Page 86 of Touch the Sky

“I have to stop…wanting you like this.”

She stops breathing altogether, and so do I. I’ve still got my eyes closed, but it’s almost like I can feel the vibrations of her body even from here, like a magnet tugging on my senses.

My body is screaming at me to crash into her, while my judgment is urging me to run the other way and never look back.

She takes another step.

“I think about it too,” she murmurs. There’s a husky edge to her voice that makes me shiver. “That night. I try to stop, but Christ, justseeingyou every day…it makes it really fucking difficult.”

The curses on her lips sound delicious, like liquor locked in a bottle I’ve been ordered not to drink.

“I’m scared of that too,” I whisper. “I’m scared of what happens…if we can’t stop.”

My hands are desperate to reach for her. My mouth is aching to taste her again. I can feel the heat between my legs spreading across my skin.

She’s a fire, and I’ve run out of ways to put her out.

I was supposed to be stronger than this. I was supposed to be smarter.

All of a sudden, a sob lodges in my throat.

“I’m just so fucking scared, Jacinthe.”

A tremble wracks my body. My knees shake, threatening to give out under me, and a split-second later, I’m in her arms.

She holds me tight. She keeps me standing.

“I know,” she murmurs, one of her hands pressing between my shoulder blades as another shuddering sob rips out of me. “I know.”

I don’t know how long we stand there. At some point, it gets easier to breathe. Her hand is rubbing circles on my back now. At first, the sensation is soothing, but soon, a prickling awareness spreads from the heat of her palm.

We haven’t touched at all since that night, and now we’re chest to chest, arms encircled around each other like a knot pulled tight.

I sigh, and she shivers when my breath hits her neck.

Her other hand finds the small of my back. Mine slide to her hips.

I feel like I’m in a dream, like everything has gone hazy and blurred.

“Why do you feel so good?” I murmur. “It’s only been a couple months. Why do I already need this so bad?”

Her hands fist the back of my shirt.

“I don’t know.” Her husky voice has turned hoarse now. “I don’t understand it either.”

“I wish we could…”

I tighten my grip on her hips and press into her, grinding like an animal. It’s primal and desperate enough to make my face flare with shame, but the friction sends a wash of relief coursing through me.

That only lasts a second before the desire comes roaring back to life, even stronger than before.

Jacinthe gasps in my ear, and I know if I don’t stop this now, I’m going to back her up against the wall of the barn and fuck her right here in the yard.

It’s a damning thought. The image of her head thrown back and her fingers clawing my shoulders is enough to send astabbing jolt of need ricocheting through me with so much force it hurts.

I stumble backwards, releasing my hold on her.

We face each other, wide-eyed and panting, like survivors of the same explosion.