Page 58 of Deadline for Love

“Bella, why do you think I shouldn’t be alone?”

I thought briefly about how to justify it and finally said, “You’re suffering, and I don’t want to see you like this.” I looked down at our hands and smiled. “You’re not alone, Nathan.”

His eyes widened faintly, and before I knew it, he dropped backward on the sofa and pulled me on top of him. My body rested on top of his, and I felt all of him. I could hear a melody in my head, and my heart beat fast to the same rhythm. Everything faded out, and I could only see him.

Our gazes were locked, and I was captivated by those lustful eyes. He looked so beautiful. His hand ran over my back, and every touch was like a fire, leaving everything in its path glowing.

“If I kissed you, would you let me?” His question was spoken quietly as if he were talking to himself, but I clearly heard him.

My body heated up, and I thought to myself that with every look he gave me and the way his hand gently brushed my back—I wanted to fulfill his every desire.

I lifted my arms and held his face, getting closer to him, our hearts beating loud and strong, almost breaking the few inches between us. His hot breath lingered on my face, but it was him who stopped me.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to take advantage of you,” he whispered hoarsely.

Goosebumps spread all over my body. I quickly lowered my gaze to his neck to avoid staring into his eyes. My feelings were mixed, but I wanted to kiss him. I wanted to be close to him, and if it also helped him to forget the pain he had deep in his heart, then so be it.

Nevertheless, I freed myself from his arms and sat on the sofa in the small space left by his side. I stroked my hair and deeply breathed, “I’m not as good-natured as you think.”

Then I got up to create more space between us and to breathe different air where his beautiful scent didn’t linger. I glanced down at him, and he looked up with shining eyes.

“Bella?” His pupils widened as if he understood what I was getting at.

My cheeks glowed, and my heart raced at the alluring view.

“I—I was worried, but—” I interrupted myself because I didn’t know how to continue.

I wanted to escape the situation, but suddenly, Nathan grabbed my wrist and pulled me firmly, causing me to lose my balance and fall on the sofa. He pinned me down, and now I was the one lying on my back with him hovering over me. I awkwardly gripped his shoulder, and he grasped my hip with one hand and dug the other into my hair.

“Fuck it,” he said and greedily crushed his lips against mine, full of demand. He was desperate, and his grip on my body was firm, as if he never wanted to let me go.

My breath caught, my heart leaped endlessly, and the butterflies in my stomach flew around in a rush. His scent clouded my mind, and I couldn’t think. But I actually realized what was happening.

My mouth opened slightly, and Nathan took the chance, quickly running his tongue in, and our breaths melded together as he explored my mouth.

I closed my eyes and surrendered to him. Our tongues performed an initially slow, then increasingly passionate dance. Our breathing became faster. His hand behind my head held me in position.

I let myself be lifted by his strong arm, and he lowered me onto his lap so that I could sit upright.

His hard upper body was squeezed so tightly against mine that nothing could fit between us. I lost myself in the intoxicating sensation of his lips.

Nathan groaned softly, and his reaction gave me all the motivation I needed.

Between those desireful kisses, he said, “Why does it feel like we’ve done this before?”

My arms wrapped around his neck, and I pushed myself impossibly closer to him.

“We have done this before, right?” he asked again, so I pulled away slightly and then answered breathlessly, “We did.”

His hand was still dug into my hair, and he easily pushed me back to his lips, biting my bottom lip as he groaned again before licking the slight pain away. His hand slid down to my neck, and then he rested his forehead against mine, the tips of our noses brushing against each other.

“It was nothing like this,” I whispered, our bodies still tight against each other.

“When?”

“The first night,” I admitted, my voice still hazy from the kiss. I still tasted him, and my lips tingled from the kiss’s dreamlike sweetness.

Nathan closed his eyes and seemed to think for a moment, but then they flashed open again. “I can’t remember, let’s fix that.”

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