Page 29 of Fortune's Control
My lips landed on hers, and my leg’s throbbing ceased.
10-Lilah
Instinct told me not to ask him inside, and here we were, kissing.
Shane’s burning touch turned all my suppressed daydreams to ash. His firm lips covered mine as the kiss grew more demanding. I swallowed, opening for him, and Shane seized my neck, bending me to deepen the kiss further.
He moved us so that my back pressed against the brick wall. I clung to him as he shoved a thigh between my legs to hold me up. “Spread your legs for me.”
I shivered, despite his body heat, and he seized the advantage.
A hand traveled down my body, to my thigh and skirt’s hem. My hips bucked, and his hand slid under the dress and back up my thigh.
My body quivered as desire took over. I should have ignored that earlier instinct. Ignoring it was always the wiser choice. I untucked his shirt, desperate to reach for the warm skin underneath, and a hard stomach greeted me. My hands floated up his chest, tickling the hair and thrilling at his broad chest.
Our kiss continued as we tasted each other, and I explored the soft warmth of his mouth. My shallow breathing quickened at his lips and his demanding assault. My back arched, wanting to bring him closer, to feel his leg rub between my thighs.
Shane’s hand cupped my center, and I cried at his touch. He stroked over my panties as I silently begged him to go further,to take them off and use his fingers on me.
“Can I take these off?” he asked.
“Please.”
I undid the top button of his pants and stroked, telling myself to keep going. I spent our meal lusting over him, and he kissed me. He ravaged me, and I wanted to do the same to him. Shane didn’t hide his obvious attraction, with the slow glide of his tongue on his lips, or the way his eyes shone throughout dinner. I saw the way his nose flared when I leaned forward, showing off my cleavage.
Weeks of dancing around each other, and we still had all night.
“Shane.” I managed his name between strangled puffs of breath. “Do you want to come upstairs? Stay the night.”
Our kiss ended.
Shane drew back, and I followed, confused. He smoothed my dress back into place and removed my hands from his abdomen. His obvious withdrawal confused me. He glanced towards the wooden stairs and grimaced.
“We’ve gone far enough,” he said.
“What?” Did I mishear?
“I don’t do this on first dates. Thank you for coming with me this evening, Lilah.”
I couldn’t decipher his stony expression and struggled over what to say next. His abrupt withdrawal after my offer meant I misinterpreted his interest. My lungs stopped working.
“Did I do something wrong?” My voice wavered despite my best efforts. I didn’t know the cause, but I knew what rejection looked like. I had plenty of experience with it, after all.
“No. I’ll see you in the morning. Have a good night.”
“Shane?” He quickened his steps, not botheringto respond. “Shane?”
“Good night, Lilah.”
*****
I changed into my pajamas and pulled a cozy blanket around me. A cup of steaming herbal tea with honey sat on the table beside me.
“What did I do wrong?” The living area’s window looked right into Shane’s bedroom, although he kept the blinds closed. The light shone through the edges and between the cracks, letting me know where he was. There was a dim light in the kitchen, probably a small one over the stove or kitchen sink.
Shane went straight to his bedroom. Without me.
“Whatever happened, it was rude and unacceptable.” He didn’t respond because he wasn’t with me to hear it. “I thought our attraction was mutual.”
