Page 85 of Elusive Promise

She didn't want to give herself permission to answer that question. Clearing her throat, she tried to get back to what they'd been talking about. "So, three years—that's a lot of utility bills to pay for a place no one lives in. It's not just that you want to have a place to stay in if you need it, it's because you need the lights to be on at home. You need to imagine this place as it was, filled with family—your family."

He gazed into her eyes. "Maybe that's part of it."

"I told you I don't have a place that's home anymore, but there was one Christmas a year after my mom married Harry when we went to a cabin in Aspen for the holidays. And it felt like I was living inside a holiday card. There was a roaring fire, a live Christmas tree that smelled amazing, presents under a huge tree, and hot chocolate with marshmallows. But it wasn't just all those things that made me smile—it was that my mom was so happy. She and Harry would kiss under the mistletoe, accidentally getting caught there dozens of times." She smiled at the memory. "I hadn't seen her smile or laugh like that in years. I felt the love between them and also the love they had for me. It still stands out in my mind as the perfect holiday. And sometimes when I'm far from home, or I haven't talked to my mom in a while, I let myself go there in my head."

"Have you ever actually been back?"

"No. I'm afraid to ruin my favorite daydream. I guess what I'm saying is that I can understand why you want to keep this place as it is, or as it was, even if you never come back."

"I don't want to ruin the daydream, either," he admitted.

"But you brought me here. Why?"

He thought for a moment. "Because I wanted to show it to you. And don't ask me to explain that."

She smiled as she impulsively brushed a strand of hair away from his eyes. "You don't have to explain. I know why. I'm just a little…afraid, Jared."

"The woman who never backs down from a challenge? You're afraid? Of what?"

"I don't want to hurt you."

"Or you don't want to get hurt?" he countered, his knowing gaze clinging to hers.

"Maybe a little of both. You and I—we have nowhere to go."

"I've been telling myself that since I met you. It doesn’t seem to make me want you less." He paused. "But the real question is—what do you want?"

She licked her lips and knew she had only one answer to give, one response that was honest and true and terrifying. "You, Jared. I want you."

Twenty

Parisa expected Jared to react with a kiss, not a long, contemplative stare. "Maybe the real question is what do you want?" she said, turning things around.

"I want you, too."

"Then why are you just staring at me…"

A smile slowly spread across his mouth. "I'm building anticipation."

Relief ran through her that she hadn't completely misread him. "We've had enough anticipation." She stood up and held out her hands.

He slipped his hands into hers as he rose.

"I think you'll like this even more than anticipation." She pulled him closer, then let go of his hands, so she could wrap her arms around his neck and pull his head down to hers.

As soon as their lips touched, she felt as if a thousand firecrackers went off in her head. Her blood thundered through her veins. Her heart pounded against her chest and tingles of desire ran through every nerve ending. It was like a giant ocean wave had swept her up, and she might either wipe out or have the ride of her life.

She wanted that ride. She wanted Jared with a need that was thrilling and terrifying.

With the physical connection would come emotions, and those emotions could make her vulnerable. But she wasn't thinking about what would come later, only about what would come next.

She wanted to be with Jared. She wanted to know this man even more intimately than she already did.

And Jared seemed to want the same. His hands ran under her shirt, bringing more delicious heat, as his fingers stroked her spine, sending shivers through her.

His tongue swept into her mouth, a beautiful, joyful, intimate dance.

They tasted and took what they pleased, until they both finally had to come up for air.

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