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Her mouth opened and then shut. She was quiet for a moment before she said, “Then we can be more than casual.”
“No. That’s even worse.”
“Let me guess, because I’m me and you’re you.”
“Because you deserve someone else. Someone better. Not me.”
Her brow creased. “Why do you get to decide what I deserve?”
“Because I see you for the perfection that you are. I broke your heart, Stella. Hold me accountable for that.”
“Are you sorry?”
“Of course I am.”
“Will you do it again?”
“I ... I don’t want to ever do that again.”
Which is why I needed to put a stop to this now.
But she was wearing that goddamn teal color again. It was a different sweater, but it was still the perfect color on her. She was ethereal in this light, just like she had been all those years ago.
She moved closer, just by an inch. Her eyes were on my lips and my breath caught at the idea of her kissing me again.
I put my hands on her shoulders before this could go any further.
“Stella, don’t.” It came out like a growl. My will was hanging on by a thread.
Her eyes met mine, a devious smile on her lips. “You keep saying things that don’t match your actions. So I think it’s time that I stop listening.”
Her hands gripped my flannel, bringing me in closer. “Goddammit,” I groaned.
“Do you want me to stop?” she asked, eyes moving to mine.
And when I was faced with the only green I’d seen in days, I was powerless. “Fuck no.”
“I knew it,” she said. Her lips closed over mine, filling me with the vanilla scent that once followed me like a ghost.
But here it was real. She was in front of me, stealing my breath with one simple kiss.
And all the fight left me.
Fuck it. I wanted her.
My body flickered back to life, finally escaping the seven-year slumber. We were only inches apart, but that was too far. My hands went to her waist, dragging her the remaining distance until she was practically in my lap.
Our tongues clashed and I suddenly couldn’t catch my breath.
I could feel her smile into my mouth. Fuck, she already knew she had a hold on me.
Stella’s hands wrapped around my neck and she pulled me on top of her. I braced her with my forearms, lowering my body to where I had the contact I desperately needed.
The pain disappeared, pushed away by her body touching mine. Things felt right for once, like a puzzle piece slotting into place.
I’d needed this. I needed her so impossibly close that I didn’t know where she ended and I began. I needed tofeel her breath on my cheek as our lips grazed and hear the sounds she made when my teeth bit her bottom lip.
If I were murdered later for it, then I would die a happy man.