Page 109 of Playing A Risk
I dip my head and take a risk, brushing my lips against hers. She draws in a breath but doesn’t push me away.
I seal our mouths and swipe my tongue over hers. She responds and returns the kiss. My heart melts and I pull her into my arms right where she belongs.
CHAPTER 28
DORI
My heart jackhammers.I shouldn’t let this kiss with Jami happen, but I selfishly sink into it. If for no other reason than to say goodbye once and for all.
I’m lying to myself. I’m letting this happen because I still love him, but I need to let him go.
His lips press to mine and I lean in for more. My mind blanks as the moment sweeps me up.
Heat swirls throughout my body and my years of love for him flood my bloodstream. He hugs me tight, then moans a deep rumble from his chest.
The sound brings me back to the room. I press away and suck in a regretful breath.
Only twice in my life have I kissed someone when I was in a relationship with someone else. Both times were with Jami as I betrayed Hunter. I shiver under the weight of guilt, my palms clammy with anticipation of the consequences.
I rush to reach the door. “I shouldn’t have let that happen.”
Jami catches me and takes me into his arms, pressing my back flush against his chest.
He brings his mouth to my ear. “Don’t run from this, Dori. Don’t deny this is what you want.”
I close my eyes and whimper. My body goes slack, my shoulders slumping as a heavy wave of grief crashes over me, stealing my strength. He’s not wrong, but I need him to be.
“Jami, I’ve got to get out of here.”
“Why did you come in here if you didn’t want this to happen? Why else would we need to be in private if it weren’t so you could let your guard down and admit what we have?”
“You’ve got to let me go.”
“Never. You love me like I love you. Until you face that, this will never die. It will fester under the surface and ruin any chance you have at happiness, so quit lying to yourself.”
I twist to address Jami head-on. “I have faced it. Nothing changes the end result. We have so many obstacles and always have.”
“But those can be conquered together.”
“Please stop.”
Jami looks deep into my eyes, his gaze piercing. “How many more years are you willing to stifle our love from growing? Sixteen more than we already have?
“After you’ve married and divorced someone else because, deep down, you were never able to give him your whole heart? Is that what you want? Because that’s what will happen if you leave this room and shove me away.”
I shake my head, trying to ignore the heaviness on my chest. I put on my armor and stand straight.
“That’s not fair, Jami.” I take a step back. “I can’t do this. Let me go. Let me get over you once and for all. I’ve committed myself to Hunter. That won’t change because you and I shared a kiss in a dirty closet.”
Jami flinches and pain flashes across his face. He cocks his head to the side and studies me.
“That’s how you see our love. Dirty. But that’s how youlike it. I still have the text you sent me in the restaurant to prove it. The dirtier, the better, as long as no one knows.”
He steps to me and runs the pad of his thumb over my bottom lip, smearing my lipstick across my face. “There. I wiped it clean for you so you can run back to him.”
Damn, that hurt.
I swallow my emotions. “It’s where I belong. The universe has shown me over and over. I’m finally listening to the call.”
