Page 53 of Fighting for the Forbidden
My heart pounds at his honesty. It might not be the first time he’s said it, but I’m starting to really believe him now. It might be foolish, but Liv’s words are still on repeat in my mind.
I try not to think about what I’m doing and reach up on my tiptoes and press my lips to his. He sucks in a breath of surprise but soon accepts my kiss. His arms wrap around my waist and I’m pulled tightly against him as his lips part and his tongue dances with mine.
We kiss like it’s the first time in six years. It’s exactly how our first one should have been, instead of the angry, punishing one we shared at the time. Suddenly his words about home being wherever I am make sense, because right now, wrapped in his arms, with his lips on mine, this is home. A contented moan rumbles up my throat as I cling onto him tighter and kiss him deeper.
When we eventually break apart, our chests are heaving and his eyes are glassy with lust.
“W-we should get back,” Ben whispers, his forehead pressed against mine, our bodies still woven together.
I hate the moment he releases me. It leaves me cold and I immediately want to step back into him.
The walk back is just as silent as before, and my concerns and doubts about what he’s thinking and feeling start running rampant.
“I can practically hear you worrying.”
“I am not,” I argue.
“Really?” he says with a laugh.
We come to a stop at my bedroom door for the night, and I see Ben look over to his own longingly.
“Thank you for bringing me here, for showing me this side to you.”
“You’re welcome. You still like me with this side?” The little hesitation in his voice has me stepping closer.
“I like all of you, Ben. You don’t need to worry about that. We all have things we wish we’d done differently; but looking back doesn’t achieve anything.”
“I know. I’ll never forgive myself for walking away from you.”
Placing my palm on his rough cheek, I look up into his dark-blue eyes. “At some point you’re going to have to accept it, Ben. What happened…happened. You came back, and we can still write our future.”
“Yeah?” Hope blooms in his eyes and my desire gets the better of me. My lips find his and I pull him against me. His cock almost immediately hardens against my stomach as the intensity of his kiss deepens.
“Jesus,” he moans when I start kissing across his jaw and down his neck. My hand slips around from his back and I rub him over the fabric of his jeans.
The moan that rips from his lips has the ache between my legs almost unbearable.
Warm fingers wrap around my wrist and stop my movements. Ben dips his head and I shiver as his breath tickles my ear. “Don’t start something you can’t finish, baby.”
“I can—” His fingers press against my lips, stopping any more words.
“The next time we’re together, it’s because I’ve proved to you that I mean every word I say. I want it to be the start of us, of our future. I want it to be because you’re in this for real and not because you feel like you have to.”
“I don’t—” His lips cut me off and I start to believe he’s changed his mind.
“Goodnight, baby.” He releases me and walks down the corridor. I might think he’s happy about this if it’s not for the pained look on his face when he stops and glances back at me.
“Ben, I—”
“Sleep tight.”
A long breath leaves me when his door clicks shut, cutting us off from each other. I follow suit and close mine too before leaning back against it and wondering how the hell I’m meant to fall asleep after that.
