Page 105 of Only You
The edge of her lips quirked up into the beginnings of a smile before she quickly schooled her expression. ‘Flattery gets you nowhere.’ Despite the words, fondness coloured her tone, filling her eyes.
‘It’s not flattery if it’s true. You’re a genius,’ Jack added.
And just like that, Demir was pushed to the outskirts again as Selene’s attention shifted.
This time, he did better at ignoring the burn in the back of his throat. Stepping back from the pair, he pretended to go through some combinations again as Benny returned to the ring.
‘Ready to go?’ Benny asked, and Demir nodded.
Taking his stance, they started. He ignored Jack’s shouts from the side, narrowing down his world to his gloves. It was hard to tell how long he sparred with Benny, but by the time he looked up, sweat streaming down in rivulets, Jack and Selene were already long gone as if they were never there.
Selene’s body felt like it was full of lead as she knocked on Demir’s door the next morning. She fiddled with her ring, starting to slip it off her finger before she stopped, deciding against it. No more hiding. She had gotten lucky yesterday that Demir had decided not to come over. Maybe she would have that same luck, and he would notice her ring quickly so she wouldn’t have to explain anything. She scoffed. If she werereallylucky, she would have been smart enough not to kiss him in the first place.
Someone moved behind the door, and a shadow appeared beneath. She swallowed around the knot in her throat as she spoke. ‘Demir, it’s me. I’m alone.’
There was a brief pause before the door opened. They stared at each other for a moment before Demir pulled her inside. She went willingly, heat entering her veins.
Selene shrugged her coat off and barely removed her gloves when he grabbed her by the waist. He pulled her into his chest, burying his nose in her hair. She couldn’t help the way she leaned her head back, relaxing in his arms. His lips ghosted over the curve of her neck, his breath causing goosebumps to rise on her skin. Just as she reached up to touch his face, she stopped.
She couldnotgive in this easily.
‘Demir.’ Her voice, deep with desire, was a whisper. She held onto his arms, her face flushing under the sudden heat in the room. Everywhere his skin met hers felt like fire and it was intoxicating. Merely breathing near him was tempting, the air thick with desire and anticipation. Her words were strangled when she spoke. ‘I need to talk to you.’
‘Then, talk,’ he encouraged. She pulled away, his hands settling against the small of her back. Her breath caught as she looked at him. There was no denying that Demir was handsome with his defined cheekbones and piercing eyes – she had always thought that, but it wasn’t what made her melt.
Going a week without talking to him, being free to be as bratty as she wanted to be, felt wrong. She missed pulling him out of his shell for a brief moment, finding out more about him… she missed getting to know him.
She kissed him without another thought.
Her lips moved eagerly over his, and he returned it just as enthusiastically. Her tongue touched the seam of his lips, and he parted them willingly. The kiss turned hungry and heated so quickly, it made her head spin. Lust thrummed in her veins as she took her gloves off and pushed him against the wall, a moan escaping her lips.
Something sizzled along Selene’s spine as Demir spun them around, so she was pressed against the wall, grabbing her thigh. She let out a breathy moan as he hitched it over his hip. She wrapped her arms around his neck and sucked on his bottom lip, pulling him closer as his hand crept up her thigh.
She didn’t know how to stop. The thought of it being the last – the only – time kept hammering in her head. The moment was everything she had wanted and giving in felt amazing, especially when she soon couldn’t have more. Any moment they would have from here on out would be tainted by the absence of what could have been. Couldn’t she at least have this?
But can you do this to him?
Selene’s thoughts drifted beyond the next few hours, beyond all the impossible scenarios, and focused on the ring slipping down her finger.
Could she betray both the men she loved?
No.
The thought rang out, loud and clear, and she pushed Demir away. The boxer stumbled back in surprise. Panting, she refused to meet his gaze, instead pressing her right hand to her lips.
In love with Demir? Suddenly, all the pieces fell into place. Why she was always aware of him, why she constantly defended him, why she had never liked Nora, and why she rarely lied to him. She had been in love with Jack for so long it never occurred to her it would look different with someone else.
She loved Demir… and she couldn’t do this to him.
‘I want this… God,’ she whispered. Tears gathered in the corners of her eyes as Demir approached her again, his footsteps echoing in the silence. ‘Demir, Ireallyneed to talk to you.’
‘We can talk later,’ he told her, voice still dripping in lust. ‘You don’t understand.’
‘What…?’ The words died on his tongue as desire turned to confusion. She placed her hand on his chest, and he covered it with his own. Demir froze and, just like that, it was all over.
He looked down, lifting her hand so that he could fully look at the diamond ring gleaming in the morning light. He kept staring at her finger as he stepped back, her hand slipping from his grasp.
‘Please, say something,’ she said, her voice strained.
