Page 26 of Please, Forgive Me

He only smiled back, and somehow, it looked more genuine than usual.

“Go to sleep,” he said as he opened the door for me. “Tomorrow’s a new day… and you’ll need all the energy you can get.”

I nodded, but before stepping inside, I turned back to him one last time, the warmth of the wine still humming through me.

“Thank you, Diego,” I said softly. “For looking out for me.”

I went to hug him back, but my heel caught on the floor and I stumbled—straight into his chest… and what a chest. When I looked up, his mouth was right there, kissable as hell.

“Don’t look at me like that.”

“Why not? Afraid I’ll kiss you?”

“No… but if you do, you’ll have to live with the consequences.”

“I want to.”

I didn’t think twice. Instinct took over—my hands fisted into his shirt, pulling him closer. The fabric wrinkled beneath my fingers while my heart pounded so hard it felt like it might burst out of me.

Our eyes met for just a second—but it was enough to ignite everything. One second thick with electricity, with unspoken desire, with all the teasing and tension we’d been hoarding. And then the inevitable happened.

His mouth crashed against mine with devastating intensity, stealing my breath, my reason, any shred of control. Diego kissed me like he’d been waiting for this as long as I had, his grip firm on my waist, pinning me to him until there wasn’t an inch of space left between us.

The kiss… God, the kiss was too good. His lips dominated mine without hesitation, shifting between urgent pressure and teasing softness, like he knew exactly how to break me apart. His tongue swept into my mouth, bold and relentless, tangling with mine in a rhythm that left me reeling.

My hands slid from his shirt to his neck, threading into his hair. I wanted more—needed more. Every cell in my body vibrated, begging for him, as if this contact was the only thing keeping me alive.

He pulled me tighter, one arm locked around my back, holding me like he wanted to brand me. Heat radiated off him, wrapping me whole, and I couldn’t hold back the low moan that escaped against his mouth.

The world around us vanished. No space, no time, no logic—just the two of us, consumed by something we’d spent far too long pretending we could deny.

For one fleeting moment, everything made sense. The longing, the banter, every stare, every fight disguised as a game—it all exploded into this kiss, desperate and unforgettable.

And honestly? I didn’t want to forget. I’d craved this for so, so long.

His lips tore from mine only to trail down my neck. The heat of his mouth on my skin made my knees weak, and when he sucked slowly, marking me, a shiver rippled through me.

“Diego…” My voice came out a broken whisper, half-plea, half-surrender.

He smiled against my skin, that rough, hungry smile, while his hands started roaming, exploring every curve. Hot fingers sliding down my back, up to my neck, then lower along my hip, squeezing hard enough to make me moan into his mouth when he kissed me again.

I was gone. Completely his. My hands roamed over his broad shoulders, tracing the tension in his muscles before gliding down his chest, craving more contact, more skin.

Diego pressed me against the nearest wall, his body molded perfectly to mine, and I felt how much he wanted me without a single word spoken. The friction wrenched a needy sound from both of us, swallowed by a kiss that felt endless.

He nipped at my bottom lip, then soothed the sting with his tongue, his mouth devouring mine before trailing down over my collarbone. One hand slid beneath my blouse, lifting it slowly, savoring every second of anticipation.

My fingers tangled harder in his hair when his warm hand touched bare skin, and my body arched into him, helpless. Fighting was useless. Retreat, impossible. I wanted him so much it hurt.

“You have no idea how long I’ve dreamed about this…” he breathed, his forehead pressed to mine before claiming my mouth again, hungrier this time.

And in that moment, I knew—I was completely his.

But then reality slammed into me. I needed to stop.

I should stop.

I pulled back, slow and reluctant, my body screaming in protest. I was breathless, my heart hammering, but I knew I had to set boundaries before things spiraled even further.