Page 56 of Must Love Bees
She was so soft, so damn soft. The cling of her lips was heaven. Every touch fed this new hunger raging inside of him.
Did she feel this, too? Did she want this? It was enough to make him freeze.
He broke away, shaking. “I’m sorry.” His breathing was ragged.
“I’m not.” She shook her head, her hands gripping his shirtfront.
Charlie looked at her then, exploring every inch of her beautiful face. “You’re not?”
“No.” She let out a long, unsteady breath. “I’m not.”
He rested his forehead against hers. Relief came first. Then something better, sweeter. It was what he wanted to hear. Until now, he hadn’t realized just how much he’d wanted to hear it.
She slid her arms up and rested her hands behind his neck, trembling.
“Astrid,” he murmured, adrift in an ocean of newfound sensation. Keeping his distance had always ensured he’d never be vulnerable or hurt. But it was painfully clear that he couldn’t keep his distance from her. The need she stirred flooded his veins. This new sweetness was tempered with a new fear.
Her lips were light against his. She was kissing him now. Gently. Tentatively.
His heart tripped over itself, stopped, then launched into an irregular rhythm. The way she melted into him had him shoving all fear and doubt aside. Right or wrong, this was what he wanted. Each kiss was longer than the last. Each grew more frantic and urgent. Her hands slid up to grip the back of his head. Her fingers twined in his hair. He closed his eyes, his nerves electrified by her touch.
When her lips parted beneath his, instinct took over. His tongue traced the soft swell of her lower lip. The shudder that wracked her body was all the encouragement he needed. His mouth sealed with hers as his tongue continued to explore. He liked the way her hands plucked at his shirt. The way she gasped against his mouth made him want to do more. He liked that he was responsible for each of her gasps and shivers. He wanted to make her feel. He wanted to give her pleasure.
And it terrified him. She terrified him.
Astrid’s phone began to chime. Over and over. She didn’t seem interested in answering it—or ending their kisses.
As tempted as he was to ignore it, too, he was hardwired to always answer. “Should you get that?” he murmured against her lips.Don’t answer it.
The chiming continued.
“Astrid.” His voice was thick.
“Okay,” she whispered. “Hello?”
He missed her mouth instantly, too frazzled to hear who said what.
She rested her head against his chest so her voice was somewhat muffled. “I’m fine.”
Camellia Hill’s voice was loud enough for Charlie to hear. “We wanted to make sure you made it before the rain started.”
“I’m here.” Astrid paused. “But I didn’t miss the rain—I’m a soggy mess.”
Charlie’s hand stroked up and down her back. He didn’t mind the wet.
“Please wait it out there, won’t you?” Camellia asked. “I don’t like the idea of you walking about with all that thunder and lightning carrying on.”
Charlie nodded.
“I’ll wait it out.” This time, he thought he heard a smile in Astrid’s voice.
“Can I speak to Astrid?” It was Halley.
“Of course,” Camellia said, followed by a rustling.
Charlie braced himself.
“Astrid? It’s Halley.” She took a deep breath. “Don’t worry, Nova said she doesn’t want you and Scorpio out in the storm so take your time.”
