Page 22 of Ready or Not
“Doing what?” I asked, though I already knew.
“Looking at me like…” She trailed off, searching my face with a sultry look that stopped my breath short. Her fingers reached out, brushing against my chest as if testing the waters. “Like that.”
“Don’t do that,” I breathed out, taking my hands into hers.
She batted her eyelashes at me. “Don’t do what?”
"That," I muttered, my throat dry as I held her hands. "Don't look at me like you don't know what you're doing. Like you don’tknow how hard it is for me not to..." My words trailed off, my resolve faltering under the weight of her gaze.
Her lips quirked up into a sly, knowing smile as she stepped even closer, leaving barely an inch between us. "Not to what?"
I closed my eyes for a moment, exhaling slowly.
This woman was testing every ounce of my self-control and making it feel effortless. The scent of her—vanilla and now thanks to my body wash cedar-wood, wrapped around me in waves, pulling me under before I could think straight.
"Not to kiss you again," I admitted finally, my voice low and uneven.
Her smile widened slightly, but her gaze softened as she tilted her head up to look at me. "What’s stopping you?"
Her eyelids fluttered, but she didn’t move back.
If anything, she leaned closer, the corners of her lips tugging upward in that playful way that made me weak.
"So why don’t you?" she challenged softly, her breath grazing my jawline.
And just like that, it was over for me.
11 /SOLÈNE
Sideways by Cleo Soulplaying in the background, his hand found the back of my neck as he brought my face to his. His lips brushed against mine like a question first, then, without warning, he searched for the answer on his own. Tongue mingling with my own, the taste of him was warm and intoxicating, like cinnamon and buttered rum tea on a cold night. The world around us blurred into nothing but the rhythm of our breath. His hands caressed every inch of my waist, fingers digging in possessively, and I surrendered without resistance.
“Fuuuck,” he groaned into my mouth once my fingers found the nape of his neck, my nails drawing soft, deliberate patterns against his skin. Pulling me closer to him as if it was possible, his hands slid to my butt and he lifted me effortlessly without breaking the kiss. I gasped against his lips, my legs wrapping around him as he moved towards the couch. Once settled onto the cushions with me on his lap, he pulled away.
His eyes burned into mine, dark and heavy. My chest rose and fell erratically as I tried to catch my breath, my heart pounding like a war drum. I felt his dick print press against me through the barrier of our clothes as he took a deep, unevenbreath. His lips, slightly parted, curved into the faintest smirk as he squeezed my waist.
“Why’d you stop?” I whispered. Some part of me was embarrassed by how desperate I sounded, but the larger part didn’t care. Not when his thumb was brushing against my bottom lip, his gaze alternating between my mouth and my eyes like he couldn’t decide which temptation was greater.
“‘Cause I needa look at you,” he murmured, his voice low and rough. His thumb lingered on my lip for a moment longer before trailing down my chin, his touch igniting sparks that traveled through every nerve in my body. “You’re so fucking beautiful like this.”
The words melted any remaining resolve I had, making my breath hitch as my cheeks flushed.
I didn’t know what to say to that—what could I say?
Instead of fumbling for words, my fingers sneaked into his hair, tugging slightly, and it earned me a sharp intake of breath from him. That sound—sharp, needy, vulnerable—sent a jolt straight through me, pooling heat low in my belly.
“You don’t play fair,” I managed to whisper, though my voice was unsteady. “You haven’t played fair all night.”
“Oh word?”
“Word,” I shot back.
His smirk widened, a dangerous curve that promised he knew exactly the effect he had on me. “I never said I wanted to.”
His hands slid under the shirt, palms skimming over my sides before settling high on my ribs, his thumbs brushing just under the curve of my breasts. His eyes searching mine, he didn’t move further, however, just lingered there. My body decided before my mind could, I tried leaning into him to continue the kiss, but he stopped me with a gentle, teasing pressure against my hip.
“Uh-uh,” he murmured, his voice a velvet rasp that made my stomach flutter. “Not yet.”
“Why?”
