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He lowered his head and closed his mouth over hers. She gasped in shock, unable to believe the same man she had been half in love since senior year was kissing her. He took advantage of her open mouth, slipping his tongue in between her lips, and she forgot to think at all.
Chapter Three
Mark slid his tongue inside her sweet mouth, unable to resist the temptation of her lush lips any longer. He pulled her closer, but kept his touch on her arms light, in case she wished to pull away. When she snuggled closer and entwined her hands behind his neck, he groaned and deepened the kiss. Ever since he’d walked into this house, he’d wondered if she tasted as good as he’d dreamed she might, but she tasted a million times better.
He trailed his fingers down her bare arms, tracing the curve of her wrist lightly before gripping her hips and pulling her closer. He knew he should pull away and apologize for touching her, but he needed a few more minutes of heaven before he stopped. He lived halfway across the country, and she would never want to deal with the crazy lifestyle he was buried neck-deep in, so he knew this was a one-time thing. A mere taste of what could’ve been, if he hadn’t run to California all of those years ago.
If he hadn’t needed to make something of himself, away from here, away from her, maybe it could be more. But he knew otherwise. His feelings were such a turnaround of what they’d been the last time he’d seen her. He had known she had feelings for him, but also knew he didn’t want to be tied down to a college girl while he sought out his dream.
Back then, he’d been slightly curious if she would rock his world, and more than a little bit tempted to kiss her to find out, but he hadn’t touched her even once. To do so would be opening himself to her, and opening her heart to him when he had no right to do so. And yet when she’d moved to kiss him that night, he wondered how good she would feel—right until she threw up all over him.
He’d taken the vomiting as a sign. Fate had not meant for them to be together then, just as he shouldn’t be touching her now. Nothing had changed in all these years. Tomorrow he would be back in California, a crowd of admiring women around him. Even the most confident woman would be insecure when faced with having to be “the girlfriend” in such situations.
What would Gary say if he showed up to his film premiere with the girl next door? His publicist would spin it as “Mark Delaney takes his cousin to the red carpet event.” Or would she turn it into a Cinderella story where the Hollywood bachelor falls for the pretty schoolteacher?
But Lacey wouldn’t even want to go to those stupid parties or premieres. That wasn’t her style. No, she would stay here, maybe fall in love with some lucky bastard. Thoughts of Lacey kissing the faceless man sent rage pumping through his veins.
She needed to be here. Teaching. Having a normal life. He didn’t belong here with her, even if she felt way too good in his arms, fitting to the curves of his body with mind-numbing perfection as if she were made for his pleasure alone. He forced himself to let go of her, but couldn’t stop kissing her. Not yet.
He didn’t deserve her. He’d proven that when he’d left. Still, he knew she’d always be there for him, as she had when they were children. And after his Hollywood career faded, and he became a has-been, Lacey would stay by his side.
Unlike the other women he’d been involved with, she wasn’t kissing him because he was Mark Delaney—she kissed him in spite of it.
Until now, Mark liked being on his own. Preferred it even. He wouldn’t throw Lacey into the midst of paparazzi chases and flashing cameras. When she moaned and clung to him, her breasts pressing into his chest, he bit back a groan. Time was up. If he didn’t stop now—he might not be able to. With a massive amount of self-control, he pulled away from her, dropping his forehead to hers. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that.”
“What?” She tensed in his arms. “Why not?”
His fake relationship with Sylvia Day flashed before his eyes, but that wasn’t why he shouldn’t have touched her. The real reason was simple. He wasn’t the right guy for her. She deserved better. “I’m not right for you. I’m—”
She jerked out of his arms and lifted her chin up in the air. “A movie star who has every girl, and some boys, in Hollywood throwing their underwear at him? I get it. I’m plain, my boobs aren’t silicone, and I don’t hang on your every word. I mean, how could I possibly compare with the famous Julia that got paid to make out with you in Remember Me?”
“What? No. Don’t be insane.”
He rolled his hands into fists, resisting the urge to show her exactly how much he wanted her. Hell, she was everything he wanted and more. Which was why he had to stay away from her. She didn’t need his brand of crazy in her peaceful life.
Not to mention, come tomorrow, news of his “relationship” with Sylvia would be all over the news. They’d already “leaked” the photos to Entertainment Tonight, who planned to air them tomorrow afternoon. Just in time for the movie premiere when he would show up with her on his arm, confirming all the rumors they’d planted.
When the news hit, Lacey would be livid. She would think he made a play for her while he was screwing another woman. That he’d lied to her about being single. She would despise him.
“Yeah, okay.” She stared him down. “
I get it, Mark. You don’t have to sugarcoat it for me. You’re not interested in anything more than an accidental kiss.”
He swallowed hard. Should he let her think he didn’t want her, and hurt her now, or tell her the truth? The idea of letting her think she wasn’t good enough for him didn’t sit well. “It’s not true. I’m interested. Very, very interested.”
She shook her head and stared at his chest. Somewhere in the vicinity of his third button if he wasn’t mistaken. “You don’t have to say anything. Really. It was a mistake. A simple kiss. Nothing more.”
“No, damn it.” He grabbed her hands in his. “It’s not a simple kiss. I’ve wanted to kiss you ever since we were kids.”
She scoffed. “Now I know you’re lying. You never once tried to kiss me.”
“I knew we wouldn’t work together, so I kept my lips to myself.” He sighed and tightened his fingers around hers, forcing her to pay attention to him. “And then tonight, when I saw you, it was like being punched in the gut. I can’t think straight around you.”
“That’s supposed to be my line,” she muttered, her face guarded. “I’m not the famous movie star in this fight.”
“Jesus, Lacey. You know me. I’m still me underneath all this Hollywood bullshit. For the first time in my life, I feel like I could have more. I want more. Right now. More from you. More from myself.”
She ran her thumbs over his hands, gentle and yet poignant. “Maybe you could have more? Maybe we could be more. We’re from different worlds. Or … we are now, anyway. I’ve been hurt too many times to blindly trust that you would be happy with me, after making out with Angelina Jolie. I just don’t … know.”
