Page 64 of Say You Remember Me
But logic was no match for the sensations coursing through me—the tenderness of his lips, the gentle graze of his thumb brushing against my cheek, the strength in the arm holding me securely against him.
And for once, I didn’t want to be sensible. I wanted this moment. I wantedhim.
I could think about everything else some other time.
His kisses deepened, growing more insistent, each one unraveling what little control I had left. Before I knew it, Ian shifted, his movements deliberate yet gentle. In a heartbeat, I found myself lying back against the couch, his solid frame above me, his weight pressing into me just enough to leave me breathless.
There wasn’t an inch of space between us now. His chest pressed against mine, rising and falling in perfect rhythm, the wild thrum of his heartbeat echoing my own. Every part of him was intoxicating—the heat of his body, the faint brush of his breath, the way his lips moved against mine with a hunger that left me reeling.
I hadn’t even realized my fingers had tangled into the fabric at the back of his shirt, clutching him like I couldn’t bear to let go.
He pulled back slightly, just enough for his forehead to rest against mine as we both struggled to catch our breath.
“You’re making it really hard for me to be a gentleman right now,” he murmured, his voice low and ragged, laced with a quiet awe that sent my pulse racing even faster.
And I knew I should probably say something back, but my brain must have been short-circuiting or something because I literally couldn’t form words.
The hand that was tangled in my hair shifted to trace a slow, deliberate line along my jaw. His thumb brushed over my bottom lip, the soft caress sending a shiver through me, my skin tingling with anticipation.
His gaze dropped to my mouth, and my heart lurched in response. And since I couldn’t seem to speak, I decided to speak to him in another language. To tell him with my kisses that I really didn’t care if he was that much of a gentleman with me tonight.
21
IAN
The moment Maddie’slips touched mine again, the rest of the world faded away. I couldn’t think straight, could barely even remember my own name. All I knew was the feel of her beneath me, soft and warm and willing, her breath catching as my tongue gently grazed against her lips to deepen the kiss.
She tasted incredible, like something forbidden and perfect, and I couldn’t stop myself from sinking deeper, pressing myself closer as if she might slip away. Her perfume wrapped around me, a soft, intoxicating blend that made me feel like I could breathe her in forever and still not get enough.
I hadn’t planned on this. I hadn’t planned on Maddie taking up so much space in my mind, my life.
But somehow, in the short time I’d known her, she’d captured me, piece by piece, before I even realized what was happening. The way she laughed, the tender love in her voice when she talked about her son, the vulnerability she tried so hard to hide—I couldn’t help but care about her. More than I’d ever intended.
And that terrified me.
Because if I wasn’t careful, she’d probably go and steal every single piece of my heart.
But here, in this moment, with her body so warm against mine, I let myself forget my own warnings—just for a while. My fingers traced along her jawline, brushing over the delicate curve of her cheek, her skin warm and impossibly soft beneath my hand. She leaned into me, and my heart lurched, a fierce ache pounding through my chest.
It wasn’t just desire—it was something deeper, something that made me feel like if I let her go now, I’d regret it for the rest of my life.
I tilted her head slightly, giving myself the chance to explore further. My lips left hers, trailing a slow, deliberate path down her neck. The faint, intoxicating scent of her perfume filled my senses as I nuzzled into the hollow of her throat. She let out a soft, breathless sound that sent a thrill coursing through me, making it impossible to stop.
The curve of her neck, the warmth of her skin beneath my lips—it was overwhelming, almost too much. My hand moved to the small of her back, pressing her closer to me as I kissed the sensitive spot just below her ear. Her pulse thrummed against my lips, quick and unsteady, matching the wild rhythm of my own heartbeat.
Everything about her was consuming me, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to come up for air.
I wanted to pull her closer, let this kiss turn into something more. My thoughts flicked to the bed, just a few feet away—it would be so easy…carrying her over, laying her down, and letting us both get lost in each other completely. My hands tightened on her waist, the heat between us growing as I smoothed my fingers along the skin just above the hemline of her shorts.
I hadn’t been with a woman in such a long time. But going there with Maddie…it almost seemed so right. Like maybe I’d waited this long because I was meant to wait for her.
For this moment right here.
But no—I shouldn’t be thinking about that. Going that far wasn’t just something you can come back from.
And Maddie had already been through so much. She’d been hurt by people who should’ve protected her, trusted her, loved her.
She had a son.
