Page 61 of The Romance Line
“You’re right. It’s not,” I say, weighing how far I’ll go. What it’ll cost me.
She rolls her lips together, then breathes out, like she’s centering herself. “And you did it anyway.”
“True,” I say. Like I could do anything else with her. I couldn’t have stopped myself from showing up at The Spotted Zebra tonight if I’d tried. I couldn’t have resisted driving her home. I couldn’t have refrained from walking her up her steps. Now we’re standing in the warm October air, the Golden Gate Bridge in the distance, the ocean hugging us. And I’m not walking away—not with her closer than she’s ever been. I look at her lush mouth one more time, then her gorgeous eyes.“And if this were a date I’d kiss you at the door.”
She’s quiet, but her lips curve up. “That’s not what you said at the restaurant.”
Wait. I’m confused now. “Thatiswhat I said,” I point out.
She crosses her arms, shaking her head, but she’s smiling and it’s flirty. Inviting. “No, Max. You said you’d devastate me with a kiss.”
And that’s it. That’s enough. Just fuck it. Fuck everything. “I guess I’d better start.”
She grabs the collar of my shirt in a challenge. “What are you waiting for?”
20
I HAVE EVERY IDEA
Everly
Max cups the side of my face—but he doesn’t kiss me. He slides his thumb along my jawline, but doesn’t dip his mouth to mine. He steps closer, but still makes no move to capture a kiss.
I’m trapped in the tease of him. I back up against the railing, needing something to steady myself. He moves with me, still staring greedily at my mouth. Then my eyes. “You have no idea,” he mutters.
Those four words rocket through my bloodstream, like a supernova. I’m lit up, sparkling everywhere, and he hasn’t even put me out of my sweet misery.
“No idea what?” I ask, my voice feathery with need, with desire.
“How much I want you.”
I shiver from the confession. “How much?”
He doesn’t tell me. He shows me. He runs the pad of histhumb along my jaw, like he’s memorizing me. Finally, he drops his face closer, but not close enough. I’m caught in the anticipation. His warm breath is like silk over my skin. The vein in his neck pulses. Heat radiates off his strong body.
I close my eyes. It’s so much—his words, his touch, his need. I’m too shivery. Too aroused. I don’t even know what to hold onto. I’ve lost every shred of resistance, so I can’t hold onto that. But when I open my eyes, those blue irises of his are like flames. And I don’t want to hold onto a thing.
I want to let go.
He slides his thumb down to my chin, tilting up my face, like he’s finding the perfect position.
I’ve thought about kissing Max countless times, but I never picturedthis. I never imagined he’d take his sweet time. I never expected him to slow burn a kiss.
But he’s killing me as he travels his thumb up to my mouth then runs it along my bottom lip. My breath catches and I whimper. Everything in me aches. “Just kiss me,” I murmur, a quiet demand.
He smiles like a cocky asshole. “Don’t worry. I know you want it.”
I roll my eyes. “Why do you have to ruin this by talk?—”
Then I’m gasping, shuddering when he cuts me off, his lips meeting mine at last. It’s the barest of kisses. He hardly touches me. Just dusts those full lips over mine.
But it’s enough for my knees to weaken. I curl my fingers around the collar of his shirt. My other hand seeks hold of him too, so I set my palm on his strong chest, drawing a sharp breath as I touch his firm muscles for the first time.
He’s so solid. So sturdy. And I need this strength so much.
Max holds my face in the most tender way as he gives me the softest kiss. His beard whisks across my skin. I can taste the hint of his raspberry-flavored lip balm.
I feel like I’m floating.