Page 56 of Captivated

He grins holding a strawberry. “Open that beautiful mouth.” God, he sounds so sexy—breathy.

I open my mouth and close my eyes as he slowly graces my lips with the fruit. It is the best tasting strawberry. “Mmmm.” I open my eyes as I suck my bottom lip. His eyes are intense watching my mouth, like he could devour me.

“More,” he whispers. I watch him as he takes another one, and again he feeds me. I close my eyes, savoring the bite. How does he make eating feel seductive?

“Open,” I whisper. He grins as he does. I tease his lips with the strawberry, pulling back. He starts to laugh. “You want this Mr. Starks?” I purr, touching his forearm.

“Very much.” He groans looking down my body and then back at the strawberry.

“Open then,” I whisper as I feed him. I smile watching him chew. Damn he’s sexy, kissing my fingertips and never breaking our eye contact.

I’m throbbing between my legs.Wet!I’ve never been wet—my body wants him. I want his breath on my lips. He’s looking at my eyes, slowly dropping to my lips.

“Damn it’s getting steamy.” Gerry breaks my trance. Quinton looks at me, watching my lips as I lean back. I see him shoot Gerry a scowl.

“Dumb ass Gerry,” Tierra hisses, “you ruined the moment.”

I take a deep breath as I grab my cosmo. What the fuck was that? I’ve never wanted to kiss another person this badly in my life. I actually hurt between my legs for him. My lace panties are wet. My body is freaking me out, betraying me. The clear line between right and wrong has blurred; there’s no more black and white in my life, it’s gray. I see a man I’m absolutely smitten with; I want to feel his skin and breath against me. The only thing that’s stopping me is a damn piece of legal paper. If it burned in a fire, then there would be nothing. The evidence I’m married would be gone. I’ve never thought of myself as a cheating woman, as a cheater!

I’ve got to get out of my own head. I pick up my fork and take a bite. Holy hell, this is delightful. I look up, Quinton is watching me. I lower my eyes back to my lavish dessert. He’s quite stimulating. I feel him take my hand and lace our fingers as he smiles while talking to Andy. I sit quietly gazing at our fingers intertwined, his thumb is running circles over the back of my hand. He’s completely relaxed. Eric hasn’t ever touched me so tenderly in the entire time I’ve known him.

“Excuse me.” I release my hand from his.I need air. I want to cross that line and when we do, what’s next? I walk outside on the deck. It’s not too chilly. I inhale the crisp salty smell of the ocean. The stars look like a bazillion shattered diamonds—not a cloud in the sight. I lean over the railing looking at the dark sea illuminated only by the moon.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Quinton asks.

“Yes, lovely,” I whisper looking into the night sky.

I close my eyes as I feel his hand graze the small of my back and turn into him. He wraps both arms around me. He doesn’t ask me what’s wrong or if I’m okay. He starts swaying like he’s got a song in his head. We walk, holding hands, to the deck, where we’ve been dancing and drinking all day. He clicks on the song he wants.

He curls me into his chest as the music fills the quiet, “Not Ready” by Kensington Moore. He holds me tight and we dance, without speaking. I close my eyes, with my head on his chest. I can hear his heart beating behind his wall of solid perfection. His body is beyond anything I’ve ever imagined I would get to touch.

The deck is illuminated by few tinkling boat lights. The song ends, yet we’re still dancing. “Quinton, I lose my mind around you,” I whisper looking up.

“You’re beautiful,” he whispers as he kisses the top of my head.

I shake my head pulling away. “This is what I mean. I can’t think clearly. I want nothing more than to fall …”

“Fall … I’ll catch you!”

“… But it doesn’t change the fact I’m married. And I’ve loved these little touches. You need someone not already attached.”

“I need you.” I shake my head, about to speak. “Amelia, you're just scared.”

Terrified actually.“And what if I am right … that you decide that I’m not …”

“Shhhh.” Quinton shakes his head pulling me back against his chest. “Amelia, don’t say that. I’ve been searching for you … subconsciously that’s probably why I’ve never wanted to settle down. I knew no one else was the one.”

“I’m not this person … one who steps out on someone.” I slide my hands up his chest, wrapping them around his neck. “But when you look at me like this … and your touches … I want you.”

He smiles looking at my lips. “You know I want you … anyway I can I have you. So if you’re married for now, so be it!”

God what am I doing?is all I’m thinking as our desire is pulling us closer. We’re about to kiss … he’s leaning in.I do want to taste his lips.I lace myfingers through the back of his hair—coaching him towards me—or maybe he’s doing the coaching. The gap between our lips has dissipated. I feel the heat from his breath. My lips part, and my chest is about to explode with an energy of excitement, nerves, desire.

“Quinton!”You have got to be joking,I tell myself as I hear Gerry’s voice. “Tierra said come on …” he stops talking as he sees the situation, that he once again messed up. “The game and shots are ready.”

“I’m going to kill him,” Quinton whispers. I can feel the vibrations of his words on my lips. His breath warmed my lips,Thanks to Gerry that is all that warmed them.

I step back. “No, you can’t live without him. Remember.”

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