Page 33 of Sting of Sin

“Stay with me,” I murmured against her skin.

“I am.”

“Tell me what you need.”

“You.”

The word was almost angry.

I lifted my head.

Her eyes were bright, her lips parted.

“You,” she repeated. “Not careful Eli standing six feet away from me inside his own head. You. Here.”

Something rough moved through my chest. “I’m here.”

“Then kiss me like you’ve wanted to.”

I looked at her for one last second. “Bee, I have wanted to for years.”

“I know.”

“You sure you want all that at once?”

Her gaze dropped to my mouth. “No,” she whispered. “Not all at once.”

Then she looked back up. “But some of it.”

That was permission enough to ruin me.

I kissed her with more weight behind it, one hand spreading at the center of her back, the other holding her waist. Still controlled. Still listening. But no longer pretending I was untouched by her.

She made a small sound into my mouth.

My grip tightened before I could stop it.

She felt it.

I immediately loosened my hands.

“No,” she said.

I froze.

Her fingers closed over my wrist. “Don’t let go because you’re afraid of me.”

“I’m not afraid of you.”

“Yes, you are.” Her voice softened. “You’re afraid I’ll break.”

I had no answer for that.

She guided my hand back to her waist and pressed it there.

“I might,” she said. “A little. But not because of you.”

My throat closed.