Page 73 of The Keeper

He bent to kiss me, taking my mouth gently, licking and kissing my lower lip.

“Does it hurt today?” he asked.

“Not really. It’s sore. But a good sore, if that makes sense.”

“It does. How about the rest of you? Feeling okay?”

“Sore.” I grinned. “The good kind.”

He tucked some of my hair behind my ear. “Good.”

I searched his flushed face and heavy-lidded eyes. There were so many things I should say but my words were halted by the stillness of this moment. The heavy quiet of being in this house, in this room, with him.

Another kiss. This one more possessive. I felt myself go slack. His arms banded around my waist, holding me tight. There was something more than just the literal weight of his body pressed to mine. Something heavier. His head dropped to my forehead when he broke our kiss.

“Tell me what you’re thinking.”

“I don’t know if I can,” I whispered.

“Try.”

So many jumbled thoughts filled my mind. All of them sparked memories of this cottage. My family. What I’d lost.

Xavier slid his fingers under my chin when I tried to look away, keeping my face angled toward his. Keeping me present. After everything we’ve done and shared these last few days this moment felt the most vulnerable.

Too vulnerable. Too many feelings. But standing here with him like him felt…safe.

“When I leave,” I paused when he brushed his thumb over my mouth, “I want my last memory of this house to be of you here with me.”

Some type of realization or acceptance or confirmation crossed his features. He bowed his head and swallowed before looking at me.

His lips moved over mine in a whisper of warmth and softness. He licked the seam of my lips slowly, almost asking permission to be let inside. It’s so different from any kiss we’ve shared. There’s no frantic lust. No overt possession.

This is how we’d kiss if we were actually together.

His fingers went into my hair, tugging so softly I almost couldn’t feel it. He simply savored me. This kiss just might be the one that does me in. The slow dance of his tongue. The firm pressure of his mouth. This was the most tender, passionate kiss of my life.

It’s everything I wanted. He’s everything I wanted. Everything I dreamed about.

Everything I didn’t deserve. I had to stop it. I was losing control.

I pulled away. “Xavier.”

“Victoria.”

“Okay good. We know each other’s names.” I wriggled out of his arms and paced the floor. “We need to—“

The shrill ringing of my cell phone interrupted me. Of course. Always a phone. I pulled it out of my pocket, looked at the screen and nearly threw it across the room.

Not now.

NOT NOW.

I silenced it, letting out a frustrated breath.

“Boyfriend?” Xavier lifted an eyebrow.

“Not quite,” I snapped.

---