Page 76 of Tempt Me Forever

"Are you okay?" I asked.

"Yeah, I just... I didn’t know I had that memory."

"How old were you when she passed away?"

"Seven. I wasn't that young, you know? Sometimes I wonder if maybe my brain is actively trying to forget those memories because it's less painful not to remember." She shrugged, smiling wildly. "Don't pay attention to me. I'm just being silly."

I frowned. "No, you’re not. If you're feeling down, that's okay. You don't have to be cheerful all the time."

"Of course I do. There's nothing to be sad about. I have a great life, a great family."

"Kimberly, you don't have to put on an act with me."

"It's not an act." She bit her lip. "Or maybe it is. Maybe I've fooled myself into thinking that if I'm cheerful all the time, it's all good." She shivered. "I'm starting to feel cold. I think I've got some snow up my back."

"I know just how to warm you up."

She smiled. “I was counting on that.”

Chapter Twenty-One

Drake

“Ilove old buildings,” Kimberly exclaimed as we entered my apartment. It was in a redbrick construction on North Orchard Street. “And the architecture is charming and so classy.”

“I like it here too. As a plus, it came fully furnished.”

I wanted her here in my apartment. I wanted my bed to smell like her even after she left. Tonight, everything was going to be about her. Back at the hotel, we'd both been on edge and desperate, which was different. I wasn't going to let instinct drive me; this time, I'd do everything with intent.

I turned her around and pushed her hair to one side, kissing the back of her neck and then the side. She sucked in a breath, and I could feel her body tense in anticipation. I took in a deep breath, smelling honey and Kimberly. It was pure and delicious, and I couldn't get enough of it.

Taking a step back, I grabbed the hem of her sweater and pulled it over the top of her head. Then I reached down to her pants and pushed them down. Realizing she also had tights underneath, I yanked down everything at once.

"Be careful. Don't rip anything," she said as she stepped out of them.

I immediately straightened up, cupping her bottom with both hands. She was wearing a string for underwear that barely covered anything.

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