Page 43 of One Night

Dylan still has his arms around me and that big grin on his face. "I knew it wouldn't change."

"What?" And then I realize he means the kiss, and the chemistry between us.

"It was even better than last time."

"I know," I say, my shoulders slumping.

"Is that a bad thing?"

"No. It's good. But it's going to make this difficult." I bite my lip.

The action draws his attention to my mouth and he slowly leans down and draws my lip from between my teeth and kisses me.

"We can't do this," I whisper, even though my body disagrees as it relishes the effect his kisses have on it. "We have to slow down."

He backs up enough to see my face. "Why? I know you feel the same way I do. I can feel it."

"Which is why we need to stay apart, at least until we get to know each other."

"Amber, we can have both. We can get to know each other and do this. People do it all the time."

"Yes, and it confuses things, and takes the romance out of the relationship. It becomes all about sex and nothing else."

"So what are you saying?"

"That we need to keep our distance while we take time to get to know each other. That's what the letters are for."

"We can still do the letters but..." He glances to the side, seeming frustrated.

"I knew this wouldn't work. You said you'd try but you're already giving up after just a day."

"I'm not giving up. I just...I just don't know why we can't see each other."

"Because whenever we're together, this happens." I feel my face heating up. "I can't control myself around you."

"So don't." His voice is soft, his head lowering to the side of my neck, his lips grazing my skin. "Just let us be together."

My resolve is weakening, my body craving him. Even his scent, fresh and masculine, is intoxicating, making me want to give in.

"Dylan, I can't do this."

He stops and backs away. "Do what? Us?" He sounds panicked.

"No, I meant sex. I don't want us having sex. I was serious when I said I wanted to take this slow. I know it seems meaningless now that we've already done it, but it's important to me. I want us to take this slow. So will you do it?"

He ponders it. "What about kissing? Is that off the table because I don't know if I can agree to that."

"No kissing," I say it seriously but crack a smile. "Okay, maybe the occasional kiss, but only in a public place. Otherwise, we risk something happening."

"So you're saying I can see you? Like go out on actual dates?"

"Not yet. For now, we stick with writing letters."

"Speaking of letters," he says, "I got yours last night. It was kind of lame."

"Lame?" I push him back but he keeps me held against him. "It wasn't lame."

"It wasn't romantic. And isn't that the whole purpose of writing letters?"

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