AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I’m glad you said not any time soon. You’re evolving, and I’m so proud of the man you’ve already become. I don’t want you to close yourself off to something as beautiful as love because you haven’t found the right woman yet.”
“Even after what happened, you still believe in love?”
Now it was my turn to pause and reflect. His eyes were playful, though his expression was serious. I was sure he expected me to say no with the way I’d been acting lately, but the truth was, Ididbelieve in love. Even if I never had a healthy romantic love for myself, I knew of people who were in healthy relationships.
“I do, which is why I want it for you. You express yourself with me.”
“Yeah, but that’s because you’re you.” He paused, careful with his next set of words. “I love you.” I couldn’t contain my smile, but I was able to keep myself from squealing as warmth spread throughout my entire body. This was the first time in seventeen years that Jeremiah had ever said those words to me… but he didn’t stop there. “Loving you is more than enough for me.”
I’m not sure why I didn’t have more control, but at the sound of his declaration, my heart and lips had a mind of their own. I had the strongest awareness of my heart. For the first time in my life, I felt each healthy beat. Maybe because for the first time in my life, my heart longed for, beat for, a being outside of myself. The longer he stared at me, the more my heart shifted in response.
I leaned forward, devouring the softness of his lips. The kiss wasn’t urgent, but it was exploratory. Because this was the first, because he was my best friend, because we should not have been kissing. Pulling away, my mouth formed an O and eyes widened as the weight of what I’d done sank in.
“Oof, I’m s-sorry,” I muttered, jumping off my barstool.
Before I could run away, Jeremiah grabbed my wrist and stood. Pressing my hand into his chest, I trembled as he pulled me closer.
“I am so sorry, Jeremiah. I don’t know wha—”
“Chapel.” The husky tone of his voice caused my pussy to throb. “Shut up.” His fingers slid through my hair, and Jeremiah cupped my jaw and chin. I saw him tilting my head back, and I saw those juicy lips lowering to mine. Still, nothing prepared me for our lips to connect. His kisses were slow, thoughtful… and hungry. Hungry as if only I could satisfy the craving. I cupped the back of his neck, relaxing into his firm embrace as he laced me with drugging nibbles and slurps of his lips. The swirl of his tongue… I shivered, nipples hardening as Jeremiah set my insides aflame.
At the sound of whistles and cheers behind us, I snapped out of the trance kissing Jerry had placed me in. My God. I can admit I wondered what his lips would feel like on mine because of how good they felt on other places on my body but Christ. Kissing him felt better than it ever felt in my daydreams.
“I have to go,” I announced quickly, almost jogging out of the bar. I looked around the parking lot as my heart raced. Stomping my foot, I whined. My car was at the hotel. “I can’t believe I forgot I let him drive. Shit!”
Pacing, I pulled my phone out of my pocket and opened the Uber app. I hated using it outside of airport transportation, but desperate times called for desperate measures. At the sound of the bar door opening, I didn’t have to look back to know it was Jerry. Instead of saying anything, he took me by the hand and led me over to his Challenger. Staring at the side of my face, Jeremiah opened the door for me, and I plopped down in the seat quickly. Jeremiah casually made his way to the driver’s side… as if he hadn’t just given me the best kiss of my life.
“What the fuck?” I whispered, running my fingers through my hair. My body shivered as my anxiety increased. Did I really just kiss my best friend? My soul mate? “Oh, God.”
Jeremiah opened the door, and I snapped my mouth shut.
“Are we going to ignore what just happened in there?”
“Yes, please,” I replied, and his light laugh only frustrated me more. I couldn’t be mad at him though. I kissed him first, and maybe him kissing me back was just a normal lust-filled reaction. It didn’t mean he had any feelings for me or that he wanted more.
We rode in silence, which was good because we didn’t have to talk, but it was bad because it left me alone with my thoughts. For twelve minutes straight, I thought about what the hell I’d just done and the consequences of it. My life was already on a slope. I couldn’t do anything to ruin my bond with Jerry.
Was I more vulnerable and in need of affection than I realized? Was it because I had gone a year without the erotic touch of a man?
“Fuck me,” I grumbled to myself, looking out of the window with a shake of my head.
“I can do that.”
My head jerked in his direction, as if the words had touched me physically. His thumb and pointer finger were sliding down the corners of his mouth before he laughed.
“I’m so glad you find this amusing, Jerry.”
“Why don’t you?”
“Because!” I yelled frantically, gripping the armrest. We kissed!”
“Did you not like it?”
I loved it.“That’s not the point.”
“Nah.” His expression turned serious. His eyes left the road as he gripped my chin and forced me to stare at him.
“Jeremiah…”
