Page 40 of Wild Dreams

I was playing a dangerous game, but I didn't want to back off. I was tired of doing what I should do or what I was expected to do. I liked spending time with Marigold, and I didn't want to leave. It was as simple as that.

At her nod, I clicked Play on the movie, and it continued to roll with me not absorbing the lines or the scenes. Marigold laughed more easily, her legs folded under her, and her body angled slightly toward me. Was that on purpose?

"This is so ridiculous and over the top." Her hand landed on my thigh, and my abs contracted in response. "I haven't watched this movie in years." Marigold glanced over at me, and she must have seen the tense expression on my face. "Are you okay?"

"Why wouldn't I be?" Because you're touching my thigh, and your hand is only inches from my dick, who would love to get to know you better?

Marigold frowned. "You look tense. You don't have to worry about Oakley. They said he's going to be fine. A tech will check on him throughout the night. You can relax."

"It's not that." Then I winced. Why had I said that?

Her brow furrowed. "Then what is it?"

I didn't know I liked you. I never saw you as a woman I could persue. I'm losing my mind with want, and you're the only one who can help me.Instead, I touched the wrist of the hand that was still resting on my thigh, the heat searing through my jeans.

Marigold's gaze moved to our joined hands, and she attempted to move hers. "I'm so sorry. I hadn't realized."

Was she not affected when she touched me? Pain seared my chest at that thought.

But her pulse fluttered under my fingers. She was nervous. Instead of removing her hand, I kept it there, and Marigold turned slightly on the couch to face me. "Is everything okay?"

"I don't think it is." My voice was low. I wanted to pull her into my lap and show her what she did to me. But she wasn't ready for that. And I wasn't sure she'd want that.

Instead, my hand traveled up her arm; goose bumps followed my touch.

"Chance? What are you doing?"

"I don't know." Was this a colossal mistake? My heart was hammering, and I couldn't seem to form a complete thought. The only thing that ran through my head was how much I wanted to kiss her and feel her pressed against my body. I wanted everything, and I wanted it now.

Finally, I cupped her cheek. "I need to know how you feel."

Her eyes widened.

I leaned in closer, our breath mingling before my lips touched hers, tentatively at first. Then more firmly when she didn't push me away. Her hand clutched my thigh now as if she didn't want to let me go.

It was the sign I needed to deepen the kiss, sweeping my tongue into her mouth. Her other hand roamed across my chest as if she was seeking for something to ground her in this moment.

She tasted like chocolate and whipped cream, warm and cold, sweet and sugary.

When she moaned, the sound urged me to pull her into my lap. She settled over me, her hands roaming across myshoulders, my chest. It was like we'd given ourselves permission to let go. To just be.

I loved it.

With one hand on her hip, I kissed her jaw, her neck. Her head fell back to give me access. Marigold was beautiful when she let go. Her blond hair cascading down her back, her bare skin inviting me to suck.

Her fingers dove into my hair, twisting and pulling.

She was just as desperate as I was.

Then she stilled. "What are we doing?"

I wanted to keep going, to outlaw any talking, but this was bigger than a hookup. She deserved some kind of explanation. "I want you."

Her lips pursed. "But then what? You don't want a relationship."

My throat tightened. I wished she hadn't brought up the one thing that prevented anything from happening between us.

"Do we have to worry about that now?" My hands caressed her back, and I urged her to press herself more tightly to my body. My brain was saying one thing and my body another. I didn't want to stop or have a conversation about all the reasons why we couldn't work.

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