Page 36 of The Flirt

She gasped, looking up at me. "I thought I was imagining things."

"What?" I jerked my head back, and she laughed. That wasn't how I expected her to react.

"I didn't know if I was making things up or if you were looking at my mouth or being flirty."

"Then let me clear up all doubts. I was being flirty, and I have been looking at your mouth obsessively."

"Oh."

Even though there were a million colors around us, I could still clearly see her blush.

"I want to kiss you so damn badly."

"Don't do it," she said, "because I'm already imagining how amazing it would be, and I'd rather not know."

"Why?" I asked, pulling her even closer until I felt her hot breath on my neck.

"Because I... this is...," she stammered. "Oh goodness, the Sazerac really was strong. I'm in New Orleans to rebuild my life, Chad."

"Okay," I said calmly, wondering where this was going.

"And, well, I'm recovering from... Seattle. I've promised myself time first before... diving into anything. I don't want to break that promise."

We swayed to the music, and I kept my hand firmly on her waist.

"I understand."

"You do?"

"Yes. I know a thing or two about promises." And recovering.

She frowned, and I realized I had to explain. "After my divorce, I realized I didn't want to put my daughter through the highs and lows of dating or knowing that her father was seeing women, so I decided to be celibate."

Her mouth hung open, and she tilted her head slightly forward. "That's got to be hard. How’s it going?"

"Very well until I met you."

"Chad..."

"I haven't been tempted, not even once. Until you. You’re sassy, fun, and I can't stay away from you."

"That's so romantic," she whispered.

"But don't worry, I will."

"Oh." She sounded almost disappointed.

Did she know how close I was to pulling her into one of these dark corners and kissing her nonstop? Just kiss her for hours until she moaned my name and begged for more. Then I’d take her somewhere else and go through every single fantasy she had, all night long. I would make her come every way there was, then start all over again.

But I couldn't, and neither could she.

Which one of us will be the strong one?

As the song ended, she sighed.

"I want to dance with you to the next song too,” I confessed. “I want to dance all night long, but it’s best if we don't."

She nodded vehemently. "One hundred percent better. It's a good thing you remembered that. I should go home anyway.” She turned slightly, then moved back. "Oh, I can't believe I drank that so fast."

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