Page 81 of Ashes
But she did.
“The only thing I see is proof that you survived.” She placed another kiss on my shoulder, tracing a path of featherlight kisses as she rounded my side to stand in front of me.
“Jamal, look at me.”
My eyes were still closed because I was afraid to look at her, but when her hands framed my face, her thumbs brushing against my cheeks, urging me to open my eyes, I swallowed back the emotion threatening to bubble out and obliged.
I peered down to see her rising on her tiptoes so that her face would be more leveled to mine. She rested her forehead against mine and I closed my eyes once more.
“You’re beautiful, not damaged.” She pressed a kiss to the corner of my lips. “And I’m grateful for your scars because they mean you’re here with me.” Another kiss to the other side. “You’ll never have to hide. Especially from me.”
My chest squeezed tight at her words. They held so much conviction.
How did I get so lucky?
Everything was silent except for the loud roar of my heartbeat.
“Kiss me,” she said softly as she moved one hand frommy face to the back of my neck, bringing our faces closer, while the other rested against my chest.
“I shouldn’t,” I answered, glancing down to meet her eyes.
Our mouths hovered against each other, only a whisper apart.
She tilted her head, her bottom lip brushing over mine. “Kiss me anyway.”
I cradled her face and did exactly that.
CHAPTER 21
SIENNA
His heart pumped fasterbeneath my touch as his lips met mine.
My heart ached at the idea that he thought I would look at him any differently. He was beautiful. All of him.
Unlike our other kisses, this one wasn’t hard or demanding. It was sweet and sent a different type of warmth all over my body.
But it was short-lived when his arm wrapped around my waist and he yanked me flush against him. So close that he almost lifted me off the ground.
The kiss turned ravaging, both of us greedy for more.
His other hand fisted my hair and he deepened the kiss, sliding his tongue between my lips and demanding access. I eagerly gave it to him and moved the hand that was resting against his chest to the back of his neck.
I didn’t have much experience, but an innate instinct guided me to match whatever he was doing.
Was I doing this right? I didn’t know, but I also didn’t care.
Every stroke of his tongue against mine reached farther inside, unfurling the dormant longing I hadn’t felt before I met him.
He groaned and slipped his hands under my thighs, hooking my legs around his waist before carrying me to his bed without ever breaking our kiss. His thick erection pressed firmly against my aching core once he sat down, my thighs straddling his waist.
The burning desire I felt for him consumed me and I slightly rocked my hips down.
Oh, that feels good.
So I did it again.
He rested his hands on my hips possessively to halt my movements as he continued to kiss me, but every few moments, he thrust upward, sliding his erection up against me.
