Page 83 of Give Me Redemption

She bites her lip, contemplating, but sits up on her knees. I stretch my leg out and she climbs over onto my lap.

I put my hands on her hips. “This okay?”

She nods. Lifting her hand, she runs it over the side of my face. I lean into her touch, wanting it so badly, I can hardly stand it.

I’ve never wanted someone as much as I want her. I’m helpless.

I only want to give her everything I have. I’ve never wanted to please someone so much in my life. She makes me want to be a better man.

I can’t see her face, but I know she’s looking at me. Her body blocks the fire. It throws shadows on the walls and warms the room. My thumb lifts the bottom of her shirt and I run it across her skin.

“Jace,” she says, her voice sounding pained as her hand drops.

“How can you act like this isn’t what you want?” I ask her softly. “How can you act like this isn’t everything?”

She doesn’t respond.

I try to see her face, but it’s too dark in here. I sit up from the couch so my face is close to hers. She doesn’t move. Her hands go to my shoulders.

I’m burning up.

She holds all the cards here. “Don’t you know I’m dying?” I say. “I’m yours, Dalton. All I think about is you.”

I feel her breath against my face, minty and sweet. I’m so close to her lips, all I have to do is move an inch.

Come on, girl. Give me something here.

My pulse is pounding, my soul desperate for a sign that she wants me.

“Do you feel differently?” I ask.

“No,” she whispers so lowly I question if I heard it.

But I know I did, and that’s all it takes. I move and my lips touch heaven. Walls crumble and she kisses me back. Bringing her hands to my hair, she holds on. My hands move up her shirt, memorizing the way her skin feels. I push down, so she falls on her back and wraps her legs around me.

This is all I’ve wanted.

Us, just like this. I sit up on my knees. I’m instantly hard and I can’t even hide it.

She licks my tongue and slow kisses me.

God, this girl.

Why did this take so long?

Why has she held back?

I roll into her and she sucks in a breath.

“You do this to me,” I tell her. She pulls my shirt up, and I break our kiss so she can pull it over my head. Our lips crash, and she runs her hands down my back, over my scars, before dipping them down the back of my pants. I don’t want anyone else; I don’t want a way out of this.

I have no desire to make this a one-time thing. Her legs wrap around me tighter, and I move my hand down her thigh. All of my emotions collide, combusting into a million stardust pieces.

Lust, love, friendship, passion.

I want to hold on to this feeling forever. Capture it and bottle it up so I’ll always have it.

“I love you,” I say, pulling away, just far enough for her to hear me. She stiffens and twists out from under me. “What are you doing?” I ask.

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