Page 18 of Ready or Not
It was too much.
My breath caught in my throat as he smirked against my lips; my common sense vanished into thin air like it never existed.
“Tell me to stop.”
I couldn’t.
The words didn’t exist in me anymore.
My heart beat in double time, drowning out all thought except for the pull of him—this magnetic force that I was powerless to resist.
“Didn’t think so,” he murmured, and then his lips found mine, this time with no hesitation, no disruptions, no teasing trace. The kiss was gentle at first, like opening notes of an Anthony Hamilton love song, smooth and soulful, carrying a rhythm that drew me in deeper with every passing second.
But then, as if some silent crescendo demanded it, everything shifted.
The kiss deepened, and every inch of restraint I had left crumbled under the touch. His free hand found the curve of my waist, pulling me closer like he couldn’t stand even the smallest distance between us anymore. No longer able to stay idle, my hands found their way to the back of his neck, and I weaved my fingers into his hair as I tilted my head to meet him more fully. The world slipped further away as I gave in to the kiss, letting it consume me completely. His touch was intoxicating, a perfect balance of careful control and unapologetic hunger.
Time seemed irrelevant, the rhythm of our kiss dictating everything instead. My mind was a riot of sensation—his scent, the warmth of his hands, the velvet press of his lips against mine. The city could’ve crumbled into dust around us, and I wouldn’t have noticed.
When he finally pulled back, it was slow, hesitant, like he wasn’t quite ready to let go, and neither was I. His forehead rested gently against mine, our breaths mingling in the smallspace between us. My pulse still thundered in my ears, drowning out everything except the memory of his lips on mine. His hand lingered at my waist, fingers curling slightly as if he was reluctant to break the connection.
“Well,” his voice was soft and a little breathless. “That settles it. I’m not calling it a night. Not yet anyways.”
I laughed quietly, my chest still heaving for air.
“There’s this spot on Lexington and 76th near my—” his brows furrowed, and he looked up at the sky. “Did you feel that?”
“Feel what—” I was interrupted by a soft, cool droplet landing on my cheek. Then another followed, bringing a cascade of rain that came out of nowhere, catching us completely off guard.
“Change of plans,” he said, running a hand through his now drenched curls as we moved under the awning of a nearby storefront. “Actually… I got a better idea.”
10 /DESIDERIO
DidI feel like a pendejo for inviting her to my place so we could wait out the rain until our next adventure?
Probably.
However, I wasn’t thinking straight.
Drunk off the kiss we just shared, I barely managed to form a coherent thought, let alone question my own decisions. My mind was on some lovestruck loop, my hands still felt like static from holding her, and my heartbeat currently matched the speed of a Toyota Camry racing on the freeway.
Ay mami.
The things this woman was doing to me without realizing it.
First, it was me noticing the subtle things to figure her out. Now, it was me throwing caution to the wind, letting her into my space—where every corner told a story I haven’t shared with anyone else other than family.
Mierda. I’m losing control, but… I don’t care.
I didn’t care because it was for her. Liked her too damn much to stop myself.
I wanted her all to myself.
“I couldn’t find the hair dryer, so I’m gonna let my hair air-dry,” I heard her say as she came out of the guest bedroom.
“It should be in the cabinet unless my sister?—”
Pausing as she appeared in the hallway, she wore the lime green Sade shirt and Celtics basketball shorts I left behind for her. It hung loosely to her frame, swallowing all her curves, yet somehow making her look even more irresistible. My throat tightened as I took in the sight of her—bare-faced, coils damp and curling around her cheeks and shoulders, looking utterly at home in my clothes.
