Page 38 of Losing the Forbidden
She laughs for the longest time. I really hope it helps her as much as it does me. Once she’s calmed down, she looks up at me and smiles. “Thanks. I needed that.”
“Glad I could help.”
“It doesn’t fix anything though.”
Reaching out, I tuck the same stray piece of hair back behind her ear. “Doesn’t it?”
Slapping my arm away, she puts a little more distance between us. “Why do you keep doing this?”
“Doing what?”
“Acting like nothing’s changed. It’s been six years, Ben. Everything’s changed. I’ve changed. What I want has changed.”
“Has it? Because from where I’m sitting, you still have the same passion and desire in your eyes as you did back then. Your body reacts in exactly the same way. You’re just too scared to admit that nothing’s really changed at all.” Closing the space between us, I whisper, “Not where we’re concerned.”
“Stop it. I’ve moved on.”
“See, there you go again. Pretending that’s true.”
“It is true. You’ve met him.” She can’t hold my eyes as she says this and turns to look over the city.
“Hmm…so I have. Look at me and tell me you love him. That you love him like you did me.”
Anger fills her eyes when she looks back. “How dare you ask me that?”
“What? It’s a simple question. Do you love him?”
“Of course.”
“Like you did me?”
Her silence says everything I need to hear.
“No, I didn’t think so.”
“I’m leaving.” Lauren jumps up from the blanket and goes to march towards her car. Unfortunately for her, I’m faster.
“No, you’re not.” Wrapping my arm around her waist, I pull her back until she’s pressed up against my chest.
“Tell me you don’t fall asleep at night wishing it was me next to you. Tell me it’s not me you imagine when he’s getting you off.”
“He doesn’t—” She slams her lips together to stop herself saying more. Her reaction soothes the sting of even suggesting another man might have touched her. “No, Ben. No.”
“You’re lying.”
Our eye contact holds, our breaths mingling, our chests heaving. As much as I want to make the first move, as desperate as I am to feel her soft lips against mine, I know I need to wait for her to do it.
“Fuck you, Ben. Fuck you.” Lifting up, her lips press against mine.
I wait a second for her to regret it, but when she doesn’t pull back, I make the move I’m desperate for.
My fingers slide into her hair, while my other arm continues to hold her around the waist and I lower her back down onto the blanket.
Sliding my hand over her neck, I find the zip on the front of her hoodie and pull it down. We both know who it belongs to, and it needs to go. The second it’s undone, I find the hem of her top and slip my hand underneath. I need more of her. I need to feel her soft skin against mine.
“Fuck, Ben. We can’t—”
“Shhh.” Kissing down the sensitive skin of her neck, I lick across her collarbone and pull the fabric of her vest down to reveal her full breast.
