Gently and tenderly, I brushed my lips over Drea’s. For a man like me, it wasn’t a kiss I was used to giving. I’d neverfelt the all-consuming emotions in the past that distinguished kissing for lust versus love.
After placing butterfly kisses along her top lip, I moved to her bottom. Drea’s arms came to wrap around my waist, drawing me even closer against her. As my mouth finally closed completely over hers, I tangled my fingers through the silky strands of her hair.
To my surprise, Drea took the lead and slid her tongue against my lips, causing me to groan. I’d fantasized about this moment. I’d known the taste of her skin that night at Inferno, but her lips and her mouth were still unknown.
She tasted just as sweet as I’d imagined. Although she could be so tough and sassy, there was such sweetness at her core.
And at the moment, my starved self couldn’t get enough of it.
Our tongues battled against each other, seeking and taking, while my hands and arms tangled with Drea’s. We desperately devoured each other as if at any moment, we’d once again be deprived of the other.
Overcome with desire, I shoved us back against the wall. When she cried out in pain, not pleasure, I jerked back. “Fuck, what did I do wrong?” I panted.
Drea surprised the hell out of me by giggling. “The wall is lined with vines, and I got poked in the ass.”
I laughed at the absurdity of the moment. “I never would’ve thought a vine could be a cockblocker.”
“Me neither.”
When I started to turn her around, she asked, “What are you doing?”
“Assessing the damage.”
“Sure you are,” she replied while swatting my hand away.
“I wanted to make sure you weren’t bleeding.”
She slid her arms around my neck, drawing my head down to hers. “You just want an excuse to feel my ass.”
“While that might be true, I seriously was worried about you.”
Her expression sobered. “I love that you worry about me. I worry about you, too.”
“Don’t waste your time on me.”
With a slight shake of her head, she countered, “But I can’t. I love you too much.”
My eyes popped wide at her declaration. At my surprise, she leaned her forehead against mine. “I love you, Leo,” she murmured.
Hearing those words was a fucking balm to my wounded soul. Drea loved me. Her heart belonged to only me.
I brought my lips to hers to show her just how much I loved her. As my mouth moved against Drea’s, her words echoed through my mind.
Whatever revelry I had in that moment was short-lived. At the sound of a pot crashing to the floor, we jerked apart. At Drea’s gasp, I whirled around.
Audrianna stood frozen with an expression of disbelief. Drea pushed past me to start over to her sister. Snapping out of her stupor, Audrianna said, “Father…sent me. He…He’s looking for you.”
Without a word, Drea took Audrianna’s hand in hers and started dragging her to the door. Just as she was about to go out, she threw a look at me over her shoulder.
No one had ever been able to hurt me with a look.
But what I saw in Drea’s eyes caused an ache to reverberate through my chest.
It wasn’t just for tonight but for the future.
It was goodbye.
CHAPTER NINETEEN: DREA
