Page 25 of Revealing Mark
I could have tried to deny it but he would have seen right through it. Transfixed, I was hypnotized by the awe that played across his features.
“Um…I…” I was tongue-tied.
“For once, I have you speechless,” he whispered with a smile.
I wanted to think of something smart to say back but my mind was blank. All I could think of was what it would feel like to have his lips on mine.
Suddenly he was closer and for a moment I believed my fantasy of my first kiss with him was about to unfold, but instead he sighed and leaned his forehead lightly against me.
“I want to,” he breathed, “but I can’t.”
Confused, I pulled away, feeling embarrassed. His handmoved to cradle my face and he feathered a kiss to my forehead. My heart plummeted.
This wasn’t playing out the way I had always hoped. It was like he was crushing all the dreams and hopes I had nurtured for him over the years.
“That’s okay,” I said, trying to sound unaffected by his rejection. “I’m sure the fantasy is better than reality.”
A glint of defiance sparkled in his eyes before he dipped his lips to capture mine.
The moment his lips touched mine, I knew this was different from any other kiss I had ever experienced before. The pressure of his mouth against mine deepened until I sought more.
I gasped as his tongue slid inside my mouth to caress mine. The folder dropped from my hold, photos dropping to a mess on the floor, but I didn’t care. My senses were solely fixed on the man kissing me. I clung to his shoulders when he deepened the kiss, and my stomach flipped.
Every daydream about him had been nowhere near the reality of being kissed by him. My legs turned to jelly as I held on to him. His hands drifted to pull me closer and I linked my arms around his neck.
We shifted and I felt the desk behind me. He lifted me to sit on the top before nudging my legs apart to stand between them. I wanted more. So much more. I wanted to hold on to him and not let go until the earth stopped moving beneath my feet.
My hands touched his chest and I could feel the hard muscles flex beneath the shirt. I wanted to remember each and every touch. He stopped kissing me and I inhaled deeply, trying to get air back in my lungs. We were suspended in time, staring at each other, immobile.
His hands held my waist firmly like he wasn’t going to let me go, but I saw the internal struggle in his eyes. Not wanting him to stop what was happening, I kissed him before he could pullaway. Like before, the moment our lips met, all logic and reasoning were lost.
His mouth moved more insistently against mine, like he wanted more, and I wanted to give him everything I had, no matter the consequences. Unlike him, I had nothing holding me back. I had wanted this for longer than I could remember. There wasn’t a time in my teen years that I hadn’t longed for this, and here he was, flesh and blood, kissing me like he wanted no one else.
I wanted to feel the bare skin of his chest so I lifted his shirt. He broke the kiss long enough to pull it over his head. His muscles gleamed and I put my hand against the warmth of his skin. His heart beat steadily under my hand as I slid it over his stomach.
“Tracy,” he murmured. His hand caught my wrist and stilled my exploration.
“You want this,” I reminded him.
There was no doubt with the way his fiery eyes held mine that he wanted me just like I wanted him. This attraction was mutual. This wasn’t just a one-sided teen crush, this was chemistry between two consenting adults.
“I do.” The confession tore from his lips. “But there are so many reasons I need to stop before we both regret it.”
I shook my head, refusing to allow him to ruin this.
“You want me and I want you. It’s that simple.” I wet my lips. My heart was still beating rapidly as I tried to reason with him.
I could still feel the imprint of his mouth on mine and I wanted to feel it again.
“Tracy.” He sighed heavily, and I knew I had lost him.
He moved to pick up his shirt as I slid from the desk, smoothing my hair and clothes. My hands shook.
The floor was littered with all the pictures of him, mocking me. I bent down to gather the pictures and he helped me. Isnatched the photos and shoved them in the folder, wishing I had never taken them.
“In my fantasies, you never stopped,” I whispered when I stood. I fled from the room before he could respond.
Tears of humiliation slid down as I slammed the door of the guest room shut. I leaned against the door, feeling so angry I wanted to yell instead of cry.
