Page 299 of The First Time
"I'm not powerful."
"You are."
"You're right. I have a great power to deceive people. But you have that too."
He slides out of his seat and kneels in front of me. His fingertips graze my thigh, right under my dress. "You're capable of so much."
My heart does a backflip. "Like what?"
"You're captivating."
He slides his hand up my inner thigh. My eyes close instinctively. Want flutters through my body. I tug at my dress. My legs part.Captivating. I like the sound of that.
Blake leans closer. His lips connect with mine.
His tongue claims my mouth. His hand slides over my panties. Damn. I'm wet already.
I need him touching me. Even if this is the most inopportune place.
He kisses me harder. Presses his palm flat against me. He's so, so close to touching me properly.
"Jesus H. Christ!" Fiona shrieks.
Blake shifts back into his seat.
Fiona shakes her head. Wipes tears from her puffy eyes as she storms into the kitchen. She returns with a bottle of red wine. "You have an empty limo for that."
Blake leans in to whisper. "Are you okay alone for awhile?"
"Sure." It's sweet he wants to help his sister. Even if I'm not quite clear on their relationship.
He looks to her. "Grab another glass."
Fiona shoots him areally, in front of your arm candy?Look.
I push myself to my feet. "Will Meryl mind if I ask to join her on the balcony?" It's the perfect excuse to check on her. Ease the tightness in my chest a little.
"No. She likes you." Blake squeezes my hand. "But knock first."
Fiona sets the wineglass on the table. She looks like she's about to come apart at the seams. I know how that feels—I was walking around like that the year after the accident. It took a long time to feel anything close to okay.
I move to the stairs. They creak with every step. The hallway too.
I knock on the door in the corner. "Meryl. It's Kat. I'm looking to get some air, and Blake is preoccupied downstairs."
Footsteps, and the door opens. Meryl smiles. There's no strain on her face. No signs of her outburst.
She motionscome in. I do. Her bedroom is clean but not freakishly so. Nothing like Blake's place.
I follow her onto the balcony.
It's cozy. We can see into the backyard. There are a few scrawny trees. And there are flowers just starting to bloom.
She leans against the wooden railing and looks up at the stars. "I hate to get didactic, dear, but take a look at these. You can never see them in the city."
She's right. The dark sky is dotted with them. I haven't seen this many stars since I was a kid. "It's beautiful."
"Yes. They make you think. They're like roses. They're too good as metaphors."
