Page 51 of Taming Georgia

“I know.” I force out a chuckle because he’s right. “It’s just not working for me.”

I hate that when I look at him, I still feel like the seventeen-year-old girl who thought he was the most incredible boy in the world.

“Do you know why I have to leave? It’s because when I look at you, I still see the high school boy who stole my heart right before he broke it. After all this time, I didn’t think you still had any hold over me. But being here with you, I realize that you do.”

He pushes his fingers onto his temples. “You don’t even know me, Georgia. You don’t know what you felt. We were kids.” His words come out short, and frustration lines his voice.

“I know you. I did then, and I do now. It’s you who can’t see me, Wyatt. I get that you’ve been through more heartache than most. The world hasn’t been kind to you, but none of that is my fault. Maybe you need someone to blame. I just don’t understand why it’s me.” I sigh, and a sad smile lines my face.

“Good-bye,” I say before turning and walking away.

“Wait.”

I stop.

Wyatt closes the distance between us. I feel his presence behind me. My body hums when he’s near regardless of whether I want it to or not. He’s always elicited this reaction in me. It’s visceral, unstoppable. I hold my breath in anticipation.

I don’t turn around. Instead, Wyatt circles around me until we’re face-to-face.

His blue eyes study me in a manner that I haven’t seen since high school. His features are softer. His eyes appear almost sad. He raises his hands up to my face, taking my cheeks beneath his palms.

My chest burns from lack of air, and I pull in a ragged breath to relieve the pressure. His gaze continues to sear me with its intensity as it travels from my eyes to my lips. He leans in, pulling my head toward his.

Wyatt’s lips press against mine, and a whimper escapes my mouth, only to be caught by his. The beats of my heart echo loudly in my ears, and my knees feel weak. I hold on to Wyatt’s waist, so I don’t fall over. When my hands touch his sides, he groans, and the kiss intensifies.

He moves his hands up my face and threads his fingers into my hair. Our kiss is desperate now. It’s been so long, but my lips remember his like it was yesterday.

They need his.

Want his.

Crave his.

I kiss Wyatt like I might never kiss him again.

Not one kiss that I’ve experienced has come close to the way I feel when Wyatt kisses me. Knowing this now, I commit this moment to memory. If I never kiss Wyatt again, I want to remember it all, every little detail.

His hands tug at my hair. My scalp burns just enough at the pressure to drive me crazy with lust. His lips caress mine. His teeth pull my lip between them. His tongue dances with mine. His moans are quiet, desperate, and insanely hot.

The pressure builds within my core. I press my body to his, needing to feel him. I want him more than I’ve wanted anyone.

And then he stops and steps back.

I gasp at his absence.

“What?” I breathe heavily. “Why?” My mind is a jumbled mess of emotions.

He shoves his hands through his hair. “Just come back tomorrow. Okay?”

“Why did you kiss me?” I demand.

Wyatt’s head falls back, and he groans toward the ceiling before catching me with his glare. “I don’t know,” he sighs. “Because I fucking needed to feel your lips.”

He takes a few powerful steps away from me as if he needs to distance himself. He glowers in my direction. “I hate the fact that you’re here. I hate that I want you so fucking much that it’s painful. You’re right. Just go.” He waves his hand toward the door.

“Why?” I yell. “What did I do?”

His shoulders fall. “You were the one bright light I had. My life was shit. That school and everyone in it was shit. But it was all worth it to walk into class to see you every day. I thought you were different than them. I wanted to believe it even though I knew better. Sure, you seem different now, maybe. But a tiger doesn’t change its stripes, Georgia. Is this a game to you? Why are you insisting on bringing everything up?” His voice shakes with anger, but underneath it all, I hear the vulnerability.

---