Page 59 of Sparks Still Fly

“Do you really think I resent you?”

I nod, looking down at my lap.

“I don’t,” she says simply. And I believe her, because it feels like Maeve and I are finally done lying to each other about our feelings.

“Do you think you were ever in love with me?” The question comes out in a whisper, her voice barely audible. I look up at my favorite pair of blue eyes, finding them swirling with uncertainty.

As is usually the case, my brain shuts down around this woman, so my mouth moves and words come out without any deliberation. “I’ve never not been in love with you. Not since you nearly did a face plant on a New York City sidewalk. Not since I saw you dancing very badly on a computer screen. Not since you first said be safe, kissed your fingers, and brought them to the screen.”

“You saw that?” Her blue eyes widen in a comical way, and it makes me want to laugh, but I know that if I do, this moment will be gone.

“I saw it, and I wished you’d do it again every time after that. For years, I wished you’d do it again.” Her hands are gripping her knees so tightly I’m afraid she’s going to bruise herself, so I gently take them both in my hands. “Okay?”

She shakes her head as tears well in her eyes, her lips tremble, and a soft sob escapes from the back of her throat. Her face twists into an expression of pain, and she desperately tries to turn away, but I take her face in my hands, bringing her gaze back to mine.

She fills her lungs, steadying herself once more as I wipe the two tears that have fallen down her cheeks.

“Do you ever want to kiss me?” Her voice is so sweet that I can almost taste it as the words land on a whisper against my lips.

“Only when I’m breathing.”

A breath leaves her mouth on a sigh. “Then kiss me, Owen.”

I don’t have to be told twice. My lips are on hers faster than I can pull her into me, and when I do, she shimmies herself right onto my lap, straddling me. Our kiss is hungry, because when you go seven years without a taste of the thing you love most, of the person you need most, it’s impossible not to lose control.

My tongue swipes at her lips, and she opens for me on a whimper.

“Oh fuck, please make that sound again,” I say into her mouth. Instead, she rolls her hips until we’re perfectly aligned. Even through all our layers of clothing, I can feel her heat, and I have no doubt she can feel how hard I am.

She rocks into me again, and I grab onto her hips as I suck in a breath, holding it.

“You’ve stopped breathing. Must not want to kiss me anymore.” Even now, she’s taunting me. And I fucking love it.

“I want to do absolutely unimaginable things to you.” I take in her flushed cheeks and the way her lips are parted.

“Like what?” Her gaze stays focused on my lips.

“Things that have you moaning and writhing underneath me. I want to touch, kiss, and taste every inch of your skin.” I tease that spot under her ear that makes her close her eyes and moan. “I want to do whatever it takes to have you waking up next to me every morning so I can worship your body. So, I can do all the things that make you feel wanted, loved, and cherished. Things that make you come with my name on your lips again.” She rocks into me again, and I don’t hide the groan that builds in my throat. I want her to know exactly what she does to me. She opens her eyes, meeting my gaze. “I want to do everything with you, fengári mou.”

“Okay,” she whispers. “But you really need to stop talking now, or I’m going to come on your lap before we get to any of those things.” She’s panting, lips parted, and eyes focused on my mouth, where a smile takes over my face.

“I’d really rather you come when you’re naked and in my bed, but if you must...” I take her hips and move her over me one more time, grinding my teeth at the feel of her body melting onto mine.

“Owen,” she moans. “We shouldn’t.” My whole body seizes up at hearing those words.

We shouldn’t. What? Why?

I swallow the words down and reposition her so she’s sitting on my lap and not on my throbbing erection. As I look down at where my hands rest on her hips, her hold on my neck tightens, and she pulls my face up. I greedily take in her flushed cheeks and sapphire-blue eyes.

“Not because I don’t want to. Because look at me... I’m dry-humping you and practically coming in my pants. I just...” She shakes her head and closes her eyes tightly. It’s so rare to get a moment where Maeve doesn’t know what to say or how to react, so I give her some time to process.

As her fingers scratch at the hair on the nape of my neck, and she exhales a slow breath, she opens her eyes again and they’re clearer now. Less fuzzy with lust.

“This is very complicated, whatever this is between us, and I need us to have a clear head about this. You’ve just said a lot of things, and I think maybe I need to say some too, and we should probably not be so close when that happens, but God, the thought of not being like this with you, of not being so close to you that I can feel you breathing makes my skin hurt.” She rests her forehead on my shoulder, and I nod in agreement because I don’t want to go back to a world where she doesn’t touch me so easily. “But we won’t talk if we stay like this. We’ll kiss, and we’ll fuck, and we’ll come, and then we’ll do it all over again. And I want that. Blimey, I want that so fucking badly, but I’m afraid if we don’t do this now I’ll bottle it and make a dog’s dinner out of this whole thing, so?—”

She suddenly straightens, jerking her body away from mine in a swift motion when she hears my laughter. Her blue eyes twinkle as she surveys my face, and a musical laugh escapes from her lips. “What’s funny?”

“You just went full on Brit on me there for a second, blondie. Slow down.” I run my hands down her arms, hoping it helps her relax a little. “Why don’t we take our tea to the living room? We can even sit on separate couches if you want.”

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