Page 28 of Cross the Line
God, he tastes like heaven. Mint and sugar and something wholly him. Something I’ll never get enough of.
When he stands, he pulls me with him. My chest collides with his, our hearts pounding in sync, faster, louder, wilder.
I can’t breathe.
I don’t want to if it means losing this.
It’s too good. Too perfect. Everything I could never imagine.
Eli smells like me. Like my body wash.
And I hate it.
Because I wanthisscent, peppery, citrus, burning my lungs each time I gasp.
My hands drop to his hips with a groan as he nips at my lip, sucks it into his mouth, and breathes me in. His hand grips mine, guides it under his shirt, presses it flat to his abs.
Oh my God.
“Fuck.” The word rips out of me as he pecks at my lips.
We’re both breathless, our air thick with heat and wanting. We keep kissing, just lips brushing lips, breaths mingling, trembling.
My fingers dig into his warm skin. His hands stroke through my hair, down my neck, up my back again.
He doesn’t pull away.
Eli holds me like he’s afraid the world will end if he lets go.
“Fuck, JJ…” he murmurs in my ear.
“Yeah,” I rasp back, voice wrecked.
He drags his nose along my cheek, ghosting his lips over mine before pulling back.
When our eyes meet, every emotion hits me all at once.
Joy. Pain. Hope. Grief.
I can’t smile without crying. Can’t feel the joy without the ache.
I’ve waited so long. And it’s everything.
“Hey, Sunshine,” Eli whispers, wiping my tears, his hands still framing my face. “You okay?”
The question breaks me open. “Me? Yeah. You?”
“Better.” His smile widens, just slightly, and he leans in to nudge his nose against mine. “I love you, too, Jayden.”
Who knew a whisper could set the universe on fire?
Not me.
Not ever.
Not in a million years.
Not. Me.
