Page 20 of Just a Number

Interesting, it’s the age difference holding her back. Surely, if she’s not attracted to me, that would be the first thing she’d say.

“How old do you think I am?” I ask, tilting my head as I await her response.

“I don’t know, but not anywhere near forty,” she mumbles as she continues to stare down at her hands.

“I’m twenty-five,” I tell her, hoping that’s older than she thought. “Look at me.”

She shakes her head in a defiant no. I take the final step, bringing me to within a foot of her. I lower to my knees .

“What are you doing?” The red flush on her cheeks is angry in its intensity as her pale blue eyes finally meet mine.

“I’m letting you see you deserve to be worshipped.”

She closes her eyes and her chest heaves as she tries to draw in deep breaths. “We mustn’t.”

She’s not saying I don’t want to. Another positive sign.

“We could.” I reach out a hand and caress her knee, squeezing gently. She squeaks but doesn’t move. Her eyes track the movement of my hand as I smooth it over her grey trouser leg, wishing she was wearing a skirt and her legs were bare. I desperately want to push it up her thigh, but she seems flighty and I don’t want to scare her.

I keep that hand on her knee and reach the other one up to rest against her cheek. She closes her eyes and lets out a sigh as I touch her.

“Do you want me?” I rasp. My heart pounds in my chest.

“I shouldn’t.” She whispers it so quietly I wouldn’t hear it if I wasn’t waiting for her reply.

“But you do.” It’s not a question this time. It’s a declaration I know to be true.

“It’s not right.”

“What’s not right about two people who are single and attracted to each other acting on those feelings? Who would we be hurting?”

“Zack.” Her soft answer halts my hands. Her eyes spring open and pain radiates in her gaze.

“He doesn’t have to know. We can keep it between us.”

She doesn’t reply and I try to gauge her reaction.

“Can I kiss you? If you hate it or don’t want more, I’ll walk away. I won’t try again. But please, let me try.” It’s like I’m begging, but it doesn’t feel wrong. I meant it when I said she deserved to be worshipped, and I will happily kneel at her feet and do so for as long as she’ll let me.

Her eyes darken and her nod is barely noticeable. I strike while I have her agreement, pushing my hand to rest at the back of her neck as I lean forward to brush my lips to hers.

We are hardly touching, and yet, it’s like the most intense experience of my life. An electricity starts in my lips where our mouths meet and it spreads until every cell in my body is celebrating this moment. I take her mouth with more greed as I brush my tongue over the seam of her lips. I want to devour her. She finally seems to give into it, her hand tangling in my hair.

My elation soars as she kisses me back, our lips roving over each other and I can do nothing to hold back the groan that rises from deep in my belly. I worry the noise will frighten her, but she surprises me with an answering whimper.

I let her ravish my mouth, enjoying the sensation of being so close to her. My hand on her knee begins moving now, smoothing slowly up her thigh. She lets her legs fall apart, and it’s the only encouragement I need to scoot forward, placing myself between them as I suck up the needy moan she gives.

There’s heat emanating from her pussy, and I need to get closer. I break apart from her lips, intent on laying my mouth on every inch of her skin. She throws her head back, her breaths coming out in fast pants. I know how she feels. I’ve been so intent on kissing her that I forgot I needed oxygen to exist.

I trail my mouth down her neck, nipping at her skin and lathing her with my tongue as she pulls me close to her.

A noise distracts me and I try to work out what it is. Mel pulls back and raises a hand to her face, her fingers pushed against her lips as if she can’t believe we were just kissing.

From downstairs, the sound of the door slamming shut echoes towards us.

“Alex? Mum?” Zack’s voice calls.

“Fuck,” comes Mel’s pained whisper.

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