Page 9 of Revive Me

Curling my hands around hers, I tug her closer to me, never taking my eyes off hers.

It isn’t until she glances down at my lips that I grip her hips and lean in.

Her lips are soft and warm, perfectly welcoming. It takes me a second to do more than just melt into the feel of them, my whole body relaxing into the kiss.

But then she lets out the sweetest little sigh, and the heat spikes to a thousand.

Pulling her body flush against me, one hand lifts to sink into her hair and tilt her face up. With the new angle, I can pry her lips open with mine and deepen the kiss.

Lily’s hands come up to fist in my shirt, her mouth moving eagerly against mine, matching my fervor.

And then she moans into my mouth. And I just about lose my mind.

“Fuck,” I gasp, wrapping my arm around her lower back as I spin us toward the wall. Pressing her up against it, I take her mouth in a frenzy, tilting her head farther so I can slide my tongue against hers.

That just earns me another, more desperate moan. Her hips start to rock against mine, and I swear, I don’t think I’ve ever been this hard in my life.

I move my hand from her waist, brushing it over her hip and down her thigh. Her dress is short enough that my fingertips reach skin, and I can’t help the groan that rumbles through my chest at how soft she feels. I don’t even question the urge; I simply hike her leg over my hip and grind into the warmth between her legs.

“Oh God,” she says breathily, her hands coming up to cling to my shoulders. When her head drops back against the wall, I take advantage of the new position and move my lips to her neck, reveling in the softness there, too.

“You taste fucking delicious,” I groan against her skin, kissing under her ear and down to her shoulder. I nip at the strap of her dress, tempted to slip it down and move even lower. But then she pulls me in for another, more eager, kiss, and I’m once again lost to her lips.

I can’t get enough of her. I want more. More of her taste, more of her skin beneath my fingers, more?—

The moment is shattered by the sound of a phone ringing.

Startled, I pull back.Is that my ringtone? There’s no way my manager already got me the title fight. That has to be?—

“Sorry,” Lily gasps, her chest heaving. “It’s on Do Not Disturb, but…” With an apologetic look, she gently pushes me back with a hand on my chest so she can reach down into her purse and pull out her phone.

Wincing, she says, “It’s my friend downstairs.” She lifts the phone to her ear and answers the call.

My head is still spinning, my heart beating out of my chest. I can’t bring myself to put any real space between us, so I just lean both hands on the wall behind Lily, caging her in.

I can hear the tinny sound of her friend frantically saying something on the other end of the line, the concern that fills Lily’s eyes confirming my worst fears.

Fuck.

“Okay, I’m coming down.” Lily’s reluctance is obvious. When she hangs up the call and meets my gaze, there’s guilt there. “I’m sorry,” she says quietly. “I have to go. One of my friends is really sick.”

When she begins to right herself, adjusting her clothes and straightening her hair, I begrudgingly take a step back to give her space. I have no idea what to say. I don’t want her to leave. Don’t want this moment to be over. “It was, umm, nice to meet you, though.” She gestures out over the deck. “Thanks for showing me up here.”

I’m still standing here like I’ve forgotten how to speak. It isn’t until she makes a hesitant move for the door that I finally get my head on straight. It hits me that I’ll probably never see her again after this.

“Wait,” I blurt out. “Give me your number. I’ll call you.”

For some reason, my question snaps herout of her awkward goodbye. With one hand already on the doorknob, she studies me for a moment. Her voice is soft, but even, when she says, “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

That has me frowning, hoping I read this situation correctly. That she was into this as much as I’ve been. “Why not?”

She smiles, though there’s a tinge of sadness in it. “Because if we’re both honest with ourselves, you aren’t even going to remember my name tomorrow.”

I can only blink, stunned. And unfortunately, my silence seems to confirm her suspicions.

She pulls the door open and says, “Bye, Roman.”

And then she’s gone.

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