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“I couldn’t do it without—” I stopped myself before I said Paths of Purpose. “Without my support system.”
“I’d like to be a part of that,” he said.
“I appreciate it.” Paths came into view. “We made it here really fast.”
“Too quick.”
We stopped outside of the front door. Andrew pulled me so I faced him. I tilted my head back to look at him.
Ba-dump. Ba-dump.
We stared at each other. His eyes were open, honest. I got lost for a minute, even dared to think about what a life with Andrew would look like.
It was too soon. I didn’t have myself sorted out enough to let another person in. I needed to focus on Ella and healing. Yet I couldn’t form the words to tell him this had gone as far as it could, that I couldn’t be anything more than friends.
He lifted his hand, and my breath caught. His fingers caressed my cheek. “Tonight was better than I imagined.”
“For me too,” I whispered.
“You’re stunning, Bright Side.” He cupped my jaw. “If you don’t want me to kiss you, say so now.”
I parted my lips and nothing came out. Andrew searched my face before his mouth slanted across mine. My eyes fluttered closed as heat flooded me. I clutched at his shirt, unsure if I wanted to pull him closer or push him away.
My face was frozen, but his lips against mine felt too good. Warm. Gentle. Certain. With little nibbles, he coaxed me to kiss him back. I wasn’t ready.Will I ever be?
I deserved having kisses be a good thing, not something that led to horror. I could do something about that.
Right here.
Right now.
I pulled him closer and darted my tongue out, swiping it across the plump flesh of his lower lip. His chest constricted underneath my fingers, but he quickly recovered.
His hands slid from my face to the back of my head, and he deepened the kiss. Our tongues met. My lids flew open with the electricity that jolted through me. Blue eyes seared into mine. My grip on his shirt tightened. I pressed my lips more firmly against his.
Andrew growled, the sound reverberating through my chest. Instead of frightening me, I pressed my thighs together to stop the tingling between them. It had been far too long sinceI’dwanted somebody. The feeling was so foreign, I barely recognized it, but I embraced the desire.
I slid my hands up his chest and around his neck. He shuddered under my touch, and I felt empowered. I tunneled my fingers into his hair and stilled.
“Trish?”
“I have the power,” I whispered against his lips.
An arm wrapped around me and pulled me flush against him. “With me? Yeah, you’ve got all of it.”
His admission was like the flipping of a switch. I smashed my mouth to his. His eyes widened for a fraction of second before he was right with me. I captured his lips and he gave them to me. He tasted like my chocolate cake only better, and I was instantly addicted.
My tongue explored him. I reveled in the warmth that spread through my body. The need. That was what this was. I needed him.
He took over, kissing me senseless. I lost all concept of where we were. All I knew was him.
“I don’t want this to end,” he said huskily.
I whimpered into his mouth and snuggled closer against him. Protective arms held me in an embrace that I’d needed far longer than I cared to admit. I buried my cheek into his chest, and he kissed the top of my head. It almost felt possible. As if this was my life and I could have a man like Andrew Dixon holding me in his arms.But life wasn’t that fair.
“Trish.” The anguished sound of Baker’s voice from behind me iced over the warm and safe feeling. “Come inside. It’s Ella.”
I pushed away from Andrew as fear overtook me.
