Page 13 of Knot that Simple

The feel of his skin on mine was too good, and I couldn't walk away. It was overwhelming electricity. I swallowed the growing lump in my throat and traced his skin, my fingers making patterns along his small beauty marks.

“Do you feel that too?” I whispered.

I wanted him to feel it, to be amazed by my touch. When he didn’t answer, I gazed up at him and, painfully, he dipped his chin.

“I had no idea it was going to be like this.”

I wasn't surprised when, once again, he said nothing, so I placed my other hand over his chest. Heat radiated through the thick layers of wool.

“Maybe you should kiss me.”

I said it so low, so scared, it triggered Lorcan to talk. “What did you say?”

I craned my neck to look up to him, licking my lips as I repeated, “I said, I think you should kiss me.”

Maybe if he did, he’d relax around me. Maybe he’d see I wasn’t that much of a big deal. If the guys were right and Lorcan liked me that much, then a kiss should fix it.

He stood there like a statue, almost like his soul was gone, but I felt his racing heart under my fingertips.

Kiss me,I begged in silence.

I wanted him to do it, and it wasn’t just because I wanted him to loosen up. I looked at his lips, so big, full, and masculine. His beard stubble for sure was going to hurt my face.

I really wanted to kiss him.

The crease between his eyebrows intensified as he looked at me, and when I licked my lips again, he followed the movement so intensely, I almost convinced myself the guys were right. Lorcan really wanted me.

I came closer, my hands making a fist over his heart. He growled like an animal as I tipped my head up and kissed the only part I could reach, the skin above his collar. The skin was warm under my lips. I wanted to lick him, but I knew that wasn’t a normal reaction.

“Lorcan?”

It sounded like a plea. What was happening to me? I had tunnel vision—all I wanted was to kiss him, to have him over me. I wanted his attention, his care.

I wanted his words, all of them just for me.

He closed his hands in fists, like he was holding back not to touch me, and I couldn’t understand why.

I wanted him to touch me. I really did. Why wasn't he?

Before I could ask, he stepped away and around me. A gulf of cold air slapped me in the face as he opened the backdoor and closed it behind him. I heard his steps on the damp grass, heard Oisin and Tadgh talking, but I couldn’t make sense of what they were saying.

Ringing in my ears took over as shame bubbled inside me.

The man said two sentences to me, and I asked him to kiss me. I winced, covering my face with my palm and rubbing my warm cheeks.

I was pathetic, so love starved that I’d corner a man I just met and ask him to kiss me.

For a moment there, I thought he would. The way he looked at me changed me completely, made me feel wanted, even for just a second. I craved to believe they all wanted me, that they wouldn’t get bored eventually and leave me.

The back door opened again, but I knew it wasn’t going to be Lorcan.

“Gabriela?” I heard Tadgh’s voice.

Faking a smile, I turned to his direction. “I just have to wash the cups.”

He glanced at the sink, like he completely forgot why I said I was coming here in the first place. Nodding distracted, he came to me, his big hands taking my shoulders.

“What happened?”

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