Page 91 of After All This Time

I see it in his eyes. He's just as lost as I am, and Jesus, he's beautiful.

Tobias dips down, his lips ghosting over mine in a kiss so light it feels likehe's asking for permission.

And then something in him just… breaks.

His mouth slams back onto mine, and holy shit, it's devastating. The kiss rips away everything—my breath, my thoughts, my ability to remember why we ever tried to fight this. When his tongue teases my lips, this desperate little sound claws its way out of my throat—and that's it.That's all it takes for him to claim what he wants.

The moment I let him in, he loses all control. His tongue slides against mine as his hands tangle in my hair. His fingers dig into my scalp, tilting my face exactly where he wants it, determined to taste every inch of my mouth.

He cages me against the door, and fuck, there's no hiding how much he wants this. His cock presses hard against my stomach, and when I gasp into his mouth, he just drives deeper, like he's trying to crawl inside me. Like being pressed against me isn't close enough.

One kiss from him and I'm wrecked—completely addicted to the way his mouth obliterates every line we ever tried to draw.

When he finally pulls back, my lips are throbbing. My chest heaves as I fight for air, but then his hand cups my face with this tenderness that breaks me all over again, and I'm gone.

"You're so beautiful, Mills. Do you know that?" His eyes pin me in place. "You're the most beautiful thing I've ever seen."

The honesty in his voice sends heat rushing straight between my legs. I squeeze my thighs together, desperate for any kind of friction to ease the ache building inside me. His gaze drops, catching the movement, and when he realizes what he's doing to me, he lets out a rough, guttural"Fuck."

His mouth slams back into mine, his tongue pushing past my lips, kissing me so deeply I feel the groan that rumbles from his chest vibrate through my entire body. His hands slide from my hair, fingers trailing down my neck and over my shoulders before his mouth finds my throat. He sucks hard enough tomark, then soothes the sting with his tongue like an apology that only makes me want more.

His fingers slide over my dress straps, and I bury my hands in his hair like I'm holding onto the only thing keeping me from completely losing my mind. My nails drag lightly across his scalp, and the shudder that runs through him makes me crave every second of this connection even more.

"Don't make me stop, Firefly," he murmurs, his lips grazing my neck. "Please don't make me stop."

When his eyes meet mine, they're searching, burning, like he's asking permission to completely wreck everything we've ever been.

Permission fucking granted.

And he knows it.

Slowly, he lowers the top of my dress, the soft satin brushing against my sensitive skin as he exposes me. My nipples tighten under his gaze, aching to be touched. His thumbs glide over them, pulling a helpless whimper from me.

When his head dips down, his eyes hold mine until the second his tongue flicks across my nipple, and when his mouth closes around it, I throw my head back against the door.

His mouth blazes a trail back up my chest before claiming my lips in another kiss.

A knock on the door shatters our bubble. I jerk away, hands flying to cover my bare chest in a ridiculously belated attempt at modesty.

"Shit," I breathe out, my heart still trying to pound its way through my ribs as reality bitch-slaps us back to earth. Tobias moves fast, pulling my dress up, but his fingers linger on my skin a moment too long—like he can't quite make himself let go.

"Tobias?" The voice filters through the door, muffled but far too familiar.

"My mom," I mouth silently, and fuck me if this isn't the most cliché moment of my life.

He guides me behind the door, his hands still gentle even in the rush, and I almost laugh at how messed up this is. I practically lived in this room as a kid, and now I'm hiding in it like some dirty secret while my lips are still swollen from his kiss.

"Hey, Kayla," he says smoothly, cracking the door just enough to speak while keeping me hidden behind it.

"Have you seen Amelia? I can't find her downstairs, and there are some people I'd love her to meet."

"Last I saw, she was talking to Bryce." I press my fingers to my lips, which are still tingling, as the lie rolls off his tongue.

"Oh, perfect. I'll track him down. Are you coming back to join us?"

"Think I'll pass. Probably better for everyone if I stay up here."

"One day, you and David will have to work this out. Now come on, you can help me look for Amelia."

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