Page 49 of The Love We Make

Mimi exhales a ragged breath, before she leans closer to me again. Before our lips meet again, properly this time, lingering, the tip of her tongue skating along my lower lip.

Her hand rides up my arm and comes to rest against the back of my head. Her fingers push into my hair. The next brush of our lips is filled with intention and, judging by what I feel coursing through me, a whole lot of lust. Does she feel this too? I briefly open my eyes and all I see on Mimi’s face is open-lipped desire. I curl my arms around her waist and pull her close. Our lips meet again and again and, each time, they open wider. Each time, I let more of her in—not unlike what I’ve been doing since I met her. Since she invited me to dinner at her house just after we met.

Juan and Imani’s words bounce around my head. It’s okay to change your mind about things. But this isn’t about changing my mind. It’s about being in this moment with Mimi and kissing her over and over again. About exploring her soft, pillowy lips and never wanting this kiss to stop. It’s about this magical space she carved out for herself on this rooftop and where she brought me so we could have a quiet lunch. But any food is off the menu now. My stomach is tripping over itself. My body has no clue what’s happening because I haven’t kissed someone like this in decades. Because this is not how you protect yourself and your fragile little heart.

CHAPTER22

MIMI

Even though I’m surprised, Nora’s lips on mine feel right. As though my lips are the only sensible place for hers to settle. As though, despite everything she has said, it was inevitable that, eventually, they would.

I certainly didn’t bring her up here to kiss—to have her kiss me like this. I just wanted to hang out, luxuriate in her company because the opportunity presented itself. But now what? What happens after this kiss ends? If Nora’s tight grasp on my back is anything to go by, I don’t have to worry about this kiss ending any time soon. So I let her kiss me. I enjoy the exquisite sensation of Nora Levine’s tongue dancing in my mouth for as long as she’ll let me.

I can easily predict what will happen next. She’ll be all bashful and want to pretend it never happened. If she were anyone else, I wouldn’t let her get away with more of that nonsense, but I have such a soft spot for Nora. And we’re still kissing. I keep pulling her to me, keep planting my lips on hers, keep her close to me.

Our bodies press together and to run a hand over her strong back again, and give my fingers free rein over the skin of her neck, is divine. One thing I do know: I’d like to do much more with Nora than just kiss. But there’s no point in getting ahead of myself. Knowing what I know about her, she’ll probably pull back again. She’ll make herself go through a completely unnecessary song and dance again; she’ll push the limits of logic again to justify why on earth she ended up kissing me on this rooftop. She’ll blow hot and cold again and Nora can do whatever she likes, of course, but I need to make sure I don’t get pulled in past the point of no return. I’m not going to twist myself in knots to accommodate someone who is emotionally unavailable.

Although, as this kiss deepens, I’m also more than willing to give her the benefit of the doubt. Maybe she’ll be so blown away by it, she won’t have room in her heart for regret. But that my mind is even going there in the throes of this kiss is evidence enough of Nora’s boundaries. I’m a good sport, but I’m not in the habit of convincing people to try dating me. Either they want to, or they don’t. And I won’t be taking the next step. The ball’s still firmly in Nora’s court.

That doesn’t stop me from prolonging this kiss, partly because I don’t want it to end and partly because I’m afraid that once it does, it will be all over forever. She’ll retreat back into her shell.

But my skin buzzes and my blood beats hard in my veins. A tingle spreads from my belly to between my legs. How can she be this good a kisser? Shouldn’t she be out of practice? But it’s not the skill that counts, it’s the two people doing the kissing. Right now, it feels like Nora and I were made to kiss, to have our lips find each other time and time again. To have our tongues twirl into each other’s mouth. To have our bodies this close to each other. But even the best, the most rapturous and addictive kisses must come to an end.

Our faces retreat, but our hold on each other remains. I’m not letting her go and she’s not letting go of me either.

“I—I don’t know what to say,” Nora says.

“You don’t have to say anything.”

“We can’t just stand here in silence.” Her body moves against mine as she chuckles.

“We can for a little bit.”

“Do you, um, want to come to my house tonight?” Nora asks.

I nearly do a double take. “Yes.” I nod vigorously. “I would like that very much.”

“Me too.” She sucks her lower lip between her teeth.

“Are you thinking dinner? Should I bring anything?”

“I’ll make sure there’s food in case you’re hungry.” She runs her fingertips along the side of my shoulder.

“Do you want to have that lunch now?”

“I can’t do food right now. I’m, um… No, that’s not going to work.” She pulls back a bit and puts her other hand on her belly. “Things are all over the place in here.”

“I get it.”

“I want you to know that… I haven’t done this lightly,” Nora says. “Not that I planned it. I didn’t. How could I? But, um, it means something to me.”

I swallow something out of my throat. “It means something to me as well.”

“I’m of half a mind to kiss you again.” Nora surprises me again. Maybe, once she lets go, she’s all in. There’s no stopping her.

“Only half?” I joke.

She shakes her head and leans in again.

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