Page 97 of The One
And then his lips connect with mine.
The moment I’ve waited for all my life is here.
And it’s as if fireworks are set off inside my body.
His lips are surprisingly soft. Demanding yet gentle. I want to get lost in them, in him, forever.
I rise to my tiptoes to get closer, my hands gripping the front of his shirt to anchor myself, afraid I might float away.
His hands fall from my face to pull me closer to his body. His hold is possessive and I revel in it. I want to be his!
I lift my hands tentatively to his cheeks, needing to feel his skin beneath my fingertips. It’s wet from the rain, and the stubble on his jaw is rough, the drops of water catching.
His tongue slides against my lips and when a moan escapes me, he slips it into my mouth, deepening the kiss.
Pure bliss is flowing through my veins.
Warmth floods my core, and an unfamiliar pulse builds between my legs.
This is crazy!
How am I, Mariella Beatrice Accardi, kissing my dream man?
A man who’s always been out of reach!
But I’m not second-guessing it. I am here for all of it. Especially when Mateo’s hand slides into my dripping wet hair, massaging my scalp while maneuvering my head into an angle to have even more access to my mouth.
I push closer against him, the movement making him groan. That’s when I feel it.
Hard and persistent against my abdomen.
A shiver of desire rolls through me. It’s intoxicating. I made him this hard!
I love this!
I love kissing this man. I lovebeingkissed by him.
We’re completely lost in this moment. Truly, time has no meaning and I have no idea how long we stand in the rain making out.
Eventually, Mateo pulls away, both of us breathless. His smile is blinding. All of him seems to be smiling.
He rests his forehead against mine, nipping at my lips and kissing the tip of my nose. I’m sure I’m grinning like a lunatic.
His hands glide up and down my arms, and a furrow appears on his forehead.
“You’re cold.”
I am? I feel like I’m burning up from the inside.
“Let’s get you inside to dry you off,” Mateo says, his voice still gravelly.
“I’m fine,” I tell him, not wanting him to pull away.
Once we step back inside, this perfect bubble of rain and kisses will disappear. I’m not ready to let that go, not yet.
As if he senses my hesitation, Mateo leans in, pressing his lips to mine in a kiss that’s soft and sweet. It’s like a reassurance, though I’m not sure what he’s trying to tell me.
He takes my hand, pulling me through the door and into the gym. The blast of air conditioning hits us like an icy wall. I shiver and goosebumps prickle across my skin. I wrap my arms around myself, partly to keep warm, but mostly because I’m suddenly all too aware of my clothes clinging to me like a second skin, revealing far more than I’d like.
