I swallow audibly, any crumb of willpower in my body vanishing without a trace.
‘Then kiss me,’ I say, like I’m challenging him.
He doesn’t need telling twice.
Dipping his head, he presses his mouth to mine and kisses me urgently, like he might burst if he doesn’t. A smallmoan of relief and pleasure emits from my throat, my hands finding his waist and sliding up the ridges of his abs I can feel through his shirt as he drops his hands to my hips and pulls me into him, pressing his body against mine.
I loop my arms around his neck, wanting to lock him in forever if it means this kiss, this amazing, spectacular, earth-shattering kiss, doesn’t have to end. My breath hitches as his tongue parts my lips and glides against mine, his stubble rough against my skin. I feel instantly intoxicated by this man, the way he smells of freshly-sprayed deodorant and cologne, how warm and hard his body feels up against mine, how good he tastes, as though I’ve been craving him my whole life and I’ve finally got my hit of him.
The kiss is so frenzied and urgent, I stumble backwards dizzily but he styles it out for me, taking control and moving me backwards until my back hits the wall.Fuck me, this is hot. This is the hottest fucking kissI’ve ever had. Nothing has ever been like this, so passionate and desperate and demanding: a kiss that sends shivers down my spine and leaves me begging for more with my lips and hands, a warm ache gathering between my legs. My nails dig into the firm muscles of his shoulders. He’s so strong and toned and powerful. I feel tiny, enveloped by his huge frame. I gasp for breath as he trails kisses down my jawline and my neck, his warm, large hands slipping under the fabric of my shirt and roaming over my waist. I can feel his hard erection pressing against my hip and it’s driving me wild.
When he tries to take a moment to look at me, his breath ragged, his eyes dark and piercing, I pull his lips back to mine so quickly, he smiles against my mouth. He frees ahand from under my shirt and, insisting on breaking the kiss, his gaze drops to my lips as he brushes his thumb along my lower lip before giving it the gentlest of tugs, teasing me. He rests his forehead against mine and sighs, closing his eyes.
‘Fuck, I want you,’ he says in a low, raspy growl. ‘What do you do to me, Ash?’
Raking my fingers through his hair, I arch into him needily and he brushes his lips against mine, slowing down the pace. Suddenly, it feels different. My heart is pounding as his nose nudges mine, his lips soft, gentle, almost tentative. Before, I was spellbound by his desire, a willing captive to a kiss that sent feverish pulses of heat through my body, but now, the way he’s kissing me, it feels… intimate and meaningful. Which I know it can’t be.
Whoa.What am I doing?
My sensible brain kicks in to gear. This is too dangerous. In a flash, I see how this plays out from here. I see how devasting it could be. I know him and what he can do. I know if I let this go on, I would not walk away unscathed. Not from him.
He can sense my hesitation. ‘What’s wrong?’ he asks, drawing away, his eyes nervously darting around my face as he tries to read my expression.
‘We can’t do this,’ I say quietly, my voice cracking. ‘I can’t do this again.’
‘What? Do what again?’ he asks in confusion, stepping back from me instantly. ‘Ash, tell me what’s wrong? Did I do something?’
‘No, no, you were perfect. Too perfect. I… I’m sorry. Thank you for the wine.’
‘It’s okay, you can talk to me. Wait,’ he calls out after me as I hurry out of there as fast as I can. ‘Ash!’
Convinced I’m doing the right thing and desperate to run back to his arms, I don’t allow myself to look back at him. I know what will happen if I do.
Sixteen
Sam
I need to ask you something important
Ash
Yes, of course!
What is it?
Sam
When the polo hottie kissed you in the stables, were you on hay bales?
Ash
SAM!
You said it was important
Sam
It IS important!
