’ve done your job. I’m good.”

“Are you mad at me, Dandelion?” he asked, and he looked so tormented it took everything I had not to hug him. This was a pattern for me. Always trying to make everyone else feel better. Always putting other people’s feelings first and my own needs second.

“I’m not mad. Not at all. I’m just…” I shook my head and looked away.

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